“WHERE I AM FROM”

By Melissa Nkenguruke

I AM FROM OLD BOOKS, FROM DANIELLE STEEL,FROM BARBARA CARTLAND AND MARY HIGGINS CLARK.

I AM FROM BURUNDI, THE DRUMS, THE TRADITIONAL DANCE, THE HEART OF AFRICA;

FROM A TINY, POOR, OVERPOPULATED COUNTRY WITH MANY DISEASES, THEY SAY

BUT I SAY I COME FROM A NO WINTER SEASON, TREES,

MOUNTAINS AND BLESSED LAND WITH BEACH.

I AM FROM THE DREAMS OF CHINESE GARDENS WITH APPLE AND CHERRY BLOSSOMS AND DREAMS OF 19TH CENTURY FRENCH FASHION APOGEE AND BRITISH ROYAL RESIDENCES.

I AM FROM SCHOOL UNIFORM, FROM “THE CLEW OF ACHIEVEMENT IS TO GO BEYOND YOUR LIMITS”, FROM “IT’S GOOD BUT YOU CAN DO BETTER” AND FROM HARD WORK ETHIC.

I AM FROM MY FATHER’S SAYING “THERE IS NO HOLIDAY FOR ME”. I REMEMBER FOLLOWING HIM AT HIS OFFICE IN WEEKENDS IN ORDER TO MIMIC HIS GESTURES, HIM WORKING AT HIS COMPUTER AND ME ON THE OLD TYPEWRITER INVENTING NEW WORDS…A NEW WORLD.

I COME FROM THURSDAYS AND SUNDAYS OF CHOIR REHEARSALS,FROM WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS OF ACTING REHEARSALS,FROM MONDAYS AND SATURDAYS OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIESAND FROM MISSING MY DUTY OF BEING A GOOD FRIEND.

I AM FROM MY MOTHER’S SPEECH WITH COMPLICATED WORDS, HER LAWYER LANGUAGE, HER INGENUITY IN HEALTHY DISHES AND FROM HER DAILY PRAY.

I AM FROM THE MATURE LITTLE GIRL AT HOME WITH TWO PARENTS,FOUR SECURITY GUARDS (MY BROTHER) AND A TWIN (MY SISTER).

I AM FROM THE SMELL OF BAKING FLOOR AND FRESH BREAD,AND FROM FEEDING MY SECRET DREAM TO BECOME A BAKER.

FIN (END)

Thank you.