Posts

Showing posts with the label cameroon

Scent of spring: Songbirds, cherry blossoms, and warmer days

Image
    Spring, perhaps the most awaited season of the year, is about to grace this region of the world with its presence. I know spring is about to arrive in Delaware because after a series of unusually frigid mornings, which lasted from December through February, cheerful chirping of red-breasted robins, blue jays, and chickadees has now filled the morning air. In contrast to spring mornings, winter mornings are so hushed and uneventful that one may even question if birds exist in this land at all. To me, birdsongs are the harbinger of spring.  With the first sight of a bluejay perched on the backyard fence or a cardinal dancing on a leafless cherry branch, I know that my wait for spring is almost over, for I’ve learned from past experiences that an increase in bird activity signifies the approach of spring!  In this part of the world, during spring, nature comes alive with an abundance of activity. Everywhere I look, I witness signs of life. I witness new life in the ...

Breaking Popular Beliefs

I requested for a ride to the mall on Uber yesterday - my driver was a middle-aged Ethiopian man, who moved to the U.S. with his wife and three kids 16 years ago. I always like to talk with other  people and know about their lives. So, while I talked with the Ethiopian gentleman yesterday I learned that he is actually a teacher, who teaches at a local medical institute! I did not know quite understand the name of the institute though, and I was kind of shy to ask again. Anyway, he said he is working for Uber as school is closed for summer - this is not his full-time job. I also found out that he spent one month, training at a hospital in Dhaka, my home city! This came as a total surprise - how many times in your life do you meet an Ethiopian-American who lived for a month in your home country? On my way back from the mall, the driver, who gave me the ride, said he was a full-time graduate student and that he was driving for Uber to earn some extra money. He works at his universi...