TW: Violence I grew up, went to school with some of the rowdiest kids in town. Demon-Town, where I grew up, is seen as the ghetto of Rita. As kids, we saw the back road as ours. Cars driving by were unfortunate as we’d hopped onto their bumpers and see who could hold on the…
I. Muse on Tour
Content warning: Swearing, mental illness. Two days into the tour, expletives became a resident in my mind. “Fuck.” “Shit.” “Bloody freaking hell.” What in the world have I gotten myself into? We only just flew in yesterday to Seattle, hopped on the ferry to Vashon Island, and drove into the dark abyss where our cabin…
II. Hair, the bane of my existence
“Wow, I never knew my hair could be this straight.” “Was my forehead always this protruding?” My scalp became incredibly sensitive. My hair kept falling out. I felt as if my hair kept getting tangled easily. I was scared of being subjected to black magic. Elders always discouraged us from having our hair down for…
I. Hair, the bane of my existence
At UWC Changshu China, I was approached by one of the students. They were gathering personal stories about hair. Their question to each individual was “What does hair mean to me?” Beauty. Insecurity. Were my immediate thoughts. How many of us girls told by our elders, “Aeboojoj eo an kora ej aetokin kool in boran….
V. To be disowned
Content warning: Please read with extreme care. Stop reading if you cannot continue. Don’t push yourself. It’s ok. On the other window, our mother who just as passionately wanted to protect our family’s reputation and my siblings from our society’s pharisaic tongues. For these tongues are adept at casting the victims account, neuter said victim,…
IV. To be disowned
Content warning: Please read with care. It was windy as I exited my relative’s flat. In that valley, Oahu’s mountain greeted me as I walked on the graveled walk path. I was fighting back tears, containing the sobs as I sat down and watched my niece hang the laundry. She asked me if I was…
III. To be disowned
Content warning: Please please read with extreme care. “Who is your mother?” “Call me your mother or else I will leave you all.” My biological mother demands of me as we stood in the girl’s room glaring at each other. My adopted Mama’s grave just outside the window. “What about the kids? They need you.”…
III. To be disowned
Content warning: Please please read with extreme care. “Who is your mother?” “Call me your mother or else I will leave you all.” My biological mother demands of me as we stood in the girl’s room glaring at each other. My adopted Mama’s grave just outside the window. “What about the kids? They need you.”…
II. To be disowned
Content warning: I will be touching on sensitive topics such as sexual assault that might precipitate strong reactions in you. Please take care of yourself if you choose to continue reading. “Should I give you my phone number then?” said the worker at the social security office in Hawai’i. Earlier as we did my application,…
Small Island Gal with Big Dreams 