A refugee I met a few years ago.
Syria―Anti-rebel protests calling for the president's’ removal had started to escalate; weapons were raised, protesters were incarcerated on the spot, chlorine gas bombs were thrown left and right, houses were destroyed, and the atrocious Syrian army began to show its teeth. “None of us imagined the situation would escalate and become more complicated or even an actual war would start.”Ola, 18, said.
Only 13 at the time, Ola Alqadaisee, packed her bags with fright and despair, gazing at every object she had left in her room with woe in her eyes, saying farewell to her childhood memories as she left her home with just a handbag holding a change of clothes. “ It was just awful, my sister, her babies, and husband …show more content…
Both of us were in the same classroom, and coincidentally she sat next to me. She had a bright smile and a genuine personality that quickly attracted people towards talking to her, her face turned red whenever she laughed. She was very friendly and that resulted in her befriending the whole classroom on her first day. When I finally asked her about what she thought of her classmates when she first met them, her face brightened.“ I loved every single one of you, you were all like a family to me, and without the support, I received from you I wouldn’t have had the chance to create a new chapter that I deeply treasure.” she …show more content…
When I turned around to speak to Ola about what happened, I saw the agony and constant fear refugees feel on her face. Her face was scarlet, her lips pressed, hands clutching on her uniform and eyes filled with tears. As I began to comfort her, she burst into tears. She lifted her head up and with a shaking voice "I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to get us all in trouble,” she said. We stayed silent. We all knew it wasn't her fault, and none of us was concerned for himself more than we were for her. She was the only Syrian girl in our entire school, no one has ever treated her differently, and it hurt to see her profiled different and excluded like she didn't belong. Fortunately, the officer showed sympathy and allowed us all back and was respectful enough to not take her because she was a minor, and she wasn't with her
Syria―Anti-rebel protests calling for the president's’ removal had started to escalate; weapons were raised, protesters were incarcerated on the spot, chlorine gas bombs were thrown left and right, houses were destroyed, and the atrocious Syrian army began to show its teeth. “None of us imagined the situation would escalate and become more complicated or even an actual war would start.”Ola, 18, said.
Only 13 at the time, Ola Alqadaisee, packed her bags with fright and despair, gazing at every object she had left in her room with woe in her eyes, saying farewell to her childhood memories as she left her home with just a handbag holding a change of clothes. “ It was just awful, my sister, her babies, and husband …show more content…
Both of us were in the same classroom, and coincidentally she sat next to me. She had a bright smile and a genuine personality that quickly attracted people towards talking to her, her face turned red whenever she laughed. She was very friendly and that resulted in her befriending the whole classroom on her first day. When I finally asked her about what she thought of her classmates when she first met them, her face brightened.“ I loved every single one of you, you were all like a family to me, and without the support, I received from you I wouldn’t have had the chance to create a new chapter that I deeply treasure.” she …show more content…
When I turned around to speak to Ola about what happened, I saw the agony and constant fear refugees feel on her face. Her face was scarlet, her lips pressed, hands clutching on her uniform and eyes filled with tears. As I began to comfort her, she burst into tears. She lifted her head up and with a shaking voice "I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to get us all in trouble,” she said. We stayed silent. We all knew it wasn't her fault, and none of us was concerned for himself more than we were for her. She was the only Syrian girl in our entire school, no one has ever treated her differently, and it hurt to see her profiled different and excluded like she didn't belong. Fortunately, the officer showed sympathy and allowed us all back and was respectful enough to not take her because she was a minor, and she wasn't with her