This week, I want to talk about what school was like for me in Afghanistan and how different it is from my school here in America. When I was in school in Afghanistan, we only had one teacher who taught everything: math, English, science, art, and social studies. We didn’t have cool subjects like PE, music, or the library. I don’t remember the exact schedule, but I do remember that we had to bring our own snacks for lunch. Our parents gave us 20 Afghanis, and we would go to the store before school to buy snacks. The snacks were really cheap, so you could get four snacks for just 20 Afghanis! We didn’t have a real lunch break, so lunch and recess were kind of the same thing. After we ate our snacks, we’d play soccer or talk with friends. Sometimes, I’d finish my homework during recess because it was so easy!
One big difference from here is that all grades, from 1st to 12th, were in the same school. There was no separate middle school or high school. When I was in 1st grade, I was the top student, which made me really happy!
But there were also bad times. When I was in kindergarten, I cried every single day because the other kids made fun of me for being Hazara. Most of the kids in my class were Tajik, and they would call me mean names that rhymed with “Hazara.” It made me feel really sad, and when I told the teacher, she just giggled with them instead of helping me. It was like the whole class, even the teacher, was against me.
Things are so much better now that I’m in school here in America. At Dr. Drew Elementary, no one makes fun of me for being Hazara. I have nice teachers and lots of friends from different backgrounds. We have fun subjects like PE, music, and the library. I feel free to be myself, and I don’t have to worry about people being mean to me because of who I am.
Even though I was really good in school in Afghanistan and had my best friend Sanah, I’m so much happier here. I feel safe, and that’s the most important thing.
That’s all I have for this week! I hope you enjoy reading my stories! 😊
Love,
Aqsa
