Huda and Uffa pick the stalks from the molokhia leaves...
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Huda Sharina
Climbing a tree
A long time ago when I lived with my family in Syria we had a big farm. In winter my siblings and I went to school, but in the summer, when school was over, we would go to the farm. We stayed there all summer because the holiday takes 3 months.
Our farm was big. It was surrounded by many trees. I still remember the feeling of being on the bus, passing between trees on both sides of the road. I like this feeling. There were different kinds of trees such as apricot, fig and pomegranate. One day when I was climbing an apricot tree to pick an apricot, suddenly the branch that I stood on broke. Then I started screaming. I grabbed the branch above me. I started screaming again until my brother saw me and said “don’t move!”. But I didn’t hear him. I started moving more, then I fell to the ground. I didn’t get hurt too much. If you have many memories those mean you lived happy days.
The war
Do you know what it means to lose safety? I will tell you that. A long time ago when I was in Syria, those days I had a wonderful life. I remember the day it changed. I was sitting with my family at home and we were speaking together. The windows were closed. The time was an afternoon. Suddenly I heard the voice of a bomb. I ran towards the window I looked down the street. People were running in all directions, they did not know what they were doing. The sounds were loud, everyone screamed and ran, then another bomb came. I went back, trembling with fear. I hugged my children. My husband said we must leave the house to go to another place. I was in a state of severe panic. Then the shells began to fall frequently, and the bodies began to spread everywhere. We decided to get out of this place as soon as possible. We ran towards my brother’s house, which was about 20 minutes away from our house. I ran with fear filling my heart, and I couldn’t move my feet easily, and I was scared of the sight of people around me carrying the injured people and riding with them on motorbikes to the hospital. I cannot forget that sight. Whenever I heard the bomb being fired, I told myself that now it will fall on us, this will fall on my family and I will lose them. No, I did not want to lose one of them. I could not cry because I wanted to be strong for them. I will never forget those minutes before I arrived at my brother’s home These were the longest and worst minutes of my life.
The UK
When I came to the UK, I saw many things different. First of all, I didn’t like the weather because it changed all the time. Also, you can see the all seasons in one day. I think when the sun shines and the temperature rises, the countryside is very beautiful. I wasn’t comfortable with many different accents in UK. I miss my daughter and my mother. I didn’t see my mum for 5 years. I think it is hard to live without your family. I won’t forget them.
When I first came to the UK, I couldn’t speak English or understand English. So I used google translate, BBS English and learn with my family. My first experience of learning English was at the Bacup community centre. At this time I could not speak English. It was very difficult, but I persevered and continued with learning English. Eventually, I completed Entry Level 2 in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Now, I am studying Entry 3 and hope to learn Level 1 English soon. The most difficult part about learning English has been listening to English. I really enjoy learning English and it helps in my communication skills.
