Chapter 1 Who am I?
Dedication
Self-discovery is the journey towards your dream without looking back; it is what will open doors for you.
When everyone was sleeping, she was still standing.She was patient and ambitious. Even though she was tired, she still had courage despite the pain in her heart.
Everything she studied felt like a path to heaven.
And it is me… yes, I am Mariana.
I was born in Baghdad, Iraq, twenty years ago. I live with my family in a small house, and I am a sixth-grade science student.
Sometimes, my dream feels very far away, even when I work hard.
People around me have many dreams,but not everyone can achieve them.
Oh, I have to go to school tomorrow.I must sleep now, or I will be scolded.
The morning of my life
“Ring, ring, ring!” The alarm rings every day.Maybe I will break it someday!
I didn’t tell you yet: I am a sixth-grade science student.It is a very hard stage, but I am trying to overcome it.
Now, I am walking to class, and I meet my friends there.
In the afternoon, I walk back home and imagine my future:“A light in the darkness.”
Before going home, I decided to visit Al-Mutanabbi Street, because I love reading.
While I was walking there, I saw an anonymous Korean diary…
I opened it.
It was written in English, with some Korean sentences.
I continued reading until I reached one Korean sentence.
Oh… I don’t know the Korean language.
“시련은 있어도 실패는 없다”
Then I decided to translate it slowly.
It meant:“There may be trials, but there is no failure.”
I felt my heart beating fast.
It was like a sign I was looking for.
I don’t know what happened to me, but these words touched my heart deeply.
From these words, I imagined everything behind them:Namsan Tower… Han River…
And it made me love the Korean language.
I have decided!
I will learn Korean.
Ahh… but how?
I have many other things to do.
Okay… I will learn it after graduation.
When I arrived home, my mother asked me,“Mariana, why are you so happy today?”
I said,“Because the sky looks so beautiful today.”
She was surprised by my answer.
I hurried to my room to sleep.
But I had an idea.
I will search for these words and this culture on my iPod.
I saw that the capital of Korea is a city of dreams.
I saw many things like: Sakura, Kimchi, Kimbap.
I also learned how to pronounce it:“Siryeon-eun isseodo silpae-neun eopda”
But it is a little difficult.
Because of these words, I now have a goal.
I want to become a famous writer,and I will apply to a university in Seoul.
It felt like a star of light entered my heart in the darkness.
Oh… it is 3 AM.
It is getting late.
I will go to bed now.
A new morning is waiting for me.
In the morning, I woke up active… but not for long.
I failed the exam.
I did not expect this result.
My day was not good. Even my friends were not as I thought.
I preferred to be alone, because they do not understand me.
Even the earth does not understand me.
Only the sky does.
When I feel sad, it rains.When I feel good, the sun rises.
If my earth hates me, I will look for another one.
While I was in the garden, my friend asked me what made me sad.
I answered,“Everything in my life.”
She did not understand me.
So I said nothing more.
After that, I wanted to go to the library.
Then I remembered… the Korean diary!
I did not finish it.
But I left it in my room.
Ahh!
I need to go back and take it.
Suddenly…
A strange number is calling me.
My heart started beating fast.
Should I answer… or not?
I don’t know what to do.
I will ignore it.
Oh!
It is calling again…
Ring… ring… ring…
