I wrote an essay for my literature class and i compared Odysseus’s journey to my family.
“Safaar”-Journey
The character that I chose that has been very significant in my life thus far is Odysseus. Odysseus showed strength, patience, and courage. He embodies these qualities like a group of very special people I know. As I began my semester, I took a class that was required for my civic engagement core. Little did I know that it was going to change my life forever.
What is a refugee? A person who has the fear of being persecuted for race religion, political orientation from their country of origin. They are basically displaced individuals that flee to another country (like the United States) for freedom. Why am I defining what a refugee is? It so happens that for my civic engagement class I was going to befriend a refugee family. To be completely honest I had no idea how difficult life was for them or their struggle to get to the United States. Learning more about these amazing individuals made me respect them even more. Like Odysseus they had to go on a journey, a very rough one, to get to “home”.
My refugee family consists of a total of three members: the mother, the father, and a young 18-year old boy named Amir. We discovered that my family had just entered the states and had no understanding of the American culture. We would soon learn that language barrier was our biggest problem. When we got the schedule to meet our family, my partner and I were extremely anxious to get to know them. It was a Thursday morning and we decided to get them donuts as a house-warming present. When we met the parents they greeted us with open arms and had the biggest smile on their face. They did not speak any English but simple hand gestures and smiles made the communication a bit easier. Unfortunately, we did not meet the son until the following week. When we did meet him the following week he spoke good English and was very friendly. Knowing that my family had struggled so much to arrive at the United States, they are still so humble. Like Odysseus, my refugee family is very thoughtful. In one scene of the odyssey, Odysseus helps a poor blind man with his food. Whenever I go to their house, they always offer me food, with the little money they have they always make sure that their guests never leave with an empty stomach.
I want to conclude by saying that taking this class and my civic engagement class it made me realize how truly blessed I am. Having a home and being with the ones I loved is the most important thing to me and I value it deeply. I value the people who struggle to get to where they want to be and are always so humble. Generosity, courage, and strength are all qualities that both Odysseus and my family carry and have a journey that will never be forgot.