I am from a scheduled time of loudness in my neighborhood,

I am from tired nights of completing assignments on my bedroom table,

I am from restless changing-of-position on my bed,

I am from loud neighbors having a competition of who has the best lawn,

I am from the comfortable smell of laundry detergent,

I am from long waits at the door,

I am from a family of four,

This is where I am from.

I am from very awkwardly accepting my prize,

I am from wanting to cook daily,

I am from hoping my future will be very easygoing,

I am from wanting all bad things in the world to disappear,

I am from spending countless days drawing and painting,

This is where I am from.

I am from sharing snacks with my friends,

I am from watching my father cook various bowls of food,

I am from washing used dishes and pans and from cooking noodles and eggs,

I am from eating at gigantic Chinese buffets,

I am from my kitchen reeking of vegetable cooking oil,

I am from eating regular food on holidays,

I am from gagging at the smell of tomato soup,

This is where I am from.

I am from celebrating Lunar New Year on February 1st,

I am from eating rice every day,

I am from putting up paper hangers and huge Christmas Trees,

I am from eating a fruit cake on my birthday,

I am from celebrating birthdays with relatives,

This is where I am from.

I am from being called my Chinese name every time my parents are angry,

I am from wanting people to stop calling me nicknames,

I am from being called shorter versions of my name,

This is where I am from.

I am from a world full of people suffering from their losses,

I am from a world full of people hoping it will get better,

This is where I am from.