by Haruna Koizumi

I am from a busy place that has all kinds of sounds, traffic lights going from green to 

yellow to red and starting all over again

I am from San Francisco that has most of the landmarks that people come, and hear the “click click” from the camera that the people take

I am from dogs barking and running around at grassy parks that smell like freshly mowed grass, early in the morning 

I am from a hope to be a shoe designer with lots of creative ideas to make walking in shoes comfortable and stylish 

I am from dreaming of everyone on earth to take care of the earth properly and so when you go outside there wouldn’t be any trash that litters the streets

I am from Friday night take outs with my family with lots of social time 

I am from my mom’s weekend pancakes sweet soft with whipped cream and at the same time, rushing for Saturday school

I am from talking with my family about sports at the dining table while eating a delightful dinner

I am from going on a trip over the big blue ocean to see my extended family

I am from looking into the waves on the airplane every summer while I sit in my soft seat

I am from laughing with my amazing friends during break while eating my sweet or sour snack 

I am from doing Saturday school from the morning to the afternoon while pretending not to be bored

I am from doing lots of sports that takes me away from the things that are happening in my life 

I am from going to the parks on Sunday afternoons and playing soccer with my brothers and my dad

I am from watching tv with my family on weekends and sitting on the gray soft sofa where hang out with my family 

I am from eating hot Cheetos and touching my mask so that I can talk but the Cheeto powder getting onto my mask 

I am from Kamala Harris making history by being the first black woman to be Vice President

I am from Trump’s supporters charging in the capitol on 1/6/21

I am from my brother stealing all the fresh fruits that my mom bought

I am from my brothers playing in the backyard really loudly while I am doing school

I am from Anti – Asian protests and Black Lives Matter protests that are happening in the world 

I am from the police that killed George Floyd being guilty for the first time in a long time

This is where I am from