The story revolves around the experiences of the author’s grandmother and mother as refugees from Syria. The grandmother had limited formal education but had to flee Syria with her children due to civil unrest and a violent military coup. The mother faced difficulties in adjusting to a new country, Jordan, where she was treated as different and faced discrimination.
Eventually, she returned to Syria to complete high school but witnessed the shutdown of schools and the deteriorating situation in the country. The author, born in Amman, Jordan, experienced the constant threat of regional violence during childhood. They initially attended an Arabic-speaking school but later switched to a school run by the British embassy, where they struggled with the language barrier. Eventually, they learned English and excelled in school.
The author’s family history, including visits to a Palestinian refugee camp, made them aware of the global refugee crisis and the challenges faced by refugees. The story also highlights the decline in refugee resettlement in the United States and the difficulties refugees face in integrating into their new communities. The author emphasizes the importance of understanding and supporting refugees and their experiences.