Year: 2022

Abbas’ Diary Entry 3: A New Start

Diary Entry 3: A New Start

I arrive at this new school in New Zealand with my siblings. I look around unknowingly and follow the other kids, grabbing my backpack tightly as I walk into a room. Fear takes over as I listen to a woman talk at the other end of the room. Other children stare at me squinting and saying things I can’t understand. Suddenly I hear the teacher call my name. It reminds me of my mum calling me on an adventure I will never forget. I get up from my bright blue chair and walk up to the teacher. She says some things I don’t understand but repeatedly says my name. I look at the brightly coloured walls feeling hopeful.

Minutes later a sudden ring of what sounds like a bell rings non-stop for 4 seconds. The teachers says more unidentifiable words and points to the door as all the children run out excitedly, some of them showing me hand movements towards them.  I sprint from the rocky grey concrete as I almost trip on the kerb. My excitement unravels with a huge smile on my face when I touch the vibrant green grass and a white flower.

I run over to the kids playing on a brightly coloured playground. I jump and climb on a spider web while other kids show me around pointing at fun-looking obstacles. As time goes by, again the sound of a bell rings in my ear as I follow the same kids back to the colourful room. When the last bell rings to tell everyone to go home, all the kids from this school run out  to the black steel gate and wait for their mums and dads. I sprint quickly to my dad and tell him all about my adventurous day from playing in the play ground to meeting new friends.”Slow down Abbas,” Dad says. “I can see you like your new school!” “Of course I do” I replied in a cheery voice.

Back at our house after eating my favorite meal, I lie in my soft bed, eyes closed, thinking about all the things tomorrow will bring.

Manaiakalani Film Festival

Manaiakalani Film Festival

Yesterday the 8th of November our school went to the theatre to watch films from other schools and other classes from our school. Before we hopped on the bus to the movies, we had to pair up with a junior from Room 2. My little person was Zuriel. He was very excited to watch films at the theatre in Sylvia Park. When we had finished our ride on the bus we walked in a line to Hoyts. On the way we saw many schools lining up to go to Hoyts. We waved at them like we were famous models.

When we all got to the entrance I was very excited because it was so dark and the screen was HUGE. It was hard to navigate a seat for Zuriel and I because it was pitch black in the cinema. Finally I located an empty row of seats and walked to the end and sat down next to Zuriel. The films started as soon as we sat down. The entrance of the film was with Ellma welcoming all the schools and the hosts on the huge screen and thanked them for letting our school have this opportunity.

One of my favorite films were called PokeBlade. A parody of the cartoon shows Pokemon and BeyBlade. It was about two students demanding one student’s lunch money. Annoyed that those students always demand for his lunch money he challenges them to a battle and when the student gets defeated he trains his body to be stronger. He finally defeats the two bullies and now they will never bully him again.

After we finished watching all the films Ellma wrapped it all up and said thank you to everyone who went to Hoyts and watched the films. Our school walked back to our buses and rode back to school. Next Manaiakalani Film Festival I want to supervise two kids so I can’t be lonely.

Abbas’ Diary Entry 2: On the Tampa

Abbas’ Diary Entry 2: On the Tampa

A huge storm awakens. Everyone is screaming and throwing up. Our tiny fishing vessel almost capsizes as most of the 400 are closing their eyes; praying quietly. I close my eyes tightly, hands on my ears, crumpled up like a ball of paper, as my consciousness drifts away. 

I wake up to the feeling of discomfort and shouting. An aeroplane flies over us as we shout and wave but nothing works as they just fly away. “Thank the Lord, we’ve been saved!”, someone shouts as another plane is in their line of sight. Someone quickly shouted, “Give me your clothes from your bags, I will make a distress signal!” Everyone gives their extra clothes and the person makes a distress signal. I wonder what it says. But the plane just flew by. Most of us had little or no hope at all, whilst others prayed to be saved.

Abbas’ Diary Entry 1: Leaving Home

Abbas’ Diary Entries

Diary entry 1: Leaving Home

 

In the dead of the night, I hear a quiet commotion all around me. I rise to the echo of my name lingering in my head. “Abbas, Abbas wake up!” she says. Dragged across the room by mum, “Pack your bags to the brim,” she says, in a quiet voice. “And no questions asked.” Hesitantly I grab my clothes and toys, stuffing them in my new bag dad bought me a few months back. I leave my house with my gloomy family. I wonder what is going on. We follow the dirt path leading to the bus stop. The warm air makes me feel awake while crickets chirp in a rhythm.   I hurry to mum and hop on the faded yellow bus, half asleep constantly hearing the chirp of a cricket.

Waking up from a bumpy feeling underneath me, I look at the people around me, squashed in this tiny bus, and we finally stop near a cliff and exit the vehicle. The smell and feeling of the warm air soon drifted away as it was replaced by the smell of smoke and gas. I noticed there were two other old yellow buses near ours and floods of people crowded on the cliff pointing at a small wooden boat floating on the black surface of the sea. I held mum’s shivering hand tightly, over hearing dad say “Trust me.” What does that mean?, I think to myself.