The Story of Change — Write Back

Namaste, Asalaam alaikum, Hola, Ni hao, Bonjour and Hello!

Today I am going to tell you about my experience in Barking and Dagenham.

So, let's begin!

So, first of all, let me introduce myself. I am Hazel and I am 14 years old. I am from Pakistan which means I'm a (Pakistani) yeahhhhhhh proud to be a Pakistani. Never mind, let’s just don’t waste our time so let’s begin the story. So let me introduce you to my small and sweet family. I have 1 mother, 1 father and 1 sister blah blah blah, I am sorry sometimes I say these obvious things which actually didn’t make any sense – just like me!

My father has been living in the UK for 14 years, so recently we moved here and we all now live in Barking. The best thing that I like about Barking is that it's so beautiful and it has many parks and a good shopping Centre. From my perspective Barking is really quiet and relaxing.

The first time when I was travelling on the double decker bus, it was so big I felt like I was in a flying car or an airplane! Also, there were a lot of sounds, for example: car honks, traffic sounds, dogs barking and aunties gossiping with each other. To be honest, I think that’s just what aunties are supposed to do. Also, there are many different people you will see on the bus, train or other transport, for example Pakistani, British, Punjabi, Indian etc. Whenever I travel on any transport in London it feels like the journey of my life, like the journey starts at one point and ends on another very different point. The stops just replace the moments and the different stages of life and the time goes past too quickly. It’s like we are just wasting our time on worldly thoughts and can’t see the nature, the best part that we all miss. So why not enjoy every moment of your life, because the time won’t stop for you.

So, after some months, I started my new school in Barking and Dagenham.

My first day of school was actually the worst day of my life because it was a new place for me, and the annoying part is that I was scared to talk with someone because of my English pronunciation, accent. I don’t know why I get so hesitant to speak in English! Whyyyyyyyyyy????

My Maths teacher asked me a question. I know the answer but I got confused, then my mind went blank, my mouth just shut and I could speak which makes me even more disturbed because many things go through my mind when this happens. On that day I was already feeling very low but then I felt even more depressed.

After school end I started crying because I was too lost!

I get on the bus and sit down. The atmosphere of the bus just flicks my mind like a switch from sad to happy. How can this be? I literally don’t know but this is what happened.

So, this place changes me because this is the place where I have faced a lot of difficulties. Yet this place also gives me strength to fight with my problems. It now gives me confidence and teaches me how to tackle my problems so this is how this place literally changes me!

I don’t know why but I am really attached to this place. For me, it’s ‘THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD’.