Level 5

A Peaceful Afternoon in Patree’s Garden 

If I had to choose a recent memorable place, it would be the garden of Patree, who is the owner of an Airbnb. My husband and I stayed at Patree’s house last month to visit Redwood National Park the next day. It was chilly around 4 pm, and the rain that had been falling since morning finally stopped, though the sky remained gray and cloudy. Patree’s house had a lovely garden with a lawn, a variety of flowers like blue hydrangeas, and an animal house surrounded by a wooden fence. Inside the fence, three chickens were clucking, and a black pig named Maggie was oinking. I petted George, a gray and white cat, and he was very soft. Since I like animals, I felt happy and enjoyed watching them. The savory smell of peanut butter cookies baked by Patree for us filled the air. We ate the cookies that were sweet but a bit salty, and drank a cup of hot black tea at the small black table in the garden. The cookies were the most delicious I had ever eaten, so I was impressed and fulfilled. While watching the animals and eating, I felt comfortable and I thought about what a peaceful place it was. In conclusion, I can say that Patree’s garden was truly a memorable place for me.

Written by: Kaori Kimizuka 

My Neighborhood 

I grew up in a nice and nostalgic community in Khartoum, Sudan. My neighborhood is one of the typical Sudanese neighborhoods which consists of one- or two-story houses which are designed in simple architectural techniques, built mostly with brickwork, with quiet and warm colors, contiguous to each other and divided in blocks by small roads. In the morning, the neighborhood is always full of joy and noise everywhere. Small groups of children with their backpacks are walking to their schools and saying goodbye to their mother at the door, and men are leaving their homes in a hurry to catch the bus to work. For women, this is a very good time for them to shop and almost all women will be in the local market, greeting each other and gossiping while they are shopping to prepare dinner for their children and husbands. Noon time is kind of quiet in a neighborhood where all women are busy with meals and are waiting for their family to be home soon, so they can have delicious dinner and share their day. In the afternoon, streets come to fun and joy again while everyone is outside. The kids are playing around, some of them are playing football and others are busy with toys where their happy and loud noises are everywhere. On the other side of the street, men are sitting together with snacks and tea, chatting, laughing and playing games. And women are meeting in one house, having coffee, talking, doing Henna and sometimes they are baking. So it goes until the sun sets and everybody greets friends and wishes them a great night. My neighborhood is always a lovely and friendly place and all neighbors are like a family and interconnected through thick and thin.  

Written by: Enas Salih 

Exploring the Sights, Sounds, and Smells of Tajrish Bazaar

It is a busy afternoon at Tajrish Bazaar in the north of Tehran. The market is full of bright colors from fruits, spices, and clothes. You can see red apples, yellow lemons, and green herbs everywhere, and the air is filled with the smell of spices and the aroma of fresh fruits. You can hear the voices of sellers that are promoting their product, each one trying to get attention. You can taste fresh nuts and dried fruits when a seller gives samples. The smell of kebabs and fresh bread is the best smell and it can make you  crazy and hungry. The Bazaar is very crowded, and shoppers feel happy and excited, searching for something special to buy. There are a lot of handmade accessories and handmade home decorations. People are smiling, and friends and families talk as they walk around. Tajrish Bazaar is a lively place where you can feel the culture and history of Iran.

Written by: Mahya Komeshi

The Pacific Ocean in the Early Morning 

The Pacific Ocean has a great almighty scene with many creatures. Did you smell the beach in the early morning? Salty, the scent of fragrant trees, and the clean scent of morning dew. All these scents were passing people’s faces and touching their noses and body nerves when walking on the beach. The low tide began, the clouds turned yellow, orange and light blue, and some people who were wearing their coat and blanket with hot coffee were walking on the beach to enjoy the great scene that is a rising bright sun with a new day. And the lighthouse window was reflecting sunshine. It seems like the response ‘Good morning’ to the sun. The waves came and crushed the rock that stands in place against the wave as a refuge for birds and seals. And then, the breeze blowing towards the rock carried the broken wave into the air. Big wave crashing sounds appeared and disappeared in everyone’s ear. It's a great harmony and healing sound. All these complete landscapes include abundance and the peaceful Pacific Ocean’s early morning. 

Written by: Bora Kwon