Here is another essay that I have written.
Please edit it and tell me whether you like this one or my other essay titled "I am an alien" better.
Thank you very much.
Shower Dreams
Time is life itself, and life resides in the human heart.- Michael Ende,Momo
A stream of warm water gently rubs my hair, my back, and my feet. Soon, the whiteness of the tiled walls around me vanishes from my perception. I vaporize together with the steam and begin a journey through time and space. In a hot shower, my imagination and dreams know no bounds.
One moment, I find myself in silent prayer. Dishes break. My parents' voices create discords, and vehement remarks are passed on in each direction. My brother shouts something in a shaky voice and locks himself in his cubicle upstairs. With sorrow and repulsion, I remember with a shiver, the court, my mother's new apartment and the distant expression in her eyes. After a while, tranquility returns momentarily. I let out a sigh of relief and let the water carry my tears.
Recovered, I envision myself in a third world country. I am a surgeon, with the ability to restore life and positively impact others with some courage and willingness to help. Free of monetary concerns or social ambitions, I help the destitute, those who have been abandoned or missed by others. My heartbeat quickens as I imagine myself saving lives with my own hands and sharing happiness and struggles with the people who live there. Despite the linguistic and cultural barriers, I embrace their differences and appreciate their gentle smiles, a fountain of joy in my life.
The bubbles from the shampoo slowly descend from my head to my toes, lightly touching my skin like a field of reeds brushing against my arms as I run through them. This time, I become a biomedical engineer contributing to the improvement of humanity. I pick up a sample of cancer cells and carefully scrutinize it with penetrating eyes. What are the fundamental processes that make these patients sick? How can I make chemotherapy less detrimental or perhaps make the bone marrow transplant safer? I dream of helping others fulfill their dreams, dreams to be healed and to survive.
The water softly massages my face. I open my mouth and let it tickle my tongue. In a moment, I discover myself among a roomful of foreign diplomats. I hear English spoken with a Farsi accent, a Chinese accent, and the familiar Korean accent of my own, defending my nation and presenting the opinions of my people before the world. I imagine myself in a conversation with a North Korean diplomat. Though smiling, I discuss with fortitude and passion the relationship between North and South Korea, denuclearization, unification of the Korean peninsula, and construction of global peace.
The warm vapor fills my lungs. I raise my fingers in the air and set them on an invisible Stradivarius. The bow, my toothbrush, feels lighter than ever, and the strings resonate with emotion and grace. The water creates an orchestra. It accompanies me, and we communicate through rhythm and sound. A musician, I compose beauty and joyfulness for the world around me.
Without warning, the orchestra ceases to play, and the cold air of reality replaces the warm vapors. Yet in my heart, I am a surgeon, a biomedical engineer, a diplomat, and a musician. Time does not threaten me. Instead of trying to capture time, I move forward with determination and let it pass by. I am no hero, but I am a dreamer. I know my limits, yet I do not know impossibility or giving up. Though my shower is concluded, my dreams continue to propel me forward. I open the shower curtain and prepare to step into the world.
Please edit it and tell me whether you like this one or my other essay titled "I am an alien" better.
Thank you very much.
Shower Dreams
Time is life itself, and life resides in the human heart.- Michael Ende,Momo
A stream of warm water gently rubs my hair, my back, and my feet. Soon, the whiteness of the tiled walls around me vanishes from my perception. I vaporize together with the steam and begin a journey through time and space. In a hot shower, my imagination and dreams know no bounds.
One moment, I find myself in silent prayer. Dishes break. My parents' voices create discords, and vehement remarks are passed on in each direction. My brother shouts something in a shaky voice and locks himself in his cubicle upstairs. With sorrow and repulsion, I remember with a shiver, the court, my mother's new apartment and the distant expression in her eyes. After a while, tranquility returns momentarily. I let out a sigh of relief and let the water carry my tears.
Recovered, I envision myself in a third world country. I am a surgeon, with the ability to restore life and positively impact others with some courage and willingness to help. Free of monetary concerns or social ambitions, I help the destitute, those who have been abandoned or missed by others. My heartbeat quickens as I imagine myself saving lives with my own hands and sharing happiness and struggles with the people who live there. Despite the linguistic and cultural barriers, I embrace their differences and appreciate their gentle smiles, a fountain of joy in my life.
The bubbles from the shampoo slowly descend from my head to my toes, lightly touching my skin like a field of reeds brushing against my arms as I run through them. This time, I become a biomedical engineer contributing to the improvement of humanity. I pick up a sample of cancer cells and carefully scrutinize it with penetrating eyes. What are the fundamental processes that make these patients sick? How can I make chemotherapy less detrimental or perhaps make the bone marrow transplant safer? I dream of helping others fulfill their dreams, dreams to be healed and to survive.
The water softly massages my face. I open my mouth and let it tickle my tongue. In a moment, I discover myself among a roomful of foreign diplomats. I hear English spoken with a Farsi accent, a Chinese accent, and the familiar Korean accent of my own, defending my nation and presenting the opinions of my people before the world. I imagine myself in a conversation with a North Korean diplomat. Though smiling, I discuss with fortitude and passion the relationship between North and South Korea, denuclearization, unification of the Korean peninsula, and construction of global peace.
The warm vapor fills my lungs. I raise my fingers in the air and set them on an invisible Stradivarius. The bow, my toothbrush, feels lighter than ever, and the strings resonate with emotion and grace. The water creates an orchestra. It accompanies me, and we communicate through rhythm and sound. A musician, I compose beauty and joyfulness for the world around me.
Without warning, the orchestra ceases to play, and the cold air of reality replaces the warm vapors. Yet in my heart, I am a surgeon, a biomedical engineer, a diplomat, and a musician. Time does not threaten me. Instead of trying to capture time, I move forward with determination and let it pass by. I am no hero, but I am a dreamer. I know my limits, yet I do not know impossibility or giving up. Though my shower is concluded, my dreams continue to propel me forward. I open the shower curtain and prepare to step into the world.
