Visiting an All Girls Emirate High School In the Heart of Abu Dhabi

I was asked to speak to the students of the Applied Technology High school by a dear friend whom I had gotten to know through volunteering at the labor camps, Rita to come and visit her school. She is the librarian at the school and they had started to celebrate Library Week at their school. Although they do not have a large literature department, both Rita and I thought this would be a great idea.

And indeed it was, we started in the auditorium with 2 groups of about one hundred students. Each group came in quiet and not really enthusiastic, and each of the ladies left having shared thoughts, questions and beautiful insight into their lives with me. I learned a lot from them, and from their feedback, it seems they enjoyed their time as well.

By the time the hour had come for me to meet the more advanced group, those whose English was superior and had studied some literature, my lovely intern from New York University, Esther arrived. We were about 20 total in the library. The girls were not shy at all, they asked questions and listened intently. When it was time to leave, it seemed we had spent such little time together. We asked Miss Rita if she would ask their teacher if they could stay longer, and she said yes, only if they promise to make up the work at home. They happily said yes. We sat around and talked and listened and shared words with meanings, meanings that have forever left an image on my soul.

I wanted to do a writing assignment and was not sure what…. Esther…cleverly and kindly recommended we all make a poem together…. here, I will let you read the rest from Esther’s mind and voice.

“Yesterday, I accompanied Bahareh to the Applied Technology High School for a poetry reading and creative writing session with the students.  Over the course of the session I watched as the girls’ eyes, minds and hearts opened to embrace multiple ways of looking at the world. The students were filled with questions for Bahareh, who answered with delightful stories, great insight and sometimes a reading of one of her poems. Leaning on Bahareh’s wise sayings and dipping into their own streams of creativity, each member of the group contributed one line to create a poem.

Bahareh showed the girls that light, love and spirituality are universally shared gifts, and as she shared with me later and suggested through her encouraging comments to the girls, each of us are like the star in the heart of the apple: unique, beautiful and full of life.”

Here is our Poem:

In the shimmering daylight, I hear the call to prayer
The call I hear from within
Once I open my ears again, I hear someone calling me to God’s house
Standing the edge waiting for a push so I can fly –
Fly with the sound
Whenever my wing breaks I know there will be another chance
I have to fly – I have to walk with my feelings to the place that everyone has to be with God
After waiting for a long time, I finally reach the second chance
Even if people leave me, God will never leave me alone
When I pray a dazzling light takes my soul to the heavens
Seeking for his mercy is my goal
As I float through the breeze of the summer air to reach the gates of heaven
A cloud to take me to another world – to a beautiful place
Hearing someone is calling and others are answering his call
Because I know God will make me wait, but he will not let go of my hand
As golden sunlight threads start to leave, I sit there waiting for an answer
I see the birds above me singing – telling me to get in touch with God
Tears on top of my cheeks while I’m begging God
At the end God answered me and tears of happiness played with my cheeks

Beautiful!!! Wouldn’t you say…. this is Bahareh again.
Anyhow, we then sat in the beautiful courtyard with the waterfall and greenery. I was touched that the girls wanted me to sign something for them. I had some poems on post cards that I shared with them. A few of the young ladies, even read out their own poems.

A wonder that we all have the same desire to make meaning of life, and also the same desire to answer questions of life. And also a wonder for me how words can help heal and words can bring hearts together.

I am grateful for this opportunity. I hope I can visit many more schools and I hope Esther can bring her wonderful energy along to help me in other schools in the months and years to come.
Thank you again to Rita for the invitation, to the school head for being open to the idea, and to the young ladies for opening their ears and their hearts to allow my words in.
I promise you all, I will learn to tweet….. for now… tweet away and spread the words we shared together on that magical day. Truly, Bahareh

*please note…. there are no pictures of the young students in order to respect their privacy.  Indeed, they were full of life and energy and wonder.