Heading Home
The Rohingya community has taught me about the value of family. I’ve spent years following my Rohingya friends who can only dream that they might see their family again. I’ve had the privilege of meeting their families when they can’t do it themselves. Every reunion is so powerful. With every reunion, I think of my […]
The 5 Minute Project
All they did was put aside 5 minutes of their time to print something and add it to the binder. Those consistent 5 minutes a day created something beautiful that I can hold onto forever.
Preserving History
A nation’s history is not full of roses and butterflies. No country has a history like that. Humanity is flawed. There is war, suffering, and pain. But there is also strength, perseverance, and empowerment. Our history shows us how far we’ve come and how far we have yet to go. My Rohingya friends have taught […]
The Help of a Stranger
Sometimes it takes a complete stranger to help you on your way. It’s hard to know when or how that help will come…in my case, the help I needed was a message from a complete stranger on Instagram. The Help of a Stranger Social media. We either love it or hate it — but it’s […]
Why the Cartoons?
Everyone likes cartoons, especially the ones that look like them. It’s a good thing I’ve got a lot of cartoons –and stories – to share. Why the cartoons? “Sophie, people don’t know that I’m Rohingya. They just see me as a Muslim, like that’s a nationality or something. They don’t know my story. Maybe […]
Rohingya Reunions: Wisconsin
“Hey Soph, what are you doing this weekend?” “Oh, I’m gonna be out of town. I’ll be in Wisconsin.”“Again?!” I’d be the last person to say that some of my favorite weekends are spent in Sheboygan, Wisconsin in the dead of winter. I’d also be the last person to say that chicken feet soup is […]
Rohingya Reunions: Utah
“It took us two years to find you! But we found you!”
Face to Face with Genocide
Not quite sure how it happened, but somehow I was able to integrate myself into a quirky Rohingya family and follow them around the world. Despite the strong language barrier and logistical difficulties, this family has welcomed “Teacher Sophie” into their lives. They’ve taught me what it means to be resilient in a world full […]
Found in the Middle of Nowhere
“Ahhh! Teacher!! Helloooo!” Absolute chaos erupted the moment I swiped to the right of my incoming Viber call. I usually ignore anonymous Viber calls. Most of the time, it’s just another die-hard Burmese fan who’s trying to ask me if I have a “lover” (No really, I wish I was joking). I had no idea […]