Pretend you're back- not "home" home, but the place that you're in for two weeks

and although you pray to go back to your real home the entire time you're there

so you can return to second grade,

you know that when you return to the States you'll miss it terribly

Pretend you're there

And there's a whole group of girls surrounding you,

being impressed not because you've done anything in particular,

but because of where you're from and probably

what you sound like.

One girl makes you a chart

separating Tagalog, Visaya, and Ilocano words for you

You look around at everyone's awed eyes

and think, This is the way it should be.

How come no one views me this way back in my real home,

just for doing nothing but being me?

Your sim toy of choice is...maybe a straw folded into thirds,

maybe accompanied by a Post-it?

Badminton birdies and spoons came later though.

But no one thinks it's weird.

In fact, they want to play with it too.

Those little girls must have assumed all American girls their age

use stim toys and I was just bringing the trend to them.

Children, especially those that don't know what the culture is REALLY like

in your country of origin or what the norm is "supposed" to be

are so accepting.

The way we all should be.