By: Melissa Zhao

I sidle through the large, welcoming doors of my new school. It takes a second of looking around before I find my classroom and sit down. I’m so nervous. It is a little scary, even knowing that it is an honor to go to this amazing school, where each village chooses a child representative from their citizens to go to this school. Our villages are so far away from each other that otherwise, no one would know anything about anyone else. It’s my second week already!

I have learned so many new things about the other villages and the blue and green planet named Earth somewhere barely within our reach. Their explorers don’t even know about our world! They think our world is not even real and is made of pure ‘magic’ and ‘fantasy’, but if only they knew that we are just as real as them. It has been a mix of fun, scary, and overwhelming to meet all these creatures that are so different from me. Aliens, sea creatures that are brought over in tanks, and all types of creatures I never would have met if I was not chosen to attend this school.

On the first day, my teacher, Ms. Bryst, told our class that we will be having a presentation where everyone will talk in front of the whole class about where we live. I would usually say no. I hate stepping into the spotlight. But I’m willing to make an exception for this. I’ve practiced with my mom every day.

To practice my speech, my mom took me by my hands and led me to the village library, where ancient books are just as valuable, if not more, as recently published ones. She took me to the farthest section into the library to show me the words of the greatest authors of our world. I read and read and read, unable to tear my eyes from the books describing my home. The blue ripples meeting the bright sunshine, the green, lush, plants twisting in all directions, all of it pulled me in like a warm embrace, but I was most immersed by the way it was written in a fairytale voice. And I used that book to practice, determined to make a speech just as beautiful and unique.

With a short clap of hands and a clearing of her throat, Ms. Bryst starts off our class by smiling and announcing, “Today we will be doing our ‘where we live’ presentations. I will randomly call people up to the front of the class to present. I hope you all are ready!” With a wink, she shakes the slips with all of our names on it and calls, “Eneil Orinel.”

Me? I’m first? Oh no, I just can’t! What if I make a mistake? What if the others laugh at me or don’t believe me? What if…

I shake my head, stand up, and walk to the front of the room, shaking my black hair out of my eyes and standing up tall, empty handed. This is what I have practiced for. Beads of sweat trickle down the sides of my face and my heart feels like it is going to beat out of my chest, and I hold on to the board to steady myself. With a deep breath and a soft whisper of encouragement, I close my eyes quickly, run over the too familiar words in my mind, and begin.

“I live where the sky meets the sea, on the surface of the water. Where the ocean is still and waves pause in straining their eyes and ears to learn about us, who live on the water. The connection to nature rises with the tide and flows like music everyday. The complex architecture is both beautiful and simple, in its own special way, and helps us live a balanced life on the surface. Our rhythm of life is completely dedicated to the clear, pure, water that is not only what we rely on for everyday life, but what shapes us into who we are as one village, not single individuals.

We appreciate many things about our simple life on the water. The fish that supply us with what we eat, that leap and surround us with the peaceful power of wildlife. The floating gardens that we tend to, full of fresh, blooming vegetables of fruits that contain a whole world of natural sweetness in one bite. The trees that were cut down and used for their wood and bark to build the roofs to keep us dry. Nothing is taken for granted in our world, and every meal, every bloom, is appreciated for its pure simplicity.

As a single united village, all of us rely on each other for support and help, and we never turn down pleas for help or support. We work together and build in peace, updating our buildings to fit the world as it continues to constantly change. Our elders pass down religious activities and ceremonies that we loyally perform day after day, year after year, and continue to pass them down. Instead of roads, we have long, winding channels of water which we row our boats through.

The power of manmade goods combined with nature creates our villages. It is a peaceful, serene, place to live, and I couldn’t wish for any other place to be. I am a villager of the sea.”

With a bow and a final flourish, I smile and whisper to myself, “I am. And I can do anything.”

Image Credit by Pixabay