Cold and Snowy February: Is Punxsutawney Phil Right? Sudan and Jamaica
- kwankew
- 9 minutes ago
- 3 min read
In February, we survived Snowstorm Fern and a blizzard, both of which dumped close to 20 inches of snow in Boston. I used the snow blower to clear the long driveway and the sidewalks. I didn't use it last year because there was not much snow.
But the snowy scenes have been a real treat.
Punxsutawney Phil seems to be right so far.
Returning from my humanitarian volunteering in Sudan last year and in Jamaica this January, where the temperatures were in the 90s and 80s, respectively, the single-digit and at times below-zero temperatures in Belmont were quite a shock.
In Sudan, the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the Al Afad Camp grows daily as the civil war continues. God only knows how the Sudanese who remain in El Fasher survive famine and other tragedies. There has been little coverage of that region.
In Jamaica, we, the volunteers, served the people of the parishes of St. James, Black River, the capital of St. Elizabeth, and Petersfield of Westmoreland. Hurricane Melissa devastated the last two parishes, with Black River Hospital badly destroyed and the clinic roofless.
Even as a small island, it took us almost four hours round-trip daily to provide medical services.
We set up temporary tents to see patients who waited patiently in the shade. Despite the devastation, the Jamaicans I met rarely complained. Most speak English or Jamaican Patois, an English-based creole; I had
a hard time deciphering the Patois.
On the weekend, we visited the beautiful beaches at Doctor's Cave. One night, I took an Uber to Falmouth to experience the magical glistening water. The bioluminescence from the millions of microscopic dinoflagellates causes the water to glisten.
My fourth book, under contract with McFarland Publishing, has undergone many title changes, but the cover stays the same. It is now titled Finding Independence in America: An International Student’s Journey from Malaysia to Medical School. This is a sequel to my memoir, The Girl Who Taught Herself to Fly.
Below is a summary of the book:
In 1970, Kwan Kew Lai arrived in the U.S. from Malaysia on an F-1 student visa, supported by a full college scholarship, to find a society in social upheaval following the Vietnam War. Raised in a politically restrictive, sheltered, and impoverished environment, her introduction to American life was marked by freedoms and complexities that were vastly different from the world she had previously known.
Spanning 17 years, this memoir follows Lai’s transformation from international student to American citizen. Without sustained support from her family, she relied on scholarships, loans, and ingenuity to complete her education and pursue medical training, all while navigating a cultural landscape of racism, sexism, and unfamiliar social cultures. She secured permanent residency and later used her medical expertise in her global humanitarian work. Lai presents a nuanced account of immigration, identity, and the pursuit of acceptance in a country that is full of both opportunities and challenges.
With the ever-changing visa requirements for international students, navigating the complexities of studying in America has become more challenging. Belonging and acceptance in this imperfect country remain an ongoing process.
There is no publication date yet, but McFarland informs me that it can be preordered at https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/finding-independence-in-america/.
It will also be available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble soon.
I will be delighted if you preorder a copy.
Have a peaceful and happy winter.
Book for preorder: Finding Independence in America: An International Student's Journey from Malaysia to Medical School
Other books: The Girl Who Taught Herself to Fly paperback, ebooks and audiobooks
Comments