Reminiscences Of My First Civilization

The Place I Was Born

Maryann Mohamoud

The word civilization has a number of meanings. For example my own civilization differs from here in the United State of America. My civilization and where I was born in Wardher, Somalia, East Africa, has absolutely no cities, schools, electricity, or stores. What we depended on were animals such as camels, cows, horses, and goats. The house my mother made was from grass and twisted rope from the tree branches. My mother was so talented. She made things out of nothing. I used to watch her all the time and I learned a lot from her. My father was also a hard worker. He built his own two huge water wells so we all could drink. Also the animals could drink too. Other people could buy water from us to drink for their own family and their animals too.

Before I moved to the city of Mogadishu I never saw a big long electric power line. I was six years old, amazed and excited. At the same time, I also saw a big city and a lot of light shining through the city! That was pretty amazing to me. The feeling at the time that I had was incredible, and I felt like I was entering another whole new world!

The civilization and people I once knew taught me about life itself. That way of life has many ups and downs, meaning good, bad, happy and sad. But the community always came together for one another no matter what.

The first time I came into the United State Of America, it was unlike like anything I ever saw before in my life. At first the weather was shocking to me. Snow covered the whole city. Everywhere I went I saw nothing but snow. The buildings were very tall, wide, beautiful, and impressive. Then I saw breathtaking bridges that were small, medium, and large unlike anything I had ever seen before.

I also saw a tall four-way highway, and cars passing in different directions. I was amazed by the whole thing. I said to my cousin, “Hey! Do you see that?” He said “What thing Maryann?” I replied “The cars passing in different directions. Wow!” I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It was like magic. What an experience! Also there were nice houses around the neighborhood. At sunset I could see the whole city starting to glow. It looked like it was covered by different kinds of beautifully shaped lights in all kinds of colors like blue, yellow, green, red, orange and white. You name it. The city had all kinds of light.

In my lifetime I have had many experiences. Also I have seen three different civilizations when many people have only seen or experienced one civilization in their lifetime. I thank God for the experiences that taught me a lifelong lesson. I learned at an early age that life never guarantees anything at all.