Kansas Letters About Literature -- Level 3 Winner: Ammarah Usmani

Dear Ammarah,

Imagine my surprise when I found out that a student in Kansas won the Letters About Literature contest by writing to me! I immediately went to the Internet and read your lovely letter. I always hope that my stories resonate with readers so I was thrilled to discover that you had related to so many of my experiences. I am happy that you are proud of your Pakistani background. It is a rich culture with a colorful history and great food! I wish you all the best in your academic endeavors. You sound like a smart student and I have no doubt you will go far in this country. If I ever come to Kansas on a book tour, I hope you come by with your parents and say hello. In the meantime, keep reading and writing!

Your fan,

Firoozeh
[Firoozeh Dumas, author of Funny in Farsi]"

Not often do I come across a piece of literature with so many interesting and insightful ideas as yours has. Funny in Farsi consists of many of the same ordeals that I am forced to go through everyday because of my unique heritage and lifestyle. Even though I am not Iranian like you are, I was able to relate to you in ways that I thought were not possible at first. It addresses the issues of family values, adjusting oneself to a new environment, tolerating people of other cultures and faiths, and most critical of all, determining where one stands in this tiny yet complex world. Better yet, you explained how all of these experiences seem much better later on in life when are able to look back at them and just laugh.

Just as your family is rich with Iranian heritage, my family joyously celebrates Pakistani traditions. After reading your book, I was able to appreciate my heritage more and bask in the happiness that comes with knowing one’s cultural identity. I know many people who come from countries with great traditions but their families do not engage in those traditions anymore. Many people do not even know which country they are originally from or the traditions that their ancestors use to participate in. Hearing their stories makes me even more thankful that I have a family that has continued traditions and preserved the culture for generations to come.

I am originally from Pakistan, but I was born in the United States and have lived here ever since. Even though you are an immigrant from Iran, we share many of the same experiences. When I went to kindergarten, I didn’t look very different from the other kids in my classes, but when my mother, with her head cover wrapped around her head, my classmates started pelting me with questions like, “Why does your mommy wear that head thing? Does she ever take it off? Does she sleep in it?” Needless to say, as a little kindergartener, I was a little embarrassed. I remembered this story when I read about your mother having a thick Iranian accent, often embarrassing you in front of your classmates as well. Regardless, you still loved her and looked up to her. Similarly, I was amazed at how your mother would be asked questions about her attire at check-out lines at grocery stores, but would reply nicely and with a sincere smile. She was not embarrassed, and I admired her for that. So now when I am asked these similar questions, neither am I. Reading your stores assured me that I wasn’t the only one who had to go through these kinds of situations, where one’s parents just seemed a little bizarre in front of other parents.

Finishing your book made me realize that the whole concept of family is utterly exquisite. I, too, have numerous relatives, many of which have resided at our house for long periods of time. At first, the thought of spending weeks with my mischievous cousins was highly foreboding. Now my eyes swell with tears as my relatives depart to their homes. My parents make a big deal of making sure to call all of our relatives often, to ensure good relations. When I was little, talking to my grandparents would seem like the most difficult task. I just didn’t know what else to say to them. What made it even worse was the necessity of practically yelling into the phone because of poor reception. As I grow older, I am beginning to understand the reasons my parents make me go through these periodic rituals. Family members look out for one another’s best interests. In times of need, we all bunch together to figure out how to solve one another’s problems. I found your chapter about your family especially insightful when you said, “Without my relatives, I am but a thread; together, we form a colorful and elaborate Persian carpet”. This single sentence summed up the purpose of families; they exist to give you a sense of identity.

I cannot possibly describe all the ways your memoir affected me. To keep it simple, I will merely say that your book helped me to stay steady on my path to discover my true identity. I have the main components of my identity already, a Pakistani Muslim girl. I certainly hold more confidence and pride in my culture and religion now. The part that remains is discovering what contribution I am capable of making to the world. Maybe I could write a memoir too. What the future holds for me, only time can tell. For now, I’ll just keep writing.