Acclaimed author shares stories of Africa by Jake Allen

11/14/13

On Friday Nov. 8, at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School (OHCHS), published author Terry Farish came to talk about some of the places that we otherwise wouldn’t hear about on the news. The Norway Memorial Library sponsored Farish to come to OHCHS to talk about her experiences in places such as Vietnam, Esabalu, Nyrobi and the Kakuma refugee camp in Africa. and to teach a writing workshop.

After Teen Librarian Cynthia Riley finished her introduction, Farish describied her first job. She worked with the Red Cross during the Vietnam war.

“I was so young,” remembered Farish. "I was very eager to work hard. I went with a lot of commitment to the job, and it affected me for the rest of my life.”

Having been a writer since the young age of 10, Farish began writing about her experiences. These writings have become novels and nonfiction pieces about refugees. Her latest book, “A Good Braider,” recently won the Lupine Award for Young Adult Readers. It is a story about a Sudanese girl named Viola and her journey to the United States.

Using a mixture of slides, video, stories, and excerpts from her book, Farish spoke to around 125 students and a few staff members. Farish wanted to motivate kids to be more active in events in the world. Many said afterward they didn’t know anything about what has been going on in these countries.

Said Farish, “I think I’m telling [the students] things that take a long time to place in their lives, maybe things they haven’t considered before. Americans don’t know what it likes to be in war [on their own continent].”

Some students were genuinely moved by the presentation. Some people just didn’t understand. One individual in the audience started talking about how [the refugees] should “just go home,” after learning that Portland is as an official Refugee Resettlement City.

Whether Farish heard this or not is unclear not, but a few moments later she said, “These people are desperately homesick.” She went on to explain that people who are refugees would not be in the United States if not for war and wanting to give their children the opportunity to go to school, have friends and be safe.

When asked why she has been focusing her attention on educating high school students about the horrific wars and conditions in many countries, Farish said, “It’s because I can still relate to my teenage self.”

Farish followed up the presentation with an afternoon writing workshop for around 25 creative writing students. Her goal was to give the students new ways to think about writing their own stories. She plans to work with them over the next month or two via email so they can finish their pieces.

The Norway Memorial Library will host a public reading on Jan. 16, when Farish will speak about her experiences and read excerpts from her book, “The Good Braider.” Students who worked with her at OHCHS will have an opportunity to read their own work, which began with a few slides, some talking, a video and a slice of story from Africa.

Photo by Pamela Chodosh
(From left to right) OHCHS Creative Writing teacher, Pamela Chodosh; Author Terry Farish; Teen Librarian at Norway Memorial Library, Cynthia Riley.