Where I’m From 

 I am from the warm, cozy, white-gray house near school, 

From the place where my cat Candy meows, 

From the sound of the rain pattering against my window as I sleep,  

From the bamboo strips that wave cheerfully in the wind, saying hello. 

I am from the big, grand school in the corner, 

From the musky smell of new notebooks and binders, 

From the wonderful lure of learning, 

And the loving embrace of friends and support of family. 

I am from the sweet creamy pudding laced with caramel, 

From the heavenly dumplings Mother and Ai-Yi makes, 

From the mooncakes that come once a year, 

From the tangy taste of pumpkin pie,  

From the sugar ice-cream that melts in my mouth like an ice cube in the sun. 

I am from the peaceful atmosphere when I arrive home,  

From the excitement that arises when the door bangs, 

From the sleepiness that rises in me when I wake up, 

And the sun lights up the world.

We should be happy,  

Enjoy the sunshine… 

Enjoy what you have, 

For we are lucky to live in this wondrous world.  

My dad named me, but only for my Chinese name. He loves Chinese poems, so he chose my name from one of his poems. my name appears a lot in the poems. My mom also wanted to name me, so she chose my English name. Her English name is Cathy, but her Chinese name is Kanwen. My name is Kankan. See the resemblance? ?The Chinese poem below isn’t the poem with my name in it, though.