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I’d pick the neem tree because it brings back memories from the time my friends and I would sit under it, talk and de-stress after a long day of classes at school.

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I have chosen the Ghaf tree as the tree I would build my tree school under as it holds a great deal of symbolism to my heart. The Ghaf tree is the national tree of the UAE, and I have grown up with this fact memorized. However, only in 2019, the national Year of Tolerance, did I properly comprehend the reasoning behind this tree being held in such high regard to the country and its people. The Ghaf tree represents a source of life and symbol of stability in a region burdened by the heat of the desert, while under its shadows our ancestors gathered to communicate. In the ‘Year of Tolerance’, the Ghaf tree was chosen for all of us to live by the principles of tolerance, coexistence and diversity.

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I chose this tree as almonds from this tree in specific have a whole culture around it during the spring season in the UAE. This tree is the first fruit in the UAE to bloom in the spring season. The almond fruit that comes from this tree is soft and can be eaten as a whole. It tastes the best when it’s chilled and salt is added to it. The fruit comes in yellow, red, and green colors. It is usually bitter but also has a hint of sweetness. For me personally, the happiness and joy people get once the almond season starts is what makes me choose this tree. The effort people put to get the fruits from the tree is also another element that made me choose this tree. People would drive to the Friday market to buy the fruit, or they would climb the trees too just get the fruits from the tree. This whole ritual and effort that people put in just to enjoy eating the fruit during the season make this tree special for me personally. During the season also, people would often connect with each other over almonds, by consuming them together or sending each other almonds. This small connection and bond that is created by the almonds remind me of one of the goals of the Tree School project has which is bringing people together.

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The Acacia Tree. This evergreen tree is found in the wild savannah grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa. It maintains the ecological balance by paying homage to bird nests, insect holes, wild animals, and even pastoralists. Going back to the concept learned in the class of being the host, I think it is a great practical reference for my understanding of being the host because while humans use it for other uses domestically like firewood, in the wild it reigns supreme.

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A money plant
my mother plants these all over my house and something about its smell reminds me of my childhood and the time I spent with her in planting many of these myself

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I would pick the lime tree because as a child, I would always go pick the limes from the tree and use them with my family at lunch. During lunch, my family would pass around the limes if anyone wanted to use them, and I believe that the lime was (and still is) a symbol of our togetherness.

I think that this tree would be great for a tree school because it has quite a lot of shade and it has some meaning for me.

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The sakura tree. Listen here →

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The banyan tree. Listen here →

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Bamboo

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I was torn between two really iconic tropical fruit trees in Malaysia: durian and rambutan, but ultimately I went for the rambutan tree because I give a durian tree school one week max before one falls on someone, and the spikes would not be so nice. One of my top 3 fruits of all time, rambutans already have a very special place in my heart based on taste alone, but being a seasonal fruit made it even more a luxury to me because I would crave it so much - and now more than ever (very similar to Sandi's story). It also reminds me of all of my cousins trying to prolong staying at the table by listening to the adults' conversations, because the first person to get up would have to throw away everyone's seeds and peels.

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Almond tree. You can listen to Sandi's story →

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tree I would choose: apple tree

why: reminds me of my grandma's home

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The willow tree. I just think it's so peaceful.

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The cherry tree in my backyard. I used to climb that tree as a kid and look at the forrest surrounding it. Now, I can't climb it anymore but I still like to sit under it and reflect. This tree is special to me, so I would like others to be inspired by it as well.

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Ginkgo tree
symbol of her highschool, reminds of home and time from her childhood and highschool years. Time (long history), even though time changes, something remains and for Rose it is the tree that remained

Regrets because didn’t have a time to sit under the tree and just enjoy her time because she was busy studying, and if she had a chance she wishes she could spend more time there.

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The Wisteria tree represents many things such as love, beauty, creativity, long life, patience and honor. I first saw the tree in a fairytale I used to read as a child and its beauty entranced me. When I grew up, I came to know of its value. It would be nice for the tree to represent the beauty of the conversations held under it.

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Mango Tree
I chose the mango tree because as a South Asian, you're raised adoring the fruit. I mean who can resist a ripe golden mango? In Kerala, the mango tree is in season during the summer but there are numerous varieties of the family around the world. It serves as a great place of shade in the heat of the summer too. The first tree I ever climbed was a mango tree that my grandparents planted in our frontyard. Even though it is barren, it is iconic to the entrance of our house. In all Indian households, mangos and their trees are a sacred affair. You will seldom find a mango tree without a story (quite often one that entails children stealing their neighbor's mangos).

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Alpine tree represents strength, resilience, and adaptability. They find a way to survive in extreme weather conditions. They are a symbol of perseverance and determination in the face of any hardship, and hence a great inspiration for me!

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I would choose an oak tree because it reminds me of the comfort of home. In my culture, it symbolizes wisdom, so I often choose to sit down and think under this tree.

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park she would choose: Burabay, Kazakhstan

particular tree she would choose: Qyzyl Agash (a tree that Abylai Khan would sit under when he had to think about complex things and make decisions)

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"the tree from Avatar"

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If Buddha could sit under this tree for 49 days, I can definitely have a nice conversation under it for a few hours.