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Dear diary,

Today, I found out that many people aren't accepted in society because of what they like or who they are. I think everyone should be accepted for who they are, what they like and their personal things. It means that no matter what you like or prefer, you must be respected by the decision taken. And this theme can be resumed in many ways, they could be: sexuality, culture, food, and many other exames. But what happens sometimes is that many families do not accept what’s not normal for them and the way they were raised. I’m gonna tell you a history about a girl from Bangladesh which isn’t being accepted by her parents because of being lesbian.

I am going to be completely honest with you, diary. I feel bad for that girl, and that’s because she told me that she was lesbian and she had that secret hidden. And, diary, (in chapter #7), this girl that I’m talking about was discovered kissing another girl. Yes, she is lesbian, but her parents do not tolerate that. What happens here is that when she was kissing her girlfriend, well, her mom realized that her daughter was not straight. And she was out of the house for a couple of days. To let you know about my first sentence in the first paragraph, diary, we know that she was not accepted. But, here enters what I said, everyone MUST BE respected and accepted on their preferences. Ariana is my friend and I’m not gonna be separate from her because she kissed her girlfriend, that would be insane. But her parents did, and kicked her out of the house because they were disappointed.

This isn’t all what happened, diary, she wasn’t accepted again when (in chapter #24) her mother wasn't accepting her sexuality (again) in Bangladesh. And this made a whole new conflict because Rukhsana and her mother were fighting and including their beliefs there. This is another problem because mom is defending what she believes in and telling her she’s on the wrong path, and that is not accepting who your daughter is and what she likes. Here Rukhsana told me she defended herself against that and told her mom that she isn’t a kid anymore, so basically she could do whatever she wants. Her mom isn’t accepting her because she thinks that girl (Ariana) will leave her alone and she doesn’t deserve that. So I think it isn’t accepting your daughter and what she wants in the future.

Finally, many people are not being accepted in their families because of their beliefs. And this is what happened to Rukhsana, a girl who likes another girl for her future. Rukhsana isn’t accepted, and many people don’t. But, I think that in a few years from now, families will understand (perhaps) that their sons aren’t kids anymore. So, once again, everyone should be accepted no matter their preferences in life. Rukhsana should be living the life she prefers, and the future she will build.

Sincerely,

Mr. Whilen

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Rukhsana’s family is trying to marry her without her permission. So Rukhsana had to find a solution to escape from Bangladesh without telling them. Her parents want to decide over her life because she’s lesbian and they want her to have a better future. However, Rukhsana doesn’t agree with them so she’s planning to get out of there.

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Rukhsana was ashamed of herself when she was talking to Nani about who she likes. Although she was very afraid of telling that secret to her, Nani made her feel better with those words she told her. Also, Rukhsana’s internal conflict was that she wasn’t accepting herself as lesbian so that’s why she was scared of other NOT accepting her.

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Dear diary,

I must tell you the truth, I am so overwhelmed with my daughter being Lesbian. Me and my husband have been looking for some solution or a signal to take my daughter out of there. However, when we went here (to Bangladesh) and I think I’ve been less rude than I was when I discovered her with that little girl that I hate a lot. I feel really overwhelmed, disappointed and I even feel as if I didn’t take care of my daughter.

Being really honest with you, I told her to get married with a boy from here. I don’t know if it’s a bad idea, or if we honestly have to do it. You know, I think that every mother is different and let their sons have their own opinion and everything, but it doesn’t happen with me. I am so overwhelmed with the fact that my daughter is kissing another girl instead of following what everyone on Earth does. I’m thinking the whole day about what I should do to make her straight to kiss, BUT TO KISS A BOY! Also, diary, marrying my daughter with that boy will make her life easier in the future. Me and my husband looked up for this boy because he can give my daughter the best, he comes from a good family and I know he will take care of her. However, I feel like the world is on my shoulders because I am going to obligate my daughter to something she doesn’t want to do.

As I told you before, I feel disappointed in myself and my daughter. And I’ll tell you the truth, discovering that from my daughter was terrible. I don’t know what to do as a parent, what if my friends will judge me if they know that I have a lesbian daughter and that she doesn’t wanna get engaged with a man? I’m going to look awful, and I don’t want that, for real. Also, I think that I didn’t know how to raise my daughter. I mean, why is she like that if she has normal parents? I feel like she isn’t the daughter I gave life to.

Diary, to let you rest, I think that I’m doing and I did a bad job as her mother. I think that I’m going to tell her to get married because otherwise I will take legal actions. My husband wants the best for her and that boy comes from a nice family. I want him. Although I know that she won’t accept that, I will try. I feel bad and disappointed, but I’ll do my best.

Love,

Mom

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(Written from Rukhsana’s point of view)

Dear diary,

Today my parents discovered that I’m lesbian. I know, it’s hard, I feel it. However, diary, you know I’ve been hiding it for a lot of time. To be honest with you, I feel free now that they know my secret, and even know my girlfriend hahaha. It was very interesting the way they found out when I was in that private and very emotional moment with my girl. But, diary, you know more than anyone that I really love Ariana and how much I appreciate her.

Diary, I feel very embarrassed, sad, and even as if I weren’t from this family, and I’ll tell you why. Ariana came home, and obviously we wanted to have some minutes to be together in my room. I even closed my door, so when we were kissing and someone opened it, I could hear it. BUT GUESS WHAT HAPPENED? I WAS SO CONCENTRATED IN THE KISS THAT MY PLAN DIDN’T WORK. Allright, I know, we were discovered. I felt embarrassed of my own family. And that’s simply because I’m not what they want me to be.

Obviously I feel so sad that Ariana got a slap, and because I knew what could happen after that intense moment. I was frozen, cold, like the Statue of Liberty. Diary, do you imagine how nervous I was? I mean, I kept a secret for so long and I was kept in literally one second, JUST ONE. Ok, I might feel “Free” now that my parents know about it. So I don’t have to keep it quiet. But, diary, although they discovered us kissing, I had to go out of my house. I was kicked out of my house because of not liking what they like. That’s what makes me feel soooooo saaaaad, the fact that I have to look for a refugee at a friend’s house in less than 10 minutes because then my father will hit me again. Yes, again, because he did it. But, I’m forgetting something, how does Ariana feel about the incident???????????? I’m scared she doesn’t want to be with me anymore because of my parents’ reaction.

You know all my secrets, diary. And as I told you before, I don’t feel myself as part of my own family. They want me to like everything they like, and they even want to decide my sexuality or really personal things as: who I like? I think the only one who understands me in my family, is my brother. I can trust him, but all my family feels insecure about me. And so I am, now who’s gonna trust me? Are they going to love me, or just see me as an unknown person? I suppose I’m going to cry for the rest of my life and try to keep doing MY things as I like.

I hope my relationship with Ariana will continue, I really like and love her. But, who knows? I feel so bad about my family’s reaction or thoughts about me. I thought they were going to support me in my decision, but no. I’m out of my house right now. But, diary, I know you’ll always be with me. I’m talking to you as if you were real, maybe you talk when I’m sleeping. Overall, I feel sad and I want Ariana with me, but that embarrassing moment when we were caught keeps running on my mind and I won’t be able to rest with that not being solutionated. I’m gonna stop writing on you now, ‘cause both of us have to rest.

Sincerely (but sad),

Rukhsana Ali

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Vocabulary: Add one word from the reading and define it in your own words in the comment section. Remember to sign in with your ELHS gmail for credit. 

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Vocabulary: Add one word from the reading and define it in your own words in the comment section. Remember to sign in with your ELHS gmail for credit. 

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While you can certainly look up Bangla words for your own reading purposes, focus on English words for this assignment.

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Supporting Character: Pick another character that you like or dislike and identify traits/emotions and then give evidence from the text. (Paraphrased)

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Supporting Character: Pick another character that you like or dislike and identify traits/emotions and then give evidence from the text. (Paraphrased)

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Main Character: Ruhksana Ali. In the comments write a character trait or emotional event with evidence from the text. (Paraphrased)

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Main Character: Ruhksana Ali. In the comments write a character trait or emotional event with evidence from the text. (Paraphrased)