GIFTS

Words are Gifts

Here it Is

I bought this figurine yesterday and placed it on my console table. I chose it because it represents many parts of my search and perhaps some parts of my life at the moment.

First of all, it shares where I am, with the lone lady wearing an Ao dai (Vietnamese National Outfit) and wearing the cone-like, straw and bamboo hat (national icon) that is worn for sun and rain protection and for farming in these parts.

It symbolises novelty and a somewhat lonely stance. As I live here without my close family it really represents my life here now. I have been living here for less than a year and continue to learn about the culture and lifestyle of the Vietnamese.

It is made of wood which is natural and sits beautifully on the new console table with it’s matching mirror, greeting all my relatives and visitors as they arrive.

I plan on populating the table with plants and some of my artifacts from Ghana, collecting symbols of my life in general, to accompany it.

Juliette Awua-Kyerematen's avatar

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Juliette Awua-Kyerematen

9 responses to “Here it Is”

  1. Glenda Funk Avatar
    Glenda Funk

    Juliette,

    The figurine is gorgeous. Thank you for sharing its symbolic meaning. That reminds me of the reasons I choose artifacts when I travel, especially jewelry. I bet your figurine becomes a conversation starter in the near future.

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  2. Terje Avatar
    Terje

    I like how you wrote the slice. Fascinating take on using a figurine to represent your life. A small thing, a big story.

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  3. Radutti Avatar
    Radutti

    It’s so easy to just add trinkets because they’re readily available, the next thing you know you’ve cluttered up the space. I love the way she stands alone yet exudes strength, much like her owner. Nothing neither beautiful nor practical, this is both methinks. ;0

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  4. Denise Krebs Avatar
    Denise Krebs

    Juliette, I love the figurine and how it represents your life in this chapter. It is sleek and lovely. The table is beautiful too. I like that you will add treasures from Ghana too to make it more representative of your whole life.

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  5. sallydonnelly11 Avatar
    sallydonnelly11

    This slice shows to me a writer who is intentional. The objects you collect represent so much. You have me thinking about the things I collect…thanks for the nudge to ponder.

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  6. lvahey Avatar
    lvahey

    Juliette, what a careful study of how an object is so much MORE, especially as you choose it, placed it, and now center it in your home. I loved learning about *you* even as I was studying the figurine. Lovely!

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  7. Barb Edler Avatar
    Barb Edler

    Juliette, it must be difficult to be away from family, but you show your strength and resilience with buying such a beautiful object to greet the people who enter your home. I love how you intend to expand the console table. Your statue is truly beautiful!

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. mgminer Avatar
    mgminer

    You write with such grace and beauty. I’m not sure I could cope with being so far from my family. You are doing great work.

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    Oh, this is such a lovely slice. The pairing of your tender words with that striking figure are such a lovely combo. When this chapter of your life has passed, she will always remind you of these days!

    Liked by 1 person

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About Me

I am an Elementary school teacher , I taught at an International IB School in Accra, Ghana. I am now teaching in Hanoi. Writing is my passion and I try to write daily, at least in my sentence a day journal, to capture all the blessings around me. I write with groups of writers, such as Teach Write and sometimes Ethical ELA. I also encourage my friends to write , so I created a platform to make that possible -Writing Run.

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