Participation Type
Paper
Session Title
Session 1.02 Appalachian Studies
Presentation #1 Title
Where The Heart Is
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
“Where The Heart Is” is a personal essay about my niece’s journey from Ethiopia to the United States through international adoption. With this experience, Mekdes, taught me that home isn’t always what one would expect. Meeting her for the first time in her native country, Ethiopia, I was bombarded with the desolation and poverty of a nation without hope. However, Mekdes’ enthusiasm for her homeland was apparent as she covered herself in the colors of the flag. Soon, it became clear that what I saw as a desperate situation, a nine-year old girl saw as home.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
A junior at the University of Pikeville in Pikeville, Kentucky. Majoring in Secondary Education: English
Where The Heart Is
“Where The Heart Is” is a personal essay about my niece’s journey from Ethiopia to the United States through international adoption. With this experience, Mekdes, taught me that home isn’t always what one would expect. Meeting her for the first time in her native country, Ethiopia, I was bombarded with the desolation and poverty of a nation without hope. However, Mekdes’ enthusiasm for her homeland was apparent as she covered herself in the colors of the flag. Soon, it became clear that what I saw as a desperate situation, a nine-year old girl saw as home.
