Teen finds interacting personally with residents changes her perceptions
Published in the Aug. 19 – Sept. 1, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Rawail Asad
Photo courtesy of Rawail Asad
Rawail Asad stands on the sands of Carmel Beach during her summer vacation in California, which included exploring Morgan Hill.
The sky was deep blue, cold wind brushed passed me which rose a chill underneath my flimsy clothing. Giant hills, overlapping twisting and turning roads were all that my eyes could see. The formidable and unlettered roads added more affirmation to the fact that the United States of America is truly a super power and a highly organized state.
My name is Rawail Asad and I am 17 years old. I came to America from Pakistan for a vacation, my plane landed in California on June 4 of this year. I was introduced to Morgan Hill by my uncle and aunt who drove me to their office every now and then.
I believe that every person has a different perspective of eyeing the world, but this perspective can said to be ill-founded if it is based on rumors. I found myself in this same situation. My grandparents always expressed a deep discontent and loathed “gorey” (Englishmen) added to this Indian sub-continent’s history framed the image of American as conceited. But as I started to interact with the locals of Morgan Hill, I found that I myself had been blinded by prejudice.
Morgan Hill is a small town and very beautiful. The locals are very humble and helpful. I felt a sense of freedom and independence because in my country women don’t enjoy the same freedom in comparison to the women of America. Here I can roam around the streets freely with no one even bothering to look at me. The law enforcement is very efficient and everything is very systematically operated in Morgan Hill. I appreciate the fact that the laws are even and stand for the rich and poor alike. I was really happy to see that the Muslims here are given proper rights and are an equally important community as Christians, Jews or Hindus.
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” as was said by Leonardo da Vinci. This is the quality that I found not only in the locals of Morgan Hill but its mayor. I was at the inauguration of newly opened Majestic Hospice & Home Health and had the chance of meeting the mayor of Morgan Hill and I was mesmerized by his simplicity and the fact that he was without any protocol. In my country huge sums are wasted on protocol of the elite and officer class. My own father who is a deputy superintendent of police officer has three gunmen given by the government to ensure his security. I was pleased to see that the mayor was so humble and his council was easily accessible to an ordinary person.
I have had some wonderful moments here in Morgan Hill. The Coyote Creek Golf Course is one of the places I have visited. It is a very beautiful golf course which offers the views of rolling hills and sweeping meadows. I was pleased to see the excellent maintenance of the golf course.
I also went to the concert at the Morgan Hill Downtown Amphitheater; the environment was vibrant as usual with an assortment of different noises which I could not decipher. Everything was methodical and the maintenance of the concert was excellent. I had a wonderful time there.
They say “If you are brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.”
It is almost a month and a half since my arrival and now it is time to bid farewell. I have had a glorious time. I have made some wonderful memories that will always harbor in my heart and I hope to come back again.
Goodbye, Morgan Hill!
Rawail Asad visited the Bay Area this summer. She wrote this column for Morgan Hill Life.
