佳作
姓  名 蕭惟禛 學  校 台中市私立曉明女子高級中學 年  級 一 年 戊 班

 

 

A Struggle to Survive: Life as a Refugee

What shatters families into pieces? What brings malice, poverty, and death? It is war. War refugees find their way out of their broken countries and homes, trying to find a peaceful place to settle down. However, they usually suffer poverty and discrimination or are even rejected by most countries. I just sympathized with them, but I began to become concerned about the issue of refugees after I plunged myself into the novel Someday We Will Fly.

The book tells the life of Lillia Kazka-Varsh, a fifteen-year-old Jewish girl. World War II destroyed her peaceful life. Her mother disappeared in chaos, and Lillia, along with her father and baby sister, fled to Shanghai, a Japanese colony then and the only place in the world that welcomed them. Lillia became her family's breadwinner, dropping out of school when her father and sister fell sick. As luck would have it, her dancing and acrobatic skills saved her from a more miserable destiny when she worked at a gentlemen’s club. From Lillia, I see the indomitable side of humanity. Though life as a refugee was tough, Lillia faced her challenges bravely and kept searching for her vanished mother.

Lillia’s struggle has led me to a deeper understanding of life as a refugee. Lillia and her family lived in a cramped house, dressed in rags, and had no money for medicine when falling ill. Even now, many refugees around the world encounter the same difficulties. For instance, the Rohingya in Myanmar have faced serious persecution for decades. Meanwhile, because of Syria’s continued civil war since 2011, lots of Syrians have fled to Europe, where they live in refugee camps and have difficulty getting jobs. No doubt the issue of refugees is a tricky but urgent problem for governments to solve.

In the story, Shanghai welcomed Lillia and her family while most countries turned their backs on Jewish refugees. During world war II, China lost a battle to Japan, and Shanghai became the possession of the Imperial Japanese Army. The city allowed people to enter without a visa or a passport, becoming the only destination for Jewish refugees. Sadly, many countries still close their doors upon refugees nowadays. Some strengthen their border control and others even deport the refugees back to their home country. But the refugee issue won’t disappear just because people ignore it. There might be some things to do, such as giving out humanitarian visas, setting up resettlement estates, or issuing work and student visas. By doing so, the human rights of refugees can be ensured.

In her difficult life as a refugee, Lillia met some nice people who pulled her out of despair. A Chinese boy named Wei, though as poor as Lillia, always gave out his hand when she needed it. An American girl, Rebecca, whose father was a doctor, helped save the lives of Lillia’s seriously sick father and sister. When dancing to earn money at a gentlemen's club, Lillia met a Japanese man, Mr. Takati. He not only treated her kindly and ordered meat for her to eat, but also helped her to find her disappeared mother. These characters showed their kindness and empathy for the helpless Lillia, giving her hope to move on in the darkest time. This proves that if people can show more compassion for the tragic encounters of refugees, life in an unfamiliar land can be smoother and more hopeful.

Living in peace with no warplanes flying above, or no death approaching at any moment, we often complain about trivial things and forget to cherish their family and friendship. Lillia’s story is a reminder, which tells us to be grateful for everything we have while raising our awareness of the plight of those who suffer due to the violence of warfare. Refugees deserve to have dignity, human rights, and a safe home. It’s time for the world to help restore their deprived rights. The refugees are waiting for the end of war and persecution, and for a true home.