DigitalCommons@C.O.D.

Blanco, Tania

The Prairie Light Review 
Volume 46 
Number 1 Fall 2023 Article 72 
Fall 12-1-2023 
Contemplative Moment By The Sea 
Tania Blanco 
College of DuPage 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr 
Recommended Citation 
Blanco, Tania (2023) "Contemplative Moment By The Sea," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 46: No. 1, Article 
72. 
Available at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol46/iss1/72 
This Artwork is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at DigitalCommons@COD. It 
has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@COD. For 
more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
a some color sky hovers above us
you and I
breathe the same current
one faces right
one faces left
I leave an impression quickly swallowed 
before a glimpse of my shadow
tells you I had been lying there
He is not identified
in the photograph of the Dauphin 
Juniors
hockey team 1926-27
squeezed between Captain Scrase
and George “Troque” Heard
who of course signed
with the Rangers, 1927.
He is standing with the rest
wanting, it looks, to smile
but maybe not sure
if that’s what you do
in a hockey photograph.
Wearing his jersey
proud flying D on the chest
real leather gloves
and shin pads
or maybe just thick magazines
stuffed down striped socks.
This is the decade before
threshing gangs made a dollar a day
and the depression
strangled the prairies
though hockey became more popular 
then:
fewer people worked.
I couldn’t tell you anything
about this hockey player
though he is preserved in
Dogtown to Dauphin.
His life may have been
as crooked as “Squee” Heard’s
who told the Rangers
that his brother Troque was a boozer, 
or
it could have been
straight and simple
as his hockey stick.
(solidified)
my whisper crept behind your eyes
and constructed a vision so clear
you touch the space my words created
beneath an invisible blanket
I sleep soundly tucked under the same
phantom _Karian Markos
Not Identified _Jason Snart
Contemplative Moment By The Sea, Mixed Media Collage _Tania Blanco
Wandering Fantasy One of a Kind 
Brooch/Necklace, Jewelry 
_Aleksandra Vali
7170
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Blanco: Contemplative Moment By The Sea
Published by DigitalCommons@COD, 2023


English

Contemplative Moment By The Sea

This composition is about studying at a university in Germany. The author describes the challenges he had to overcome in order to be a successful university student in a foreign country

Ausaf, Abdullah Syed Muhammad

Erlebnis mit neuen Herausforderungen 
Abdullah Syed Muhammad Ausaf 
Erlebnis mit neuen Herausforderungen 
Es stellt sich die Frage, warum ich überhaupt Deutsch lernte? Nachdem ich erfolgreich mein Abitur in 
Saudi Arabien absolvierte, schlugen mir meine Brüder vor, in Deutschland zu studieren, weil 
Deutschland ein preisgünstiges und hochqualifiziertes sowie weltweit anerkanntes Studium bietet. 
Meine Eltern boten mir an, mich in den ersten zwei Jahren beim Erlernen der deutschen Sprache und 
beim Studium finanziell zu unterstützen. Dieser Vorschlag und dieses Angebot trafen mich mitten ins 
Herz und ins Hirn, und ich war sehr begeistert sowie interessiert an dieser Herausforderung. Dann 
nahm ich die neue Herausforderung in meinem Leben an und lernte sechs Monate lang Deutsch von 
0 an der Goethe-Instituite. Ich lernte Deutsch als neue Fremdsprache täglich 12 Stunden lang in drei 
Teilen. Der erste Teil bestand darin, 6 Stunden lang Deutsch zu hören und 4 Stunden lang Zeitungen 
und Zeitschriften in Blättern abzuschreiben, um mich an die Buchstaben und Wörter zu gewöhnen. 
Die restliche Zeit las ich in meinem Zimmer verschiedene Artikel laut vor. Während dieser Zeit 
beantragte ich mein Visum bei der deutschen Botschaft und erhielt die Erlaubnis, in Deutschland zu 
studieren, wobei ich mein Zertifikat B1, eine Bescheinigung über die Teilnahme an Deutschkursen, 
einen Studienplatz an der Universität in Deutschland sowie die erforderlichen Dokumente vorlegte. 
Die Reise begann mit Begeisterung und Aufregung wieder in Deutschland mit dem weiteren Lernen 
der deutschen Sprache. Dort konnte ich verschiedene Studenten mit unterschiedlichen kulturellen 
Hintergründen kennenlernen. Nachdem ich den Deutschkurs erfolgreich bestand, nahm ich zum 
ersten Mal an der Aufnahmeprüfung im Studienkolleg Bochum teil und fiel leider durch. Aber ich gab 
nicht auf und lernte Tag und Nacht für sie und legte sie dann im zweiten Versuch ab. Anschließend 
schloss dann mein Studienkolleg mit dem mathematisch-naturwissenschaftlichen Schwerpunkt 
erfolgreich ab. Im Anschluss daran studierte ich Informatik in deutscher Sprache an der 
Fachhochschule Aachen und absolvierte mein Studium mit den Schwerpunkten IT-Sicherheit und 
Softwaretechnik in der Regelstudienzeit. Dieser Erfolg war am Anfang ziemlich unglaublich, da ich 
1
Ausaf: Erlebnis mit neuen Herausforderungen
Published by DigitalCommons@COD, 2023
Erlebnis mit neuen Herausforderungen 
neben meinem Vollzeitstudium 20 Stunden wöchentlich arbeiten musste, um meinen Lebensunterhalt 
und die Studiengebühren zu finanzieren. Außerdem musste ich Lebensmittel einkaufen, für mich 
selbst kochen und gleichzeitig verschiedenen Aktivitäten unternehmen. Nach meinem Abschluss 
gönnte ich mir einen dreimonatigen Urlaub und flog in die USA, um bei meiner Familie zu sein und 
eine schöne Zeit zu verbringen. In der Zwischenzeit suchte ich nach einem Job in Deutschland und 
führte 20 Vorstellungsgespräche auf Deutsch durch. Nach mehreren Versuchen und Absagen sowie 
einigen Zusagen bekam ich ein Jobangebot bei einer weltweit bekannten Firma EY im Bereich 
Cybersecurity. Jetzt arbeite ich bei EY als Cybersecurity Consultant und bin sehr froh, mit „Smart 
People“ zusammenzuarbeiten. Ich lernte aus meiner Herausforderung, dass ich immer meine 
Lieblingsdinge opferte, um meine Ziele zu erreichen. Außerdem musste ich mein gewohntes Umfeld 
verlassen, um aus meiner Komfortzone herauszukommen und dadurch über mich selbst 
hinauszuwachsen sowie fokussiert auf die Ziele zu arbeiten. Ich würde allen jungen Menschen 
empfehlen, ihr Studium in Deutschland fortzusetzen und diese Chance zu nutzen und sich mit 
wertvollen Dingen zu beschäftigen, denn in dieser Zeit haben sie volle Energie, Motivation und können 
alles Neue lernen sowie sich neuen Herausforderungen stellen. 
 
  
2
COD in Lingua, Vol. 2, Iss. 1 [2023], Art. 1
https://dc.cod.edu/codinlingua/vol2/iss1/1
Erlebnis mit neuen Herausforderungen 
Experience with new challenges 
The question arises, why did I learn German in the first place? After I successfully completed my high 
school diploma in Saudi Arabia, my brothers suggested that I study in Germany because Germany 
offers affordable and highly qualified studies that are recognized worldwide. My parents offered to 
support me financially during the first two years of learning the German language and studying. This 
suggestion and offer hit me right in the heart and brain, and I was very excited as well as interested in 
this challenge. Then I accepted the new challenge in my life and learned German from 0 at Goethe-
Instituite for six months. I learned German as a new foreign language for 12 hours a day in three parts. 
The first part consisted of listening to German for 6 hours and writing down newspapers and 
magazines in sheets for 4 hours to get used to the letters and words. The rest of the time I read various 
articles aloud in my room. During this time, I applied for my visa at the German embassy and received 
permission to study in Germany, presenting my B1 certificate, a certificate of attendance at German 
courses, a place at the university in Germany, and the necessary documents. The journey began with 
enthusiasm and excitement back in Germany with further learning of the German language. There, I 
was able to meet different students with different cultural backgrounds. After successfully passing the 
German course, I took the entrance exam at the Studienkolleg Bochum for the first time and 
unfortunately failed. But I did not give up and studied day and night for it and then passed it in the 
second attempt. Afterwards, I then successfully completed my Studienkolleg with a focus on 
mathematics and natural sciences. After that, I studied computer science in German at the University 
of Applied Sciences in Aachen and graduated with majors in IT security and software technology in the 
standard period of study. This success was quite unbelievable at the beginning, because I had to work 
20 hours a week besides my full-time studies to finance my living and the tuition fees. I also had to 
buy groceries, cook for myself, and do various activities at the same time. After graduation, I treated 
myself to a three-month vacation and flew to the U.S. to be with my family and have a good time. In 
the meantime, I looked for a job in Germany and conducted 20 interviews in German. After several 
attempts and rejections as well as some acceptances, I got a job offer at a worldwide known company 
3
Ausaf: Erlebnis mit neuen Herausforderungen
Published by DigitalCommons@COD, 2023
Erlebnis mit neuen Herausforderungen 
EY in the field of Cybersecurity. Now I am working at EY as a Cybersecurity Consultant and I am very 
happy to work with "Smart People". I learned from my challenge that I always sacrificed my favorite 
things to achieve my goals. Also, I had to leave my usual environment to get out of my comfort zone 
and as a result, I outgrew myself as well as worked in a focused manner to achieve the goals. I would 
recommend all young people to continue their studies in Germany and take this chance to work on 
valuable things, because they have full energy, motivation and can learn everything new as well as 
face new challenges. 
4
COD in Lingua, Vol. 2, Iss. 1 [2023], Art. 1
https://dc.cod.edu/codinlingua/vol2/iss1/1


German

Erlebnis mit neuen Herausforderungen

Damra, Rahaf

The Prairie Light Review 
Volume 46 
Number 1 Fall 2023 Article 14 
Fall 12-1-2023 
Untitled 
Rahaf Damra 
College of DuPage 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr 
Recommended Citation 
Damra, Rahaf (2023) "Untitled," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 46: No. 1, Article 14. 
Available at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol46/iss1/14 
This Artwork is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at DigitalCommons@COD. It 
has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@COD. For 
more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
I couldn’t remember the last time I got a haircut but I 
knew it hadn’t ever been like this. The salon was in a strip mall, 
in between a bakery and a bar and across from a gas sta-
tion, so the inside smelled of coffee and beer except when the 
door opened and the burning smell of gasoline wormed its way 
inside. Gentle guitar strums and rowdy drunken cries of the 
neighbors were just barely audible over the radio playing in 
the corner. 
The hairdresser wrapped the cape around me and 
snapped the closures together.
“So what are we doing with your hair today, honey?” 
she asked.
I stare back at my reflection. It’s hard to know where to 
look. I can’t stare at her because that might make her uncom-
fortable and she might get nervous and accidentally cut the top 
of my ear off. Or maybe staring will make her angry and she’ll 
want to fight me and I’m not much of a fighter so I’d lose imme-
diately and then she’ll purposely cut the top of my ear off. So 
I can’t look at her because one way or another she will cut the 
top of my ear off.
But I can’t look down. That might mess up the haircut and 
then I’ll have to walk around with an uneven haircut–probably 
for the rest of my life–and then people will point and laugh at 
me and I won’t ever be able to leave the house again. Which 
also means I can’t look up, or left, or right. So if I don’t look 
straight ahead at all times then my hair will be ruined forever.
An ad came over the radio, and I quickly realized that 
I hadn’t answered the hairdresser’s question. If my dad were 
here, he’d scold me.
“Answer the damn question. It’s not that hard,” he’d say. 
Then he’d go back to playing solitaire on his phone. He wouldn’t 
even look up, he’d just say it. Maybe he’d forget that he drove 
The Haircut _Bee Bishop
Spring Fashion, Color Photograph _Karlynn Rich  
 
 
 
 
 
Designer _ Rahaf Dam
ra 
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Damra: Untitled
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Untitled

Morris, Wilda

The Prairie Light Review 
Volume 46 
Number 1 Fall 2023 Article 20 
Fall 12-1-2023 
Her Daughter Speaks 
Wilda Morris 
College of DuPage 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr 
Recommended Citation 
Morris, Wilda (2023) "Her Daughter Speaks," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 46: No. 1, Article 20. 
Available at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol46/iss1/20 
This Selection is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at DigitalCommons@COD. It 
has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@COD. For 
more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
Sundering suburbs’ girls
Staring out your windows
At artificial blue skies
Wondering and almost believing 
that
In your wasteland suburbs
There is something wonderful
Waiting for your
Desperate eyes
Craving beauty
In the craters left behind
By the crashing of metropolis.
Are we destined to be
Sprawling suburbs’ girls
For the rest of our lives?
Planted here, unable
To move and
Stuck in concrete.
We grow up through the cracks
As flowering weeds to Suburbia–
Because even garbage dumps
Hold gardens–
Trying to find our way
Through The Concrete Plains:
The decrepit offspring of
The Great Plains
Where whims of grand parking
Lots and brick stores were
Never dreamed.
Yes
You stumbling suburbs’ girl
Imagining the wind whispers se-
crets
Only for you
Beneath the songs of backyard 
birds
Those birds that clutch onto the 
chain links of
Your prison gates.
You will interpret the
Sounds and cries of the
Wind into songs.
They will tell you the delicious lies
You seek too.
Strange suburban girls
Know what it’s like
To trace the veins of leaves
Searching for that path
Called:
“Your Own”
Stuck in your wasteland–
Yes, wasteland.
You will listen to the bees
And one day you may find
Your way out of Suburbia
Yet you must choose
Swiftly, for the gates will
Not always remain open.
 after Karla Huston
She knows she has to watch what she eats.
She leaves the salt out of everything she cooks,
regardless of the impact on flavor. 
But every time I stop by, I find she’s bought
another box of those salty cheese crackers
she supposedly gets for grandchildren—
who have grown up and moved away—
and has refilled the candy jar with chocolate kisses.
All the time her hair was turning gray
she refused to dye it to keep herself looking young,
though I have to admit it’s not too bad
now it’s all turned white. She seldom buys
new clothes—still wears garments 
out of style years ago. And she never learned
to keep house. If things are halfway neat, 
you can count on it—she’s expecting company.
Had my bedroom been nearly as messy 
as hers is now, she would have sent me
upstairs to clean it. She’d rather be 
at the computer, writing more poems
while she still has time left, never admitting
her shortfalls to her many readers.
Suburban Wasteland _Dakoda McCallumHer Daughter Speaks _Wilda Morris
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Morris: Her Daughter Speaks
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Her Daughter Speaks

Toreeva, Natalia G.

The Prairie Light Review 
Volume 46 
Number 1 Fall 2023 Article 45 
Fall 12-1-2023 
Home 
Natalia G. Toreeva 
College of DuPage 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr 
Recommended Citation 
Toreeva, Natalia G. (2023) "Home," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 46: No. 1, Article 45. 
Available at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol46/iss1/45 
This Artwork is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at DigitalCommons@COD. It 
has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@COD. For 
more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
to think
that my hunger
for love and affection
had to be satisfied by you
…silly me
to think
that everything
I could ever want and
ever need could be found with 
you
…silly me
a thief,
you called me but
you were the one who stole.
so don’t be surprised when I 
take
it back
a thief,
you called me as
if I was a mistake,
and not what you said you 
wanted
…silly me
to think
you ever could
provide nourishment to
a quickly growing little girl
…silly me
to think
I could ever
trust you with anything,
when you couldn’t even trust you 
…silly me
A Spiteful Love Letter to My Mother _Bee Bishop Home, Charcoal On Paper  _Natalia G. Toreeva
4544
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Toreeva: Home
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Home

Novak, Megan

The Prairie Light Review 
Volume 46 
Number 1 Fall 2023 Article 50 
Fall 12-1-2023 
Jackson 
Megan Novak 
College of DuPage 
Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr 
Recommended Citation 
Novak, Megan (2023) "Jackson," The Prairie Light Review: Vol. 46: No. 1, Article 50. 
Available at: https://dc.cod.edu/plr/vol46/iss1/50 
This Artwork is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at DigitalCommons@COD. It 
has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Light Review by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@COD. For 
more information, please contact orenick@cod.edu. 
I admire you from across the avenue
as more gray-on-gray, uniform buildings 
sprout from new foundations
You—the scrappy tree that persists through the development
Your gnarled trunk and roots cry rebellion
bust through the concrete designed to contain them
half your branches are missing and those that remain
grow at an angle that would have Pythagoras perplexed
spring has come and you are without leaves
indefatigable, you require no sustenance but determination
You should have toppled long ago but you’re still here
flipping the bird to city trucks with vendettas 
for infringing on power line sovereignty
You stand your ground—defiant, eternal
more alive than all of us
I admire your resilience, your grit 
a beacon for us all, there you stand, proud
broken in body but not in spirit
against all odds and heavy machinery
One Urban Tree to Another _Karian Markos
Jackson, Digital Collage  _Megan Novak
5352
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Novak: Jackson
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Jackson

This paper examines the utilization of cobalt resources in the Democratic  Republic of the Congo. It brings to light the challenging conditions experienced by artisanal miners, encompassing inadequate remuneration and  hazardous work environments. Furthermore, it delves into the historical  context of the country’s exploitation, tracing it back to the colonial era  of King Leopold’s reign and the impact of the industrial revolution and  steam-powered engines that led to the scramble for Africa. Lastly, it dis cusses the environmental consequences of the cobalt mining industry.
Faculty Sponsor: Professor Maria Ritzem

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Contemplative Moment By The Sea

Erlebnis mit neuen Herausforderungen

Untitled

Her Daughter Speaks

Home

Jackson

The Cobalt Catastrophe

Front Cover - Hidden Worlds

As she says I do

Pink Roses

7,467

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