Why Stories?

Mark Twain famously wrote, "Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime".  The percentage of us that have both the time and resources to travel is minimal, but we all have the opportunity to explore the world through the eyes of those who have made the journeys.  The stories that are told here are the stories of people who have had to adjust the filters of their perceptions to survive and thrive in new situations.  

I've had the good fortune to meet many people who have navigated complex intersections.  Some have made the journey with excitement and enthusiasm.  Some have made the journey for a deep purpose.  Some have made the journey bravely, while others have found sadness and loneliness.  In some cases I've been able to travel myself to visit their homes, to better understand their stories.  

Other stories have been collected by volunteers at the Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center (CMLC) in Corvallis, Oregon.  Immigrants, students, and refugees have come to the center, made friends there, learned English, and even studied to become citizens inside this second home.  Their stories come from around the globe.  They include Yemini, Vietnamese, Turkish, Chinese, and Mexican. I hope that others will volunteer their stories and help us all to overcome the "prejudices, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness" that is the nature of daily life in our little corners.  

Maegan Prentice​