Dear Ms. Kimaro,

I am so thankful that you came to our school to tell us about your experience, your trip, and your family. This film was very inspiring and honest. I am impressed that this was only your first film. I could tell at a certain point in the film there was a huge shift in thinking on your part. As part of the audience, I could really feel that.

A recurring theme in the film was truth. That telling the truth can free someone and lift a burden off the heart, as your aunt put it.

We all judge. We look at someone and think we know everything about them. The thing is, no one is exactly as they seem. There are always things left unsaid or covered up. No matter how hard we try to forget or even pretend it never happened, it hurts us in the end. We have to learn to accept our past. When we learn to allow the truth we have been hiding or simply let go, we find our real self.

I was so impressed that your aunts opened up to you the way that they did. It might have been hard, but afterwards, they changed. It was so interesting how your aunts told you about their experience, but the men were silent. After, the woman felt better, but the men still held on to their past.

I am amazed at your work and effort put into this beautiful film. You really inspire me to push through hard times and keep going. I love your energy and enthusiasm when talking about your story. I am so glad that I was able to watch your film. Although you didn’t achieve exactly what you went there for, in the end you became closer to your family, learned about their culture, and maybe a little about yourself along the way.

Thank you for sharing your story,

Sincerely,

Emma

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