Irwin @ Pap - West

   My name is Irwin James Charles Alangatoa Mangaoa.                                      My birthday is June the 19th. Upon writing this, I am ten years old I have curly hair and very curly eyelashes. I do not have any siblings that live with me. I have 3 brothers and 2 sisters. I have a hobby for sports, especially soccer and basketball. I have missed 3 birthdays due to an ‘incident’. Some people refer to me as ‘ugly’, though I think I am just… Special. I have 3 wishes… My first wish is to have a successful career. My second wish is to be rich and donate half of my money to poor people. My third wish is to fulfill my Mom’s promise and marry in the church and marry at the age of 21. I would like to accomplish my achievements, not be judgemental, and be friendly. I admit I do use bad language at...

  I venture off into the wild, on a search for our most prized creature. The crickets are chirping, and the beautiful night breeze is rushing through my hair. The tips of tall plants, some Aloe Vera, brush my fingertips as I make my way, deeper and deeper when something bright catches my eye. Flashlight in one hand, machete in the other, I was ready to assist my grandfather as he got on his stomach, and reached out to grab the creature by its two long claws and wraps it with kalamomi. I chuck it into the sack that’s slung over my shoulder and we repeat this process about four more times, and then we go back to our car, exhausted… My Turuangawaewae is extraordinarily special to me because it is located in my home country Niue. Another thing I find special is that it is not equal to the land. In other words, forests are on top of land. But my Turangawaewae goes deeper and deeper, sort of like a cave. I always feel plants and tall grasses and vines make contact with my body. So...