Arland Jacobson

Eva's Unexpected Adventure Arland Jacobson

I wrote this story to help and support my family in understanding difference, loss, and disappointment when faced with unfamiliar and unexpected situations. This story is about the journey of preparing oneself for a specific event and having it all fall to pieces. To go from dreaming about it, learning about it, believing it, and wanting it, to discovering the reality that everything has changed due to reasons beyond one's control. Sometimes these situations can leave us with disappointment, sadness, depression, isolation, rejection, denial, and many other negative feelings. That is, until we get the help we need, through the support of family, friends, and family of choice. By the end of the story, the reader will learn that there is always space for learning something new, for growth, and for flexibility in changing the directions and expectations in our lives. The reader will experience a journey of risks, courage, and surprise, that will leave them with more confidence in their ability to deal with the changes and challenges in their lives. I decided to write the story in both English and in Arabic to unite both aspects of my identity, growing up in Palestine and now living in the United States. Because this story has been an important factor in my life, I wanted to reach communities of different backgrounds and cultures with as fewer barriers as possible.