Do not Drink Water of a Foreign Land

Description

This book is a biographical narrative centered on the author’s beloved grandfather, his life journey, struggles, sacrifices, resilience, and the wisdom he sought to pass on to future generations. Through childhood memories, the author explores the contrast between her carefree perception of home and her grandfather’s memories of hardship, displacement, and longing for his homeland. The grandfather’s warning never to drink the water of a foreign land becomes a powerful metaphor for remaining connected to one’s roots. What appears to a child as a simple prohibition gradually reveals a deeper message about identity, belonging, and preserving cultural heritage. The story explores survival, exile, memory, identity, and the transmission of wisdom across generations. Traditional evening gatherings, known as ibitaramo, serve as spaces where history, proverbs, values, and traditions are shared with children, shaping their understanding before formal education. Water becomes a symbol of life, renewal, and homeland. Through the author’s journey to understand her grandfather’s words, the book reflects on home, returning to one’s roots, and the enduring bond between generations.