Not many things in this world are truly stationary. Everything around us seems to change. Some of those changes are so insignificant that only someone who has infused himself or herself in that environment can tell the difference; while others are so dramatic that it could affect the life of millions. Alongside the Yalu River, in the northern part of China that borders with North Korea, stands a two-story brick building. My mother once told me that it had been there when she was a little girl. You could tell the building is out of phase with the surroundings, its yellowish-gray exterior is covered with a combination of tiny riverbed-rocks and sand that made the texture as rough as a sandpaper and also gives it a timeless look. On the front side of the second floor balcony, six golden characters jumps out against the backdrop. It is the most prominent feature other than the national flag that flows above the balcony. It roughly translates to: Sixth Latitude Road Elementary School.

            Although I now go to school in a new environment and country; but for six y

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ears, I had attended the Sixth Latitude Road Elementary School and rarely missed a day. During the late fall and winter months, I would be awake even before that first ray from the sun broke the dark and cold nights. As the sun rose, I would drag my tiny body across the sandy track field toward the school. As the morning fog vanished, you could see the sandy track field that was lined with long and narrow pieces of stone, which distinguished between the soccer field in the middle and the tracks that surrounded it. At the same time, the light shone on the front of the school, it reflected from the windows, showing shades of gold, yellow and orange that could warm you up even in the deepest of winter. When you walked past the front entrance, you saw the foyer, painted white with a mint-colored panel that are waist high, and a large set of magnificent granite stairs that lead to the second floor.  The mosaic floor in the foyer displayed a classic picture of a dragon chasing a ball.  Pass the grand stairs, a door guided you to the courtyard. There is where I used to spend the ten minutes we had in between classes to play and be social. This were small gardens that surrounded the playground. Play equipment was scattered all over the place, including basketball stands, Ping-Pong tables, slides, swings and many others. The one thing they all had in common was their deep blue color. On that playground, I made friends that were so valuable to me and who still keep in touch with even after we have been apart for six years.