I was busy with my thoughts and it was a gorgeous afternoon. I was walking around the beautiful city of Albany. I can feel the peace of different religions coming together and creating a masterpiece. As I walk, I feel and experience the love and beauty of many magnificent cultures mixing together.

My name is Ali Sherzad, but my friends call me Ben. After being born in a war zone I have spent most of my life traveling around Asia.

I thought I had discovered and experienced many things before I arrived to the beautiful city of Albany. Yet, I feel like Albany has something different, something interesting and special which attracts me. Albany opens its arms and welcomes every kind of human being. This welcoming brings smiles to the faces of different nationalities.  Beautiful soil smells deep and spreads the thoughts and memories of a four hundred year history.

Newcomers arrive in search of peace and Albany welcomes and hosts them in such a way that they have never experienced. The newcomers are free to achieve everything they want, and the city of Albany provides them every chance to be successful.

This city is beautiful because you can find peace in every corner. Albany allows you to perform your religious activities freely and that’s the reason that you can feel the love and blessings of a merciful God.

You can experience the beauty and color of many cultures in every street of this amazing city. Different festivals and gatherings spread the ideas of love, peace, and a reason to be thankful of your presence.

The important thing about this city is the acceptance. The city accepts you for who and what you are, and it gives you unlimited love. But it needs love back.

As I had the chance to have a walk around during Lark Fest, it was amazing to experience the beauty of different people everywhere you look and fall in love with this kind of cultural celebration. I would love to be a part of these gatherings in the future .

Accepting each other’s thoughts and beliefs make the citizens of this city unique and wonderful. It’s a glad moment for me to be part of this society and city, and one I am proud to contribute to.

God bless the City of Albany and The United States of America.