If you've been lucky enough to help me celebrate my birthday over the years, you've heard me ask questions to reflect on - or review - the previous year. I try to stick to the highlights, but often the year must include the low moments, too, to be adequately described. I just like moments, occasions, events that are ripe with opportunity to look back. Lately I've been convicted that I need to do this ritual more often - like every day - to be reminded of how God is working in my life and the world each day. Ask Him for guidance in the morning and be thankful for His presence and answer in the evening. I'm working on it.
Wednesday of this week was the end of finals and tonight we have graduation at my new school. Among so many other differences between community college and public school, the semester ends earlier, of which I am NOT complaining :) However, it's still a new routine for me to get used to and I find myself thinking "How can I do this better?" or "What did I enjoy most about this new job?"
Last night I was able to take out to dinner 4 of our international students who are still on campus while most have already left. I had thought I'd waited too long to try to organize something, but one of the students came by my office on Monday and I took it as a sign we needed to do something, even if it was small, to celebrate this end (& to celebrate his graduation). The guys were very gracious as we drove to Tyler, ate at #Genghis Grill (which they all loved in great contrast to the cafeteria food they've eaten all year), stopped in at #GameStop so they could buy a new game to fill much of their time in the next few days (!), and then I treated them to their very first DQ #Blizzards!! All in all, a good time.
Some of them still struggle with their English skills, which can make conversation -stilted- at times. But I came prepared with my questions, genuinely curious of their answers. I was suprised by some of them and wanted to share them, or at least record them for my own memory.
3 of the 4 just arrived in country for the first time in January, while the 4th one has been here for 2 years. Three of them are from Turkmenistan, one from Japan.
At the question, "What have you missed most?," the answers, not surprisingly, strongly centered on family and friends, but also included specifically parties with those friends. As we talked I was reminded of the joy of making new friends while living abroad, but it doesn't compare to the comfort of established friends. The guys also mentioned missing traditional foods from their home countries, and....the SMELL of home. Turns out our guy from Japan is from Okinawa and the smells of the ocean are so strong there that there is a palpable difference for him without it. I shared with them that when living in the Philippines, I remember missing turkey (a staple for me in the US) and the beautiful Texas blue sky (of course, along with family and friends!)
At the question, "What has been your favorite thing here this semester?," they spoke of truly friendly people (which I was so thankful to hear). One mentioned the differences between college here and back home, citing that over there they would be required to wear uniforms, not miss any classes, and in general, live a pretty strict life. While here he is appreciative of the freedoms he has to make his own choices, to direct his own path - and specifically, to speak his own mind. Oh, the things we Americans take for granted!!! Our student from Japan is probably the one I spoke with the most this spring as we ended up in the cafeteria at the same time several times at lunch. Because of this I just know a little bit of his story- along with the disaster in his home country, he also had a close friend die unexpectedly and was blessed by his parents to go home for the funeral for a few days. He always greeted me with a huge smile, but I know his classes were challenging because of the language issue (he usually had at least one word he would ask me about) and I can only imagine the incredible cultural differences he had to overcome - alone (as opposed to other students who had fellow students from their countries). When I turned to him to ask - "what are some good things about this semester" he honestly answered - "there were not many" - which broke my heart.
But he came up with an answer. Squirrels. Yup. He said they don't have squirrels in Japan and every time he saw one (and we have many on campus) he would smile.
He is staying in town this summer to take some classes, while almost all of our international students are leaving town to work full time jobs to earn money for next year. I think it will be lonely for him, but I'm going to try to check on him periodically. I am again impressed with the courage and perseverance of those who choose to come to our country for education to better themselves, their family and possibly their own country. And I am again convicted to see how I can encourage them, even if in little ways.
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| Azat, Agaly, Umit & Kenta |
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| Azat is graduating today and I felt God place on my heart to buy him a graduation present since his family wouldn't be here. I walked into the store with no ideas, though, until a woman from my church stopped me to talk. When I told her my mission, she immediately said TOOLS! When I gave him the gift bag, he said no one had ever given him a gift before. Wow. When he pulled out the tools, he looked at his friend and said "we were just talking about how I need to get some tools" - for the new/used car he just bought! I love it when God provides for the needs of others without them even knowing. |
I have a habit of reflecting and not letting it make any changes in me. I pray that I continue to recount the blessings of God and be thankful, but also to meditate on what needs to change and then act on it.
If you have any ways you do this, feel free to share!
p.s. The post title is a song from "Oliver" which I've only ever seen on stage at Faith Academy where I taught in the Philippines. They did an awesome job and those songs pop into my head on occasion bringing back great memories.
