A Lesson in Diversity

As with any job, somedays I love my job and others not so much. Yesterday was one of those 'love my job kind of days.' Looking back, whenever I get to spend time with my clients is when I have those love my job days. My clients, who come from many different countries with many different languages and backgrounds inspire me daily. They are so resilient. They are so eager to learn and make a better life for themselves in the United States. The teach me new things about myself and about the world around me all the time. Yesterday was no exception to this.
We started a class a few months ago which goes all day four days a week and teaches intensive English, employment and cultural skills, as well as a training course led by Ivy Tech in specialized areas. I love visiting the clients at this class and watching them interact. Even though they come from all different countries with many different languages they have become friends. Yesterday I showed up and found two clients, one from Eretria and one from Burma outside hitting a volleyball back and forth to each other. They didn't speak the same language and couldn't verbally communicate but were playing and interacting together! I went in to another room and found another group of clients sitting around enjoying lunch together, and again interacting without the gift of a common language! When I left I was so happy to see a group of men, from at least four different countries with four different languages playing volleyball together (using a football goal for their net).

It's things like this that make me so proud of what I do and the people that I serve. This might not mean much to you...but to me it shows love and acceptance, something many of us often have far too less of. Many of us take for granted this life. We take for granted our commonalities, our security, and our safety. The people in the picture above has experienced trauma and pain beyond our wildest dreams. Yet, here they are enjoying the life they have and enjoying the company of people from extremely different backgrounds than that of themselves.

We could all use a little encouragement to be more kind, more compassionate, more loving, and more resilient in our everyday lives! Just one of the many lessons these amazing refugees have taught me!