Monday night we had a book discussion on The Middle of Everywhere by Mary Pipher. I have loved this book so much, and was thrilled to have a chance to talk to my fellow classmates about it. We all had so much to say about the questions posted that I think we took Dr. Schuler aback with how much we wanted to say! The two hours went by considerably fast, and we took time to look at specific examples of refugees in the book and also to look into our own culture and experiences and relate to them. This gave an awesome experience to learn more about my fellow students, I honestly could have spent 2 more hours just listening to people. I would love to sit down with every person in that room with a nice cup of coffee and hear their story... anyway, I digress.
I've had quite a few experiences since being in the Twin Cities of interacting with refugees. I volunteer weekly at SALT, which is a Somali Adult Literacy Training class that's three nights a week, just in the Science Building (Room 102, Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday from 6-8, by the way). (http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/org86299.jsp)
I've been working with them for about 2 months now, and I've enjoyed so much getting to know Somalis and building connections. But one thing I was very naiive about when working with these adults, is the pain and the struggles they have gone through before coming to the US. To remember these faces and names while reading this book really made it personal to me that they are not only in that book, but across the road at the Skyline Tower. After this discussion and realization of the reality of the refugee struggles, I want to become more informed and interested in the Somalian culture (that's why I'm so pumped about learning about it through my research paper...), by also just asking them and talking with them before and after SALT, so I can be some what like a cultural broker to them.
I've been working with them for about 2 months now, and I've enjoyed so much getting to know Somalis and building connections. But one thing I was very naiive about when working with these adults, is the pain and the struggles they have gone through before coming to the US. To remember these faces and names while reading this book really made it personal to me that they are not only in that book, but across the road at the Skyline Tower. After this discussion and realization of the reality of the refugee struggles, I want to become more informed and interested in the Somalian culture (that's why I'm so pumped about learning about it through my research paper...), by also just asking them and talking with them before and after SALT, so I can be some what like a cultural broker to them.
The reflection happened during and right after the discussion. I have to say, I was just on a high from hearing everyone and their stories and their views. It was a great way to start off the semester, with a bit of trust and respect for one another. But above that, just being able to discuss our culture verses other cultures of the world was a blessing to me. I find it so interesting and was happy to spend that time doing that. One new learning that really applies to my life is the fact that finding ones identity is not as individual as I thought. That was said by Christine, and I had wrote on the pad something along the lines (I just liked her way of saying it better). One thing that I'm trying to do here at Concordia is to find my identity. Most days, I look in all the wrong places, and look solely in myself, instead of the community around me, my family, and God.
Overall, it was an awesome experience, that I'm really glad we all got to be a part of.
