When we agreed to go to Phoenix, for General Assembly, we also agreed to do more acting on Justice and less business. However, our partners I Phoenix immediately asked us to learn more about the Doctrine of Discovery and eventually repudiate it. Our GA delegates to repudiate it last Sunday. Yeah!
http://www.uua.org/ga/2012/189502.shtml
I knew next to nothing before a week ago, about the Doctrine of Discovery. Shame on me as a delegate I did not explore it prior to traveling to Phoenix. Closely connected to this is a UN Declaration on the rights of Indigenous People, UNDRIP. I could encourage us to learn as much as possible about both of these documents.
As I understand it, the DOD has been in place for thousands of years. At its core, a country conquers another country and assume ownership of the land, and then control the indigenous peoples who were already there. It is what we did to the American Indians when Columbus arrived.
The American Indian partners were emphatic that we pass the responsive resolution repudiating the DOD and pushing the US to sign and implement the UNDRIP. Yes the acronym is DRIP. We are one of 4 countries who have not yet signed the Declaration. Does this sound familiar, the relationship and the lack of action on the part of the US with the UN? As long as I am using acronyms WTF!
SO last week, I read about the DOD and I got a copy of the UNDRIP on my ipad and read that during our discussion. I went to two great sessions where one of our partners, Tupac Acosta, an American Indian, spoke passionately about the DOD, the UNDRIP and how important our vote is.
There are not thousands of readers of my blog but those of you who get this far, might GOOGLE these two documents if you do not already know about them. This is important work our denomination is doing!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Grand Canyon and water bottles
As most of you know one of my pet peeves is the number of plastic bottles full of water we use. For the most part, the water out of the tap is perfectly safe to drink.
I was ecstatic to see this sign as soon as we entered the Grand Canyon. It is accompanied by a faucet to fill water bottles. We had brought our Nalgene water bottles with us and quickly emptied them since it was so hot. These water stations are all over where we were walking so we easily filled them again.
It was so nice to not see empty plastic bottles all over the place. If the Grand Canyon can provide a water station like this one, can't other less remote places have them? Why did we ever get rid of water bubblers and water fountains? Might it be because Coca-cola and other big companies sell water in plastic bottles?
Will you join me on this campaign to use less plastic bottles?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I was ecstatic to see this sign as soon as we entered the Grand Canyon. It is accompanied by a faucet to fill water bottles. We had brought our Nalgene water bottles with us and quickly emptied them since it was so hot. These water stations are all over where we were walking so we easily filled them again.
It was so nice to not see empty plastic bottles all over the place. If the Grand Canyon can provide a water station like this one, can't other less remote places have them? Why did we ever get rid of water bubblers and water fountains? Might it be because Coca-cola and other big companies sell water in plastic bottles?
Will you join me on this campaign to use less plastic bottles?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
From Vivian for Bernie
I wrote the following about a chapel service at Star Island given by our dear friend Vivian. Vivian taught me that night to reach out to those in pain. They can decide whether to answer or not, but don't hesitate to reach out.
Now as another dear friend from Star has been moved to hospice, I am reminded of how important it is to reach out to those we love who are in pain and remember those who have died that we love.
Here is what I wrote that summer:
THE CHAPEL and VIVIAN
The Chapel creates magic, or rather we create magic often in the Chapel. The obvious magic is the lanterns we carry up the hill to hang and light up the inside. Also obvious are the stories told each night inside the Chapel. We all leave with a part of someone else, shared from the pulpit or from the audience.
This particular night was special; super-magic an extraordinary event that demonstrated the inner connected web which binds us all. We were traumatized a year ago by the news that Vivian had been diagnosed with bone cancer. Would I see her again? Would she come to Star again?
Yes, Yes, she did and she lit the Chapel up that night along with Tom. No lanterns were needed. Like a spider she connected all of us with the threads of her year and with her compassion, honesty, truth and wisdom. The Chapel had an aura, a moment so special and dear.
No one wanted to leave the Chapel, in case we might never see Vivian again. My first thought was that we could all sleep over in the Chapel. We finally did leave but not before our paths down the hill had been guided by Vivian, Tom and their story. Only on Star, and only in the Chapel. We are all connected by a web.
and the poem I also wrote:
The music was over
Long after we should have left the Chapel
Bodies were in pews
On the hill the lanterns were flickering
And spirits stayed connected by a fiber
As thin as a spider web
No on moved
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Now as another dear friend from Star has been moved to hospice, I am reminded of how important it is to reach out to those we love who are in pain and remember those who have died that we love.
Here is what I wrote that summer:
THE CHAPEL and VIVIAN
The Chapel creates magic, or rather we create magic often in the Chapel. The obvious magic is the lanterns we carry up the hill to hang and light up the inside. Also obvious are the stories told each night inside the Chapel. We all leave with a part of someone else, shared from the pulpit or from the audience.
This particular night was special; super-magic an extraordinary event that demonstrated the inner connected web which binds us all. We were traumatized a year ago by the news that Vivian had been diagnosed with bone cancer. Would I see her again? Would she come to Star again?
Yes, Yes, she did and she lit the Chapel up that night along with Tom. No lanterns were needed. Like a spider she connected all of us with the threads of her year and with her compassion, honesty, truth and wisdom. The Chapel had an aura, a moment so special and dear.
No one wanted to leave the Chapel, in case we might never see Vivian again. My first thought was that we could all sleep over in the Chapel. We finally did leave but not before our paths down the hill had been guided by Vivian, Tom and their story. Only on Star, and only in the Chapel. We are all connected by a web.
and the poem I also wrote:
The music was over
Long after we should have left the Chapel
Bodies were in pews
On the hill the lanterns were flickering
And spirits stayed connected by a fiber
As thin as a spider web
No on moved
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Monday, June 25, 2012
Tent City Vigil at GA in PHX- standing on the side of love
We came to act and witness and that we did. Last night we had a permit for 2000 of us to hold a vigil just outside Sheriff Joe Apraio's tent city. This is where undocumented immigrants are held until their trials. Sheriff Joe closed the tent city to visitors (their families) when he knew we were coming.
Earlier in the day during our plenary session we heard first hand accounts of families fractured by this inhumane treatment. There was not a dry eye in the hall of 3000+ as the two young women spoke, with their children in their arms.
20 busses making round trips took us to the site. We had been warned that there would be a counter protest, and they would be carrying guns, legally.
We arrived in the middle pack of the people being dropped off. A team of WITNESS folks shepherded us by the counter protesters to the site where we would hold the vigil. We were encouraged to drink lots of water in the 100 degree evening temperatures. People were always shoving a bottle of cold water toward you.
When we got off the bus, and saw the counter protesters, all of the bus loads sang, "when I breath in, I breath in peace, when I breath out I breath out love". We know this song well, and we sang it impromptu on the bus ride there, and it is well ingrained in our psyches, to remember when we are anxious.
We sang familiar songs, we shouted hoping the detainees could hear us and we practiced non-violence and we stood on the side of love.
We felt safe as more and more bus loads arrived, and the Phoenix police force were there in hundreds. Joe and his sheriff department stood near the entrance, and their numbers also grew by the ones.
People arrived from 8-9:30 and the last ones arrived back at the convention center after midnight.
When we got back to the convention center, a Chaplain got on our bus, encouraged us to drink more water, and made us all aware that Chaplains would be available that evening. A group, who had stayed back at the convention center made an archway holding of candles as we disembarked and sang soothing hymns to us as we made our way "home".
I have been a part of peaceful vigils before however, none this large. I was afraid for only a few moments, when I first saw the counter protesters, and when we were instructed to walk in twos, in the middle of the road.
When I felt overheated and thirsty I only had to remember the detainees, and what they experience 365/24/7. I took the water because I need to stay healthy to keep up our fight against this intolerable treatment of human beings.
This morning one of our partners from Phoenix, spoke during a worship and thanked us for witnessing with them. He was brought to tears, as he thanked us. He was blown away by our numbers, and he was changed profoundly by the expression of support he felt, as were we changed by their stories. He lives this every day in his work, while we return to carry the flame back to our congregations.
We came to Phoenix for Justice GA, to act and not just talk and we did just that. I will decide in the next few weeks what to do next. I have never been so ready to write President Obama a letter. That letter is marinating in my mind as we speak. In my dream, or rather nightmare, I am having a conversation with Sheriff Joe, and in a mode of inquiry I am asking him, "What were you thinking?" or "How can you look at yourself in the mirror?"
My wise daughter helps me get over being angry at him and to realize that he is a victim of our immigration laws and local power. Yes, I get that, but with my UU values I can not imagine treating anyone or anything as cruelly as detainees are treated in Tent City.
This vigil has given me much to think about. My heart is heavy as images of young women and men with fractured families, are deeply embedded in my mind. This story of inhumane treatment is repeated every minute all over the world. There is a lot of work to do, to Stand on the side of Love.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Earlier in the day during our plenary session we heard first hand accounts of families fractured by this inhumane treatment. There was not a dry eye in the hall of 3000+ as the two young women spoke, with their children in their arms.
20 busses making round trips took us to the site. We had been warned that there would be a counter protest, and they would be carrying guns, legally.
We arrived in the middle pack of the people being dropped off. A team of WITNESS folks shepherded us by the counter protesters to the site where we would hold the vigil. We were encouraged to drink lots of water in the 100 degree evening temperatures. People were always shoving a bottle of cold water toward you.
When we got off the bus, and saw the counter protesters, all of the bus loads sang, "when I breath in, I breath in peace, when I breath out I breath out love". We know this song well, and we sang it impromptu on the bus ride there, and it is well ingrained in our psyches, to remember when we are anxious.
We sang familiar songs, we shouted hoping the detainees could hear us and we practiced non-violence and we stood on the side of love.
We felt safe as more and more bus loads arrived, and the Phoenix police force were there in hundreds. Joe and his sheriff department stood near the entrance, and their numbers also grew by the ones.
People arrived from 8-9:30 and the last ones arrived back at the convention center after midnight.
When we got back to the convention center, a Chaplain got on our bus, encouraged us to drink more water, and made us all aware that Chaplains would be available that evening. A group, who had stayed back at the convention center made an archway holding of candles as we disembarked and sang soothing hymns to us as we made our way "home".
I have been a part of peaceful vigils before however, none this large. I was afraid for only a few moments, when I first saw the counter protesters, and when we were instructed to walk in twos, in the middle of the road.
When I felt overheated and thirsty I only had to remember the detainees, and what they experience 365/24/7. I took the water because I need to stay healthy to keep up our fight against this intolerable treatment of human beings.
This morning one of our partners from Phoenix, spoke during a worship and thanked us for witnessing with them. He was brought to tears, as he thanked us. He was blown away by our numbers, and he was changed profoundly by the expression of support he felt, as were we changed by their stories. He lives this every day in his work, while we return to carry the flame back to our congregations.
We came to Phoenix for Justice GA, to act and not just talk and we did just that. I will decide in the next few weeks what to do next. I have never been so ready to write President Obama a letter. That letter is marinating in my mind as we speak. In my dream, or rather nightmare, I am having a conversation with Sheriff Joe, and in a mode of inquiry I am asking him, "What were you thinking?" or "How can you look at yourself in the mirror?"
My wise daughter helps me get over being angry at him and to realize that he is a victim of our immigration laws and local power. Yes, I get that, but with my UU values I can not imagine treating anyone or anything as cruelly as detainees are treated in Tent City.
This vigil has given me much to think about. My heart is heavy as images of young women and men with fractured families, are deeply embedded in my mind. This story of inhumane treatment is repeated every minute all over the world. There is a lot of work to do, to Stand on the side of Love.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Southwest Rocks
If you have read my previous airline posts you will remember that I love Southwest Airlines. Right now I am on a flight from BOS to PHX. Their boarding procedures are a bit unconventional and it might be a more efficient process. It certainly saves the airline some people hours, since they are not assigning seats and reassigning seats. It can be anxiety provoking if you have a boarding zone and are one of the last to board. For the most part, I think family units can more easily board.
In the boarding area I heard as I left, "Lucy Latearrival(not the real name I heard, that is my attempt at humor), we love you but we'll leave you.". Sitting in a departure lounge can be so boring so any attempt at humor is welcome.
Just now, while waiting for the bathroom, I heard one flight attendant say to the other one "we'll have the kids do it.". Skeptic that I am I thought she was referring to the younger attendants. No they actually recruited kids from the flight to hand out snacks. They were having fun, and kept busy and the attendants could do other stuff. It was a win win win. Win for kids, win for passengers, and win for attendants.
This flight does not have audio or visual entertainment, and for a 5.5 hour flight that might be a problem. It isn't however, because of all the unexpected fun tasks this flight crew makes into a game. People have their own entertainment in the way of kindles, blackberries, video games and tablets.
I would always chose Southwest over, United or American. Southwest employees seem to enjoy their job, and the unexpected humor is a welcome replacement for the jaded attendants on other airlines.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
In the boarding area I heard as I left, "Lucy Latearrival(not the real name I heard, that is my attempt at humor), we love you but we'll leave you.". Sitting in a departure lounge can be so boring so any attempt at humor is welcome.
Just now, while waiting for the bathroom, I heard one flight attendant say to the other one "we'll have the kids do it.". Skeptic that I am I thought she was referring to the younger attendants. No they actually recruited kids from the flight to hand out snacks. They were having fun, and kept busy and the attendants could do other stuff. It was a win win win. Win for kids, win for passengers, and win for attendants.
This flight does not have audio or visual entertainment, and for a 5.5 hour flight that might be a problem. It isn't however, because of all the unexpected fun tasks this flight crew makes into a game. People have their own entertainment in the way of kindles, blackberries, video games and tablets.
I would always chose Southwest over, United or American. Southwest employees seem to enjoy their job, and the unexpected humor is a welcome replacement for the jaded attendants on other airlines.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Friday, June 15, 2012
Being in the Moment
My second hospice visits happened today after I was cleared to resume visiting. Wednesday I went in to have my second TB test checked and it was positive. YIKES! I quickly got a chest X-ray which determined that I don't have TB. False positives are pretty common it turns out. I actually did not panic during the 24+ hours where it was not clear whether I had TB or not. After all, what help would worry do to the situation. I had TB or not.
In my first visit, I really connected with one person so I was looking forward to that visit. We had a wonderful half hour and she seemed to be tired so I left her. At this facility, they wheel the patients into the hall which is good since they interact with others and can see what is going on. It does make for a crowded hallway.
I then visited with the second person, which was my first visit with her. She was pretty out of it, so I held her hands and tried to make sense of what she was saying. It was not easy to understand her, so I let it be. She drifted off to sleep and I drifted away.
Neither person knew that outside was a beautiful sunny day. Maybe it is not important for them to know. In a way I leave that all outside when I enter the front door. The need to see the sun is my need not theirs' although I am still going to keep asking them.
I felt the most successful today, when I centered myself, eliminated any expectations, and met them where they were. The nurse for the first patient said, "That was a really good visit. She seemed to enjoy it.". That comment was icing on the cake.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
In my first visit, I really connected with one person so I was looking forward to that visit. We had a wonderful half hour and she seemed to be tired so I left her. At this facility, they wheel the patients into the hall which is good since they interact with others and can see what is going on. It does make for a crowded hallway.
I then visited with the second person, which was my first visit with her. She was pretty out of it, so I held her hands and tried to make sense of what she was saying. It was not easy to understand her, so I let it be. She drifted off to sleep and I drifted away.
Neither person knew that outside was a beautiful sunny day. Maybe it is not important for them to know. In a way I leave that all outside when I enter the front door. The need to see the sun is my need not theirs' although I am still going to keep asking them.
I felt the most successful today, when I centered myself, eliminated any expectations, and met them where they were. The nurse for the first patient said, "That was a really good visit. She seemed to enjoy it.". That comment was icing on the cake.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Friday, June 8, 2012
A Visit puts it all in perspective
Today was my first visit as a hospice volunteer. It was a glorious sunny day outside and the nursing home where I was visiting is one that is pretty quiet and relaxed. I feel like the training I attended helped me with what to expect and what to do.
I am visiting 3 individuals. Two were sleeping and one was awake and talkative. I asked the one who was awake whether she wanted to see the sun. Maybe next week! She was aware enough to know that the Celtics won last night. When I asked her what she likes to read she said People magazine so guess who is going to get caught up on People?
Later in the day, when I was buying myself a Starbucks for my birthday, and sitting at Starbucks, I realized that most of the individual's in the nursing home will never go to a Starbucks or a coffee shop again. Maybe they don't want to, but on my birthday I reflected on the differences between my visit, and what I chose to do for the rest of the day; bought myself lunch, browsed the Merimeko store, shopped for graduation presents and exchanged a gift at the mall.
I know that visiting them will give me much more than I will give them. I know that we will both enrich each others' lives. We will learn about each other and from each other. And, it will give me a new perspective on life and what I choose to do with it.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I am visiting 3 individuals. Two were sleeping and one was awake and talkative. I asked the one who was awake whether she wanted to see the sun. Maybe next week! She was aware enough to know that the Celtics won last night. When I asked her what she likes to read she said People magazine so guess who is going to get caught up on People?
Later in the day, when I was buying myself a Starbucks for my birthday, and sitting at Starbucks, I realized that most of the individual's in the nursing home will never go to a Starbucks or a coffee shop again. Maybe they don't want to, but on my birthday I reflected on the differences between my visit, and what I chose to do for the rest of the day; bought myself lunch, browsed the Merimeko store, shopped for graduation presents and exchanged a gift at the mall.
I know that visiting them will give me much more than I will give them. I know that we will both enrich each others' lives. We will learn about each other and from each other. And, it will give me a new perspective on life and what I choose to do with it.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, June 7, 2012
It is a tough job being a Boston sports fan
As I sit here watching the Sox with a 6-0 lead and the aging Celtics trying to hold off the Heat I chuckle at myself. I have become such a Boston sports fan. I do not trust them and have so many good reasons to not trust them. Buckner 1986, blowing 9-0 lead to the Yankees this spring Yadda, Yadda, Yadda.
Yes, they were down 3 games to 0 to the Yankees in 2004 and won 4 in a row, and the Bruins won last year, and the Patriots have won a few Super Bowls, and blown a couple too.
I think the biggest character trait is that even when we are ahead, we don't trust them. We have been disappointed enough times that we are never comfortable even with a huge lead. A Lakers fan posted on my Facebook, "but you knew they were going to win". No, actually we can never be sure they are going to win.
We live in a part of the country which has some really good sports teams. We win a lot, and we have lots of history. We know about the sports teams we support, we are passionate fans and we wear our hearts on our sleeves.
My husband just laughs at me as my blood pressure rises. Yes, we can overcome a 15 point deficit, but why should we put ourselves 15 point behind? Yes, in the last game you had a 15-0 run against the heat, but do you really want to have to do it again?
Could I just not watch the game? I might miss something important like Rondo or Garnett doing pushups or some other topic that will be discussed and become legend.
A glass of wine, two games on, one we are about to win and the other hopefully we will also win. A nice way to spend a Thursday evening as a Boston sports fan. ARRRG!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Yes, they were down 3 games to 0 to the Yankees in 2004 and won 4 in a row, and the Bruins won last year, and the Patriots have won a few Super Bowls, and blown a couple too.
I think the biggest character trait is that even when we are ahead, we don't trust them. We have been disappointed enough times that we are never comfortable even with a huge lead. A Lakers fan posted on my Facebook, "but you knew they were going to win". No, actually we can never be sure they are going to win.
We live in a part of the country which has some really good sports teams. We win a lot, and we have lots of history. We know about the sports teams we support, we are passionate fans and we wear our hearts on our sleeves.
My husband just laughs at me as my blood pressure rises. Yes, we can overcome a 15 point deficit, but why should we put ourselves 15 point behind? Yes, in the last game you had a 15-0 run against the heat, but do you really want to have to do it again?
Could I just not watch the game? I might miss something important like Rondo or Garnett doing pushups or some other topic that will be discussed and become legend.
A glass of wine, two games on, one we are about to win and the other hopefully we will also win. A nice way to spend a Thursday evening as a Boston sports fan. ARRRG!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Organizing our Photos - WOW things have changed
I have spent almost the entire day today with a burst of energy to organize our photos. In another post I talk about an incredible change that happened when Daddy died. From that day, I decided to put our photos in albums. I did not want someone to have to sort through boxes of photos when I die.
That system worked very well until 2002ish, when digital photography entered our lives. We have organized digital photos on our hard drive fairly well, by date and month, and thanks to Carbonite, they are backed up so when we lost our hard drive earlier this year, I recovered them all.
When I got my iPAD, the generation before the camera version, I synced a few photo folders to the iPad but not a lot of them. iTunes is the absolutely worst way to sync photos. I have been struggling for 2 years with iTunes and the iPad. I also have photos on my iPhone that I take when I am out and about and don't have a camera available. I have almost 1500 there. AND, folks send me photos through the mail, so in my Yahoo mail, I have a folder of pictures. AND there are some online photo storage apps that I have accounts with where pictures are stored. AND last year, I worked halfway through our 35MM slides scanning them into digital images. The other half are waiting for me to scan them. AND with a camera on your phone and the proliferation of digital images, there are that many more images waiting to be seen and reviewed.
OK, I can blame some of this on technology and some of this on my lifestyle and organization.
This week, I decided to get all my digital photos on my iPad. I struggled with iTunes, but gave up last night. Today I purchased Photosync for $1.99 (I don't buy apps that cost more than $2, I am cheap), which I think is going to work and will take some time, but it works. So while I wait for the most recent batch of Photosync to SYNC, my mind is busy figuring out how to get all of these stored photos together somewhere. I am not including those in albums just yet, that is for another decade.
This to me is a perfect example of "Technology is great, but sometimes is really complicates things."
That system worked very well until 2002ish, when digital photography entered our lives. We have organized digital photos on our hard drive fairly well, by date and month, and thanks to Carbonite, they are backed up so when we lost our hard drive earlier this year, I recovered them all.
When I got my iPAD, the generation before the camera version, I synced a few photo folders to the iPad but not a lot of them. iTunes is the absolutely worst way to sync photos. I have been struggling for 2 years with iTunes and the iPad. I also have photos on my iPhone that I take when I am out and about and don't have a camera available. I have almost 1500 there. AND, folks send me photos through the mail, so in my Yahoo mail, I have a folder of pictures. AND there are some online photo storage apps that I have accounts with where pictures are stored. AND last year, I worked halfway through our 35MM slides scanning them into digital images. The other half are waiting for me to scan them. AND with a camera on your phone and the proliferation of digital images, there are that many more images waiting to be seen and reviewed.
OK, I can blame some of this on technology and some of this on my lifestyle and organization.
This week, I decided to get all my digital photos on my iPad. I struggled with iTunes, but gave up last night. Today I purchased Photosync for $1.99 (I don't buy apps that cost more than $2, I am cheap), which I think is going to work and will take some time, but it works. So while I wait for the most recent batch of Photosync to SYNC, my mind is busy figuring out how to get all of these stored photos together somewhere. I am not including those in albums just yet, that is for another decade.
This to me is a perfect example of "Technology is great, but sometimes is really complicates things."
Monday, June 4, 2012
2 Different Graduation experiences
Two weeks ago, I attended two graduations. One for the ESL leaners at the non-profit in Waltham, WATCH, where I mentor a woman from Guatemala in English, and another at Mary Baldwin in Staunton Virginia. PEG is the acronym for the Mary Baldwin program, Program for the Exceptionally Gifted. My friend's daughter just graduated from there.
I was struck by the wide differences these two programs support. WATCH is for immigrants in the Waltham area, to learn to speak English, to find housing and jobs and to be supported as they arrive from other countries. The celebration was a potluck and the variety of ethnic dishes was incredible. We ate first, then had the ceremonies where graduates spoke about what the programs meant to them. Many of them came from a second job, or came in between jobs to attend the ceremony in the basement of a church. They brought their relatives, and were so proud. After that, they put on some music and danced.
The PEG ceremony consisted of 17 graduates. Each graduate, and the professor of their choice, stood up in the front of the room and the professor spoke about the student. Most of these young women were barely 18, and were graduating from college already having achieved much in their short college years and were on their way to keep achieving in graduate school and beyond into work.
I cannot say which group of graduates were prouder. Neither graduation was better than the other. They were just very different experiences.
I wonder though if some of those immigrants in their native program would be qualified to go to a PEG like program in their native country? They come to the US with hopes for a better life, and often their life is better here. They really work hard to learn English, and get jobs to support their extended families. They mow our lawns, clean our houses and take care of our elderly in nursing homes.
A simple graduation in a church basement in Waltham, or one on a hill of a beautiful campus in rural Virginia are both important to mark and celebrate achievements. This is the time of year that we recognize those events and celebrate, no matter what you have just completed.
I was struck by the wide differences these two programs support. WATCH is for immigrants in the Waltham area, to learn to speak English, to find housing and jobs and to be supported as they arrive from other countries. The celebration was a potluck and the variety of ethnic dishes was incredible. We ate first, then had the ceremonies where graduates spoke about what the programs meant to them. Many of them came from a second job, or came in between jobs to attend the ceremony in the basement of a church. They brought their relatives, and were so proud. After that, they put on some music and danced.
The PEG ceremony consisted of 17 graduates. Each graduate, and the professor of their choice, stood up in the front of the room and the professor spoke about the student. Most of these young women were barely 18, and were graduating from college already having achieved much in their short college years and were on their way to keep achieving in graduate school and beyond into work.
I cannot say which group of graduates were prouder. Neither graduation was better than the other. They were just very different experiences.
I wonder though if some of those immigrants in their native program would be qualified to go to a PEG like program in their native country? They come to the US with hopes for a better life, and often their life is better here. They really work hard to learn English, and get jobs to support their extended families. They mow our lawns, clean our houses and take care of our elderly in nursing homes.
A simple graduation in a church basement in Waltham, or one on a hill of a beautiful campus in rural Virginia are both important to mark and celebrate achievements. This is the time of year that we recognize those events and celebrate, no matter what you have just completed.
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