I didn't grow up in the most diverse community. I kid you not when I say my exposure to different culture was mostly limited to the difference between White Lutherans, and White Catholics. I went to a Rock Church with a friends family once, and got scared s-less by a movie about end times. I knew one Jewish family, The Kornstiens, related by friendship. I didn't know a single openly gay person, and didn't give it much thought. Of course, in hind sight, there were gay people, but it wasn't something anyone talked about.
College was eye opening. There were black people there. Not many, it was Kutztown PA after all, but it was more diverse than anything I had experienced thus far. Wow, and many, many, Jewish people. I was fascinated by this. Jewish people were different, and interesting. My parents have lived all over the world, because of my Father's work. He brought home many things from Isreal, and the culture, and it's people intrigued me. I went through a phase when I wanted to be like them. I loved the celebrations, the food, my college roommate Holly, was as cute as a little Jewish girl from New Jersey can get. I adored her. I decided I wanted to be Jewish. I didn't really get what that meant. It was the culture I loved, I wasn't really turning my back on Jesus. (Not that I was anywhere close to walking with Him at this point in my life).
As I got older, and started working-- real job working, I met black people. Note, I was 23 at this point. I was, for the first time in my entire life, making friends with people who were black. This was all so new to me. Crazy, right!! Again, fascinated. Met people I adored, in particular, Denise Turner, my girl ( I had a dream and you were in it recently).... And Alan Postell, my first real boss. He was such a character, loved him.
Baltimore is pretty diverse, at least in the sense that you meet black, white, Jewish, catholic, baptist. But then I moved to Calabasas CA. My husband and I were so confused, where were all off the black people???? We called it, Cala-black less. It was so strange to us. But now we were exposed to even more cultures! You could hear five different languages in the course of one day! We met people who were from Isreal, we met Persian families, Latino families, people from England, from South Africa....wow, LA is such an incredible melting pot. That is the wrong description though, people don't meld into some mixture.. Everyone seems to hang on to what makes them unique. It makes communicating tough sometimes, but how cool!
The reason I wrote this post, is because I was thinking about how much fun I have with Rayna. She is this beautiful, spirited woman, who helps me clean my house every week. She and I are about the same age. She doesn't speak a lick of English, only Spanish. I took three years of French in high school, but sadly...I wasn't the best student. My sister always asks, " how on earth do you guys communicate???" It is sooo much fun. She speaks Spanish, I speak Spanglish mixed with French, and we play charades!
We talk about our families, her love life, organizing, and all kinds of stuff. She says I am learning tres rapido. I know that isn't right, but I got it. I love it. One of my sons speaks Chinese, the other Latin, and me Spanglifrenchcharades. How cool!
Two of my sons have African American heritage. I write and teach leadership programs to audiences in China, Europe, as well as the US of course. I never could have predicted the course my life would take when I lived in Jefferson, Pennsylvania. Life is such a cool ride. I am incredibly grateful for every minute in this journey. Thank you Lord.
College was eye opening. There were black people there. Not many, it was Kutztown PA after all, but it was more diverse than anything I had experienced thus far. Wow, and many, many, Jewish people. I was fascinated by this. Jewish people were different, and interesting. My parents have lived all over the world, because of my Father's work. He brought home many things from Isreal, and the culture, and it's people intrigued me. I went through a phase when I wanted to be like them. I loved the celebrations, the food, my college roommate Holly, was as cute as a little Jewish girl from New Jersey can get. I adored her. I decided I wanted to be Jewish. I didn't really get what that meant. It was the culture I loved, I wasn't really turning my back on Jesus. (Not that I was anywhere close to walking with Him at this point in my life).
As I got older, and started working-- real job working, I met black people. Note, I was 23 at this point. I was, for the first time in my entire life, making friends with people who were black. This was all so new to me. Crazy, right!! Again, fascinated. Met people I adored, in particular, Denise Turner, my girl ( I had a dream and you were in it recently).... And Alan Postell, my first real boss. He was such a character, loved him.
Baltimore is pretty diverse, at least in the sense that you meet black, white, Jewish, catholic, baptist. But then I moved to Calabasas CA. My husband and I were so confused, where were all off the black people???? We called it, Cala-black less. It was so strange to us. But now we were exposed to even more cultures! You could hear five different languages in the course of one day! We met people who were from Isreal, we met Persian families, Latino families, people from England, from South Africa....wow, LA is such an incredible melting pot. That is the wrong description though, people don't meld into some mixture.. Everyone seems to hang on to what makes them unique. It makes communicating tough sometimes, but how cool!
The reason I wrote this post, is because I was thinking about how much fun I have with Rayna. She is this beautiful, spirited woman, who helps me clean my house every week. She and I are about the same age. She doesn't speak a lick of English, only Spanish. I took three years of French in high school, but sadly...I wasn't the best student. My sister always asks, " how on earth do you guys communicate???" It is sooo much fun. She speaks Spanish, I speak Spanglish mixed with French, and we play charades!
We talk about our families, her love life, organizing, and all kinds of stuff. She says I am learning tres rapido. I know that isn't right, but I got it. I love it. One of my sons speaks Chinese, the other Latin, and me Spanglifrenchcharades. How cool!
Two of my sons have African American heritage. I write and teach leadership programs to audiences in China, Europe, as well as the US of course. I never could have predicted the course my life would take when I lived in Jefferson, Pennsylvania. Life is such a cool ride. I am incredibly grateful for every minute in this journey. Thank you Lord.
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