1. Since July, I have started reading the books for which I didn’t have time while in college. My “reading time” makes a work-dinner-fun sandwich and usually happens in bed, before sleep and before getting up for work. The enrichment helps the slowest days. I’m so glad to be a morning person again!
2. While my housemates and I come from very different backgrounds, we also share a tremendous amount of energy – to build communities, to change ourselves for the better. None of us come with a lot of Benjamins, but we have a lot of wealth to share. I’ll give you examples:
a. After four years as a database analyst for a financial services research company, Adina now works in the corporate social responsibility department of a well known office equipment supply company. Part of her job is to provide grants to national literacy programs. She organized an event for her company where the employees sorted through letters for American troops. She read a very heartwarming letter from a man in New Orleans and decided to mail a few nice items to the man for New Year’s. Adina used to be a drummer and dancer, is brutally honest, kind hearted, and critical. She is not religious but is from a Jewish family with roots in Cleveland and Stamford.
b. I learn more about rap and R&B music from Enjo than from any of my friends with roots here. Once you are his friend and treat him well, he is very loyal. Enjo is very good at befriending different types of people. Rarely does he pay maintenance bills for our condo…he just gets one of his soccer friends to fix the house here and there. Enjo came to the States from Senegal a few years ago. He has many relatives in West Africa and Europe. He speaks quite a few languages and has good ears for new ones too. Enjo is very grateful and appreciative of neighbors and friends. I only wish the U.S. were more “community oriented.”
c. Megan works for an organization that sends humanitarian aid relief to other countries. The company acts as a nonprofit middleman between American corporate and individual donors and foreign nonprofits and public organizations (e.g. hospitals and schools). She grew up abroad because of his father’s career and came to the U.S. beginning in her 8th grade year. Born in Egypt, she grew up in Tanzania, London, and Rochester, NY. She also graduated college the same year as I and a Christian with a brilliant, bashful mind and ambition.
d. A black man from Senegal who studied English Literature with much knowledge of Muslim culture though not religious, a white woman born in Stamford with a dancer, financial data analyst turned corporate philanthropist background, another white woman who grew up abroad with a college major in Anthropology, involvement with collegiate InterVarsity, knows a bit of French and studied some Arabic, and me…(my usual readers, you know my background and interests). We have the most stimulating conversations and great fun hosting house parties and getting to know our mutual friends. Well, parties aren’t always fun haha…they are brutally killing me at dancing!
I’m just happy to have found this warm house through the “random selection” of Craigslist.org
3. My parents are growing on me…
4. My 8-year-old brother asks me the most thought-provoking questions
5. Friends’ letters, phone conversations, and blogs
6. Films
Sounds like a great house
What a blessing!
Great to hear of your abundance, Rachel!