diversity in Akron

This past week was our orientation in Akron, PA. About 55 SALTers and 35 IVEPers were here - meaning 55 Americans and Canadians heading out to 25 different countries, and 35 young adults from about 15 countries around the world!! Such a wonderfully diverse group of people! We met to receive training and preparation about Mennonite Central Committee and living cross-culturally, before we headed out to our respective assignments for more country-specific orientation.

(All the SALTers & IVEPers!! I think I learned 50-60 names this week!)

While there were certainly times we had to discuss serious topics (culture shock, sexual harassment, etc.), most of my memories are of the laughs, conversations and games we shared together. When I arrived I felt an initial sense of isolation because I was surrounded by so many people I didn't know, like freshman orientation week all over again, but within 5 minutes I was outside and going on a walk with a group of girls in the IVEP program. The first or second person I met was Clementine, who I saw was from France. She made me so excited because she is from Strasbourg, where I studied abroad - and even goes to the church I attended while I was there (not sure if we met back then!!). Throughout the week I spent time with Clementine and shared laughs, games of Dutch Blitz, and even tried to prank the boys :) In that first afternoon I was able to speak French and play some fun Ultimate Frisbee, two of my favorite things, so I quickly realized it was going to be a great week!

(Miriam, Randall, Margita and Clementine playing Dutch Blitz)

Some other incredible moments were worship together in the morning, where we sang songs in various languages. Each day a different region of the world led us in some songs and we all tried our hands at singing in Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Khmi, Chinese, Shona, and Arabic!! It was always amazing to be able to look around and realize what we all share.

We could not have bonded the way we did if it weren't for the "parties" we had the last 3-4 nights here. Jen had a dance party on her birthday, the Asians hosted a noodle party, my house had a grill/smores party and another house had a singing around the campfire night...so we could all come and relax and talk together. Sometimes talking was easy and other times I felt like I was playing taboo a little bit - but nothing made me more happy than reaching a point where we understood each other after we were struggling to share what we thought was important.

(Noodle party!)

Unfortunately Akron is quiet now and there are only 3 of us left. Everyone else seems to have arrived safely in their destinations and Janelle, Annie and I remain because we are waiting until Tuesday to fly to Bujumbura, Burundi for orientation with the MCC country reps who are in the US for the summer. So we were the goodbye crew who could send everyone off with as much energy as we could muster. (I'll admit it was a bit challenging since we stayed up until 1:45am to see off the first group and had about 15 more goodbyes for the 85 people in the program!) After a week where we were able to bond over food, music, activities and parties together - even if we didn't have many deep or long conversations - I was sad to see everyone go.

It doesn't quite feel real yet that I will be in Africa soon...I think I'll have to wait until I'm on the plane or getting off the plane! We are amusing ourselves here by traveling around on old bikes in need of improvement, eating the last "American" food we might get for awhile, and relaxing before we need to start adjusting to a new culture. All in all, we are happy here!