I believe too much in invincibility, but death comes anyway. Sometimes it is inescapable. Sometimes it is unexpected. Always it hurts. His name was Rodney. It hurts to see a man so full of love taken away. A man who had impacted my alma mater for three and a half decades, resolving conflict, bringing people…
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Good evening, Mr. Neighbor
He walked into our apartment wearing red suspenders and black gym shorts pulled up over his torso. Meet my neighbor, always good for a laugh. Living in an African home has taught me a lot about loving the neighbors who live with me. I don’t yet know most of the people in my apartment complex,…
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Inspiring youth, Independence Day, and the DRC
Fifty-seven years ago on June 30, the Democratic Republic of Congo won its independence. While I won’t go into a political history right now, I will celebrate Independence Day by telling you about my generation and how amazing they are. Congolese youth are artists, talented photographers and musicians. They are teachers of elementary students and ESL…
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Some say refugees. I say friends.
I spend nearly every day of the week hanging out at the houses of refugees or having them over my place. On weekends many of us attend church together, all weekend long. On weekdays others of us eat lunch together; I always look forward to 12:30. Several of us practice music together, all of us…
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Three things TCKs taught me not to take for granted
If you know international students or have friends who are third culture kids (TCKs), you know you can’t take anything for granted—not the terms or phrases you use, not your understanding of geographical knowledge and especially not your time spent together. Language. Catchphrases are cultural, so you may have to ask questions about what an…
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katelyn skye bennett 