So where to begin?
My summer has been quite different from any other so far. Instead of going home after the year ended, I moved into a house near campus with Kayla as my roommate and 3 other housemates. The independence from not being in the residence halls or at home for the first time is very nice. I like having a house where everyone shares responsibility for maintaining it. It has been a roller coaster ride so far, but I can't complain. I really miss having everything I need on campus, though--my job, my home, my food, my friends--because it's significantly less expensive to do anything. Finances have been the most stressful thing about summer, besides the internet barely functioning on a regular basis. It's amazing how quickly money can come and go.
Speaking of money, I'm working at one of the HyVees in Omaha. The store is really nice and the management loves me. I even got to go on a secret mission for the Manager of Store Operations one day! (That story can only be told in person.) The people there are pretty nice, though it just isn't the same as being at my old store. I think I fit in well, regardless, and I enjoy the time I spend there and the people I interact with. Plus, I get paid. Smiles beyond the aisles!
Here's the real story of my summer: Jeff is my hero. I was crunched for time looking for an internship, and Jeff opened up maybe the best opportunity I've had in my life. He opened the doors for me to get an internship with Mason Apartments. Mason is a part of the Mercy Housing organization which provides housing for low-income families throughout the US. In my particular complex, Mason Apartments, there is a very high population of Sudanese refugees. Nebraska itself has about the highest population of Sudanese refugees in the nation. My position as a volunteer-style intern had provided me with some of the greatest opportunities, and it has only been 3 weeks.
My primary task in my position is to create and implement a daily children's program. There are about 50 kids (from 0-18) who live in approximately 16 apartments in the building with their parents. Do the math. My program works with kids between 5 and 18, but the usual group that comes is between 5 and 11. They. Are. Amazing. (Sometimes a little crazy...but amazing regardless.) Since I'm and Exercise Science major, I wanted to do fun lessons about exercise, nutrition, and wellness with them, so each day I talk for about a half hour and then we all hang out. They all have very distinct personalities and love being active. I wish I could describe what they've done for me in the last three weeks--every day I feel closer to them than the day before. I realized today that I absolutely love these children and I would absolutely put myself in harm's way if it was necessary to keep them safe. Whether it's when they run up to me smiling for an end-of-the-day hug, when Okwagi caught a football for the first time, when I get pictures they drew for me, when Nancy gets in trouble and cries but wants to hug me anyway, or when Nyawec and her brother stop by for an evening snack and to play with blocks, I know I'm supposed to be there.
One of the other tasks I've gladly picked up is doing English as a Second Language (ESL) tutoring. Two of the women from the complex come to me regularly in the evenings to read with me and look at simple English grammar (which, by the way, is never simple) lessons. It may not be much, but I noticed both of the women struggle through many words in English but never fail to say these correctly: community, dance, smile, love, family, and peace. The joy I get from hearing them say those simple words is outstanding. I love that they recognize those words as parts of their lives. Though we always have a good time, I've certainly learned a lot of patience from working with them.
It's little moments with these amazing people when I feel the most alive. It's tiring working around 50 hours between the two jobs each week with basically no day off, but to see those kids and women happy is worth every second.
"Be kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle." -Plato
Sincerely,
Steph
