Set Apart Daughters: 10 Things I Have Learned from my International Friends

It all started in the Fall of 2012, when I was simply looking for a job. I just needed something to help me pay for school so I went to a job fair and applied for our International Office on campus. There was an English tutoring position open, so I applied and got the job. To be honest, I have always thought about teaching English overseas in Madagascar, but really did not want to even though I knew I would be good at it. Now, I have fallen in love with teaching English and would love to do that overseas. What started off as a simple job became so much more over the years. Now, whenever people ask me what I do for my job, I tell them I basically get paid to make friends from all over the world all day (and help them with their papers and English). I had no idea how much God was going to humble me, change me, and impact my life through the people I work with and the students that have become some of my best friends. These people are without a doubt some of the funniest and encouraging people I have ever met. Here are the top 10 ways the international students have impacted my life:

1) They have taught me how to love my sweet Jesus more.

This last year, I have had the opportunity to mentor two of the sweetest Chinese girls I know, Anna and Fiona. When I first started mentoring them, they were brand new believers eager to learn about their sweet Savior. I may have been their mentor, but they without a doubt teach me more. Through meeting with them every week, I have seen their eagerness grow. They have fallen in love with the Lord and are so excited to share what they have learned with people. One of my favorite memories from college was last semester right before summer, when I asked what they were most excited about for the summer and they immediately replied they were most excited to share Jesus with their parents and close friends. This statement encouraged and challenged me more than they knew. What if that was always my answer to what I was excited about over break? I have also read countless papers these last couple of years about students' testimonies and got to have great conversations with them.

2) The beauty behind learning a new language

My favorite Spanish phrase: I smell lies

To be honest, I was prideful toward other languages for most of my life. It annoyed me to hear languages I did not understand. Thankfully the Lord is faithful to change our hearts as I grew to absolutely love hearing other languages all around me while at work. Something God continues to challenge me with is the idea that if we only know one language, as Christians we will miss out on a lot of opportunities to impact people as well as share the gospel. Yeah, it's intimidating to learn a new language, but I get to be around people all day that have chosen to take away that obstacle and seek to learn a new language. Not only that, but many of them know more than a few languages!! I now have three languages I want (and will!) become fluent in: French, Portuguese, and Malagasy.

3) How to fall in love with culture

Culture: a word that brings me joy when it is simply spoken. Why? Because I have gotten to enjoy and learn about so many cultures these last few years. I have gotten to see God's creativity in culture, from food, to dances, to different phrases. I now have a passion for learning about culture and seeing different parts of the world. There is so much beauty in the world that I don't want to miss out on because I'm focused on myself.

4) How to Salsa and Bachata

It all started when I made good friends with a lot of our Latino students this semester. During the international retreat, a DBU retreat for Americans and International students to interact, play games, and worship, there were a few impromptu salsa nights where we stayed up late learning salsa ("ummm I have to move my hips? How do you do that?" classic) and bachata from them and then taught them two-stepping. Those nights were some of my favorite DBU memories. It was so much fun to embrace their beautiful culture and be a part of that. We now go salsa dancing and have impromptu salsa nights. Also my mom may or may not call me "Picante" now... Then we all learned swing dancing together, which we go to every Wednesday night. A culture that loves to dance is clearly my kind of culture!! Last night we had another impromptu salsa night after a few of us went to watch our Latino friends sing at their church and that Salsa night soon turned into a Spanish Karaoke night. Goodness I love them.
5) How to invest in people you know won't be around for a long time

We tend to try to only invest in people we know will be around for awhile, and to be honest the first year or so that I worked in the International office it was hard to truly invest in students and become close friends, knowing they would soon be moving back to their country. They have taught me what it looks like to invest and love people well, even when you know they won't be here for long. The way they love me and invest in a friendship really challenges me. Now, I look forward to becoming close friends with the students. Does that make the goodbyes harder? Yeah, for sure, but is it worth it? Absolutely yes. The way they have impacted me has challenged me to be more intentional with roommates, even when they are only here for a semester, and everyone who I come in contact with that may not be a close friend. After all, that's what Jesus did. He knew he had a short time on the earth and used every minute of it to invest in people, disciple them, and love them really well. These students have been a reflection of Jesus.

6) Spanish music is wonderful

That's right, I have been hanging out with Latinos so much that I listen to Spanish music....all the time. You can thank Abraham, Dani, and Sebastian for that one. I may or may not be obsessed with the songs Bailando and Danza Kuduro. It's my first choice when we are in the car together. My Chilean roommate laughs all the time when she walks into the apartment and Spanish music is playing, especially when I am listening to a dirty song and have no idea...whoops...still learning haha. The other night, a few of us Americans and some Latino students went to eat and look at Christmas lights and we listened to Spanish Christmas music and it was basically awesome.

7) How to cook wonderful food

Anna and Fiona have taught me how to make Chinese dumplings and my friend Adam has taught me how to make legit Mexican tacos. Yes please. I have gotten to try so many different foods over the years which has been so much fun! Then there was that one time they had me try a strong ginger sauce....we won't talk about that one. We have gone to Chinese restaurants for birthdays and I have loved every minute of trying new things with precious friends.

8) How to courageously embrace new cultures

This has been one of the most impactful things I have learned. Many students have come to the States and faced culture shock but still sought to embrace our culture and learn about it. They chose not to stick to their own culture, but courageously face the unknown and learn a new language and culture. They chose to leave their family in order to be obedient to the Lord. They chose to not take the easy way out and only talk to people who spoke their own language but fearlessly appreciate other cultures. I love seeing students talking to each other in a tongue that is not their own. This means so much to me since I will be moving to a new country, Madagascar, as soon as October of next year. Big changes are scary, but because of my Jesus and the way He has used these awesome international students, I can walk into a new culture courageously and embrace their language and culture eagerly.

9) A glimpse of Heaven

Every year, I looked forward to going on the International Retreat DBU puts on. Throughout the weekend we have worship, and it is the most beautiful glimpses of Heaven I have ever seen. Over 50 cultures come together to worship the same God. In Heaven, everyone will be worshiping in their own tongue and it will be the most beautiful thing. I love that God consistently gives us a taste of what is to come. Many of my friends are absolutely in love with my sweet Jesus.

10) Portuguese pick up lines

My Brazilian friends Wilson and Rodrigo

That's right... my Brazilian friends started off teaching me cheesy pick up lines in Portuguese. If you know me, you know I had too much fun with that. Cheesy pick up lines are definitely the best. Then, I learned random phrases that I could say to my Brazilian friends. They taught me some basics of Portuguese and I was able to put things together and have a small conversation in it. I don't exactly know why, but now I feel called to learn Portuguese and I am enjoying it so much. If you are a DBU student learning another language, I encourage you to come make friends with students in the International Office. They would love to teach you and practice their English as well! So here's to learning a new language.

Even though I listed 10 ways they have impacted my life, this number does not even scratch the surface of the ways they have impacted my life. Looking forward to one more semester with you all and visiting you in your countries!!