The “Almost” Year by Carrie Cheatham
It’s been almost a year since I sat down in Zainab’s home for the very first time to teach English. In that “almost” year we have shared so many confused looks, laughs, family video calls, and hugs. In that “almost” year we have learned so much about each other through Google images, small sentences, and scrapbooks. You see, it’s not just about teaching – it’s about creating a comfortable and safe space that enables learning to happen more openly.
Zainab has a determination to not only be a fluent English speaker for herself but also for her family. You can see the determination in her eyes as she pronounces words for the first time or when she spells words out loud, letter by letter.
If I told you that we learned something new every week I’d be lying. There is a lot of repetition. Some weeks I feel like it’s not helping, but then I come back the next week and she has practiced after she puts her kids to bed – and each week her writing and understanding get better. Zainab has a determination to not only be a fluent English speaker for herself but also for her family. You can see the determination in her eyes as she pronounces words for the first time or when she spells words out loud, letter by letter. In this “almost” year with Zainab, I too have learned just how hard our refugee neighbors have to work to recreate a life here in the US. Learning English is only the beginning.
It’s been almost a year since I sat down in Zainab’s home for the very first time and today I had to make the hardest phone call to her yet. I had to call her to let her know that I would not be able to come to her home for English until further notice. This means no hugs, no in person giggles, no coloring for her children, no tea and no nuts to share. Her response was simply “I miss you” and her children echoed the sentiment in the background. In the almost year that I have been with Zainab, I have never heard her say that. The words cut deep and broke my heart. I responded with tears in my eyes: “I miss you too, Zainab!” and followed with “but I have good news” – which was what saved the whole conversation.
It is times like these where we should all appreciate what technology is really capable of. Although we may not be able to spend time with one another in person, technology is able to bring people together in different ways and shed some light in the darkness. I was able to let Zainab and her husband know that we can Skype for English, just like she does to communicate with her family in Afghanistan. Technology and the ability to communicate at a distance is something that I often take for granted. Words can’t explain just how crucial it is going to be in the coming weeks with Zainab to continue her learning – and honestly, to ensure to her that I am not abandoning her. This light in the darkness will keep us connected so that we can still laugh together at tough pronunciations or words that sound ridiculous. This light in the darkness will keep us connected when she wants to show me the latest pictures from her family in Afghanistan. This light in the darkness will keep us connected so Zainab knows I am not just here to teach her English – I am also her friend. I am here for her no matter what the world may throw at her.
It’s been almost a year since I sat down in Zainab’s home for the very first time and now we are both learning how to make this work over the phone. We are going to continue working on putting together sentences and we are going to continue sharing tea. It’s important to the future of Zainab and her family and it’s important to me because she is my neighbor. So I urge you, whether you’re a volunteer, a donor, a mentor, or a supporter – Be there for your neighbors, even if it’s from a distance. We may have to get creative as a whole but know that there is a light in the darkness. Maybe that light is a card in the mail or maybe it’s a Facetime video chat. Whatever the adversity is that faces us in the coming weeks, I urge you to keep your refugee neighbors in mind because they, too, are navigating rough waters.
It’s been almost a year since I sat down in Zainab’s home for the very first time - and this week, for the very first time, I plan on bringing her into my home, via Skype.