Tonight's picture was taken in September of 2008. Mattie was home between hospital treatments. Next to Mattie was our calico cat, Patches. Initially during the treatment cycles, we kept Patches at home. But we learned rather quickly that we were rarely home and therefore we had to find a place to care for Patches. Because Patches needed daily medication administration and care, we decided to board her at our vet's office for over a year. Though this did not make us happy, we had Mattie's care as our number 1 priority! So we tried to do what was best for the entire family. As you can see, Peter and I learned quickly how to give Mattie IV's and medications at home.
Quote of the day: We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men. ~ Herman Melville
We have lived in our complex for over twenty years. In all this time, we never met a foreign student who wanted to become our friend. This week this all changed. While out walking Sunny, we met a young woman from China. She lives a few doors down from us with three roommates. Also from China, and all studying at the George Washington University.
Today our neighbor came by to drop off a pork dish she cooked. As we were talking the yesterday and I asked her if US Chinese restaurant food differs greatly from food in China. She felt that it does and wanted us to taste a more tradition dish. I tasted it, it was very spicy but very delicious.
In any case, our friend came inside today and wanted to ask us a question. In a nutshell she met a man while shopping in a grocery store. She got talking with him and he encouraged her to come visit his church with him. He even agreed to pick her up and drive her there. She told us that she really wants to find a community here and feel a part of something, so she thought becoming part of a church would help. Certainly having a faith can connect you with like minded individuals, however, all sorts of red flags were going off inside my head. Especially since she does not come into this activity with a faith to begin with.
I told her I did not want to sound like her parent, but I have concerns. Therefore, I felt it was important to caution her. She doesn't know this person she met at the grocery store and therefore should not get into a car alone with him. In addition, I asked her more specifics about the church, because I think it is important to know what she is getting herself into before taking a leap. As not all churches have the same intentions.
Since she is a graduate student, I encouraged her to stay local. To pursue student groups on campus and to explore different faith groups at the University. I even wrote down specific things she could search for on the internet. It is my hope that this helps. As Peter and I know how disorienting it can be to be in a foreign land, not understanding aspects of the culture, and how things and people work. Funny how connections can happen while being out and about with Sunny.
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