Swinging and Speaking

              Barbi and I hung out yesterday and enjoyed the last moments of the beautiful weather together before the temperature drop. Both Barbi and I dislike cold weather so it is fitting that we enjoyed each other’s company while hanging out in the sun. We walked around campus for a little while and then found a nice spot near the TCU swing. Barbi told me that she enjoys playing and told me how to say the word swing in French. While she swung, I sat down in the grass and enjoyed the quiet. It seemed as if everyone else was in a rush to get somewhere but Barbi and I weren’t. We talked, laughed, and hung out as if time had no meaning.

Our conversation started when I asked Barbi if she likes board games. She was confused at first and asked if I was talking about constructing puzzles. Her confusion led to some confusion on my part, however, I soon realized that she didn’t know what I meant by a board game. I explained it to her that it is a game with playing pieces, dice, or cards and that you keep score as you move your piece around the game. After my explanation, she realized what I was talking about and said that she loves those kinds of games! She mentioned the word for board games in French and for the second time yesterday, she had to tell me how to say a word in French that she hadn’t initially understood when I said it (the first word was swing and the second was board game). Up until yesterday, we had not had much miscommunication due to the language barrier. Barbi mentioned that this is because yesterday, we spoke about subjects she is not familiar with in English, while upon other meetings, we spoke about somewhat generic topics. I am curious to find out what some other words are that may not have an easy translation into English and hope to find out how to say more phrases and words in French.

I asked Barbi about what she is most looking forward to in the future and she told me that she cannot wait to see her best friend, Modu. Modu currently lives in Haiti but applied for the Intensive English Program at TCU last week. Barbi told me she hasn’t seen her friend in over two years, ever since her father’s funeral. She told me that her father’s funeral was a lot for her to deal with since she had just lost one of her parents, wanted to be emotionally strong for her mom, and had to constantly be surrounded by police and security guards for the family’s protection. I asked if the police ever found out who murdered her father and shot her mother but Barbi said they never found out. She said that there is no justice in Haiti for the common man, only for those who are rich and can bribe the police. Barbi would like to know who murdered her father to find out why they did it but she accepts that the event happened and that she may never know. I complimented Barbi on her bravery and strength, and she said that most people tell her that as she smiled.

As Barbi continued to swing and I continued to mindlessly people watch, I asked Barbi about her experiences with school in Haiti. She told me that school in Haiti is different than how it is here and that it is not as good. She received poor instructions and did not have the help she needed to finish high school there. During junior and senior year, students take benchmark tests made by teachers and the government in order to assess who is ready for university. Barbi told me she had trouble passing, which is why she came to the United States to learn. She said the tests are extremely difficult and that qualified instructors do not grade them, so a math teacher could grade a history test while a history teacher could grade or teach science. I was shocked to hear this, and realized how truly blessed I am to have grown up in a country that values education. I never used to consider starting a nonprofit organization in an underprivileged nation since I have always been focused on helping animals, however, my interactions with Barbi have made me rethink what I am passionate about. Although I am still an avid supporter of animal welfare and environmental sustainability, Barbi and her experiences make me want to help others who have gone through similar things. I am unsure how this compassion will translate into my life and career decisions but I do know that Barbi has left I huge impact on me in just a few short months, and her attitude towards life is truly admirable.