In order to communicate well and to be understood, we had to learn how to adjust our English accents. The more clear, precisely enunciated consonants, rolled Rs, straight, open vowels, the better. During my two-year Master studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in the Netherlands 15 years ago, the body of students was pretty much from everywhere: Holland, Japan, Lithuania, South Korea, Croatia, Germany, France, Spain, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Portugal, Australia, Latvia, Czech Republic, Mexico, Poland, India, Denmark, China, Italy, US, Greece, Columbia, Austria, England, Sweden, etc etc etc. If we didn't speak with that common clear accent, we had a hard time understanding each other. When an American from North Carolina joined our group, we could not understand much of what he was saying. But as it happened with everyone before, after some time he adapted his accent, we learned his pronunciation, and in the end became good friends.
A common hybrid accent was one of the things such an international community demanded of us. Some other things we shared were feelings of exhilaration being able to learn in such amazing circumstances, but also sometimes loneliness and lack of adjustment for the same reason. Learning the ways other cultures operate, communicate and work takes an extra effort, and can be as exciting as draining at times.
One cold and rainy day in late November our American friend invited me and some of his other close international friends for a dinner party. I remember it very distinctly. The first thing I felt when I entered his house was the delicious smell of a home cooked meal. Then a sight of a table full of food and cozy candle light. I will never forget that huge roasted turkey in a pan with a fork stuck in it, especially since I was a vegetarian at the time. Then I noticed my favorite mashed potatoes. A brown casserole with marshmallows - as I learned later, sweet potatoes. Onions in sauce. Corn. Roasted vegetables. Stuffing. Pie. Wine. When we sat down, our friend explained the reason for our meeting, and what Thanksgiving is - how Americans go around the table on that day and express to each other what they are thankful for. And in the midst of a cold rainy day in a busy Dutch city, surrounded by cultures and people I didn't know and still had to learn, far from the warmth and safety of things I knew, my family members and friends, I felt that cozy feeling of being a part of a community, of belonging, of being thankful for others, and being thanked for.
I am thankful for you, for our community and all communities around the world, for that cozy feeling we create for each other to express that we belong, for everything that unifies and differs us, for conversations, for time together, and for our Spirit-filled, God-led lives.
Happy Thanksgiving!
