This year is a year about challenges and hard conversations. It is about learning how to navigate these conversations with grace while understanding you aren't always going to agree.
The United States Election hit me hard in more ways than one this year. Being the only American in the school that I work in, I was the only one many students and teachers had to ask or talk about the election with. When they would see me, they would ask my opinion and if I had voted. Not knowing how to express myself in English, my first language, it was hard to navigate these conversations with grace. Teachers and students would ask my opinion and being so numb and in shock, I had a hard time putting words into coherent sentences in these conversations. The media portrays one version of the election and often doesn't give the full story- not just in Hungary or the United States, but all around the world. Being the only American, I was put under a microscope, grilled about Trump winning, asked about my feelings, and people not fully understanding when I would talk about it. I had to put into words, feelings I was wrestling with and talk about reasons why I had a hard time accepting that Trump had become the President-elect. When I could finally get the words out, the reactions were all over the board, students not necessarily having heard what i was sharing because that hadn't been talked about in the Hungarian news or it was a different perspective. This year for me is not only about hard conversations, it is about breaking down stereotypes, or at least giving people another perspective to think about to help challenge their view of the world. I not only have to talk about American politics, but address stereotypes of people who identify as being Roma Hungarian. The Roma I have met have been nothing but kind, hardworking, and well rounded people. They work, go to university, have families, and have strong ties to churches in the communities. Attending a youth group on Saturdays in a church community comprised of Roma and Non Roma young adults has helped me put faces to a culture of people I had only heard about. These people help me smash stereotypes in conversations I have. So many of the young people in the youth group have such a strong faith. God works through them to help make the world a little bit brighter place. These conversations help me learn how to have good conversations where I can address racism, sexism, and other stereotypes while not belittling the other person.
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Elaina JohnsonI am from a town on the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin. I grew up in Hudson, WI, where I had the privilege of returning after graduating from Winona State University with a degree in Therapeutic Recreation. Archives
December 2016
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