The Silver Lining

"Family" usually indicates a group of people who are related by blood or marriage. But sometimes, a family can be created by deep and caring relationships between people who are not related at all. Such is the "International Family" that David and I claim. We both have an appreciation of different cultures and different countries, and we open our home to visitors from around the world. I remember as a child that I enjoyed reading stories about people in different countries. We had an old set of Childcraft Encyclopedias, and my favorite volume was "Life in Many Lands." I'd read a story, then dream about walking through the country I'd just read about. Living close to the University of South Carolina has a few advantages -- and one is that we've met some pretty amazing students from other parts of the world. Sasikumar, from Sri Lanka has a huge heart for the oppressed in this world, especially women who are often taken advantage of sociall...

We had dinner guests this evening. Sasikumar and Liu Lei -- both USC graduate students -- visited us and shared dinner. I met Sasi earlier this year in response to a craigslist posting. I was actually trolling the list to try to find job opportunities. Sasi posted that he was a foreign-born graduate student who needed someone to proofread his papers for English grammar. His post stated that he couldnt offer any monetary gain, but would be very grateful for any help. You know me. I answered the ad. **laughing** He's an anthropology major, working on his doctorate. Home, for him, is Sri Lanka -- the other side of the world. I've found his work to be fascinating, and have learned a great deal just by reading his papers. (His English, by the way, is really quite good -- so it's an easy "job" for me to proofread!) Along the way, we've become friends. He's a young guy, in his 20's -- far away from home. We've shared a few lunches, he's joined...