It Got Hot

Boise is known for it's wacky weather. Yesterday it was around 94 degrees and today's highs are in the 70s. Spring and Fall are particularly unpredictable and as a Boisean you must be prepared for anything when you step out the door.

Yesterday, Becky and my kids spent most of the afternoon running through the sprinklers and playing with the hose. We have a nice runway between the patio and the in-ground trampoline. It lends itself to wet summer entertainment.

Once the kids were sufficiently soaked and shivering, we dried off and brought Becky home to Brenda. When I walked in their apartment it was literally at least 90 degrees in there. At 9:15 pm. I mentioned how hot it was and Brenda replied that she had just returned home from her classes at CWI and opened the patio door, but it was still so hot!

I then realized that she might not know about air conditioning.

I peeked at her thermostat and saw that it was still set to "heat". I quickly explained to her that there are three settings- heat, off, and cool, and showed her how to change between the three. Then we had a confused conversation about gas and electric and how her gas bill will go down but her power bill will go up. Once again I find myself stepping back and taking note of the small understandings I overlook daily. Brenda is doing her best to figure it all out. I wonder how many other things I'm overlooking that she needs to learn. I guess we'll continue to face them as they present themselves.

The Revolutionary Optimists of Boise

On Tuesday, May 7th a small group of my 5th/6th grade class presented at the ITVS Community Cinema event of the PBS Independent Lens film screening The Revolutionary Optimists. (Click the title to see what a great movie it is!)

Our class was invited to participate in this event last fall, and we've been preparing all year. This is what led us to meet Brenda and Becky. 

Our students spoke on the partnership Foothills School has with a school in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nkokwe school has shared letters, photos, gifts and riddles with our students for over five years. We raised over $1000 this year to give the school directly to pay for needed equipment and tuition for orphans and girls that otherwise would not be able to attend school. The partnership with Nkokwe is both enriching and heartwrenching. The school is in an area that is controlled by the M23 rebels and rape, murder, kidnapping and theft are daily occurances there. This spring there are 11 new orphans at the school, and just last month another father of a student was kidnapped. Violence and instability in the region seem ever present. However, providing support to Nkokwe school is our effort to fight against such evil with the hope that education will provide for a brighter future for the DRC. Our connection to Nkokwe school led our friends at the Agency for New Americans to introduce us to Brenda and Becky, since Brenda had to flee similar violence in the DRC in 2005.

 In addition to speaking about Nkokwe School, they also shared what we have done throughout the year to learn about refugees and how they are resettled locally. We learned that Idaho receives more refugees, per capita than anywhere in the United States. And the US receives more refugees than any other country worldwide.

Locally there are a number of organizations that support resettlement. However, refugees receive less support than people expect. Did you know that the government only provides financial support for refugees for 6-9 months? In addition, refugees are required to repay the "loan" for their passage to the United States. (Brenda's loan is over $2300.) The expectation is that a refugee will learn English, get settled, become aclimated to the American way of life, and get a job to become self sufficient in well under a year. Anyone knows that is an impossible task. That is why it is so important for communities, and yes YOU to find out how you can make the transition easier for them. Refugees have all fled life threatening danger. That is how they ended up in the US. It was not by choice, it was by chance. I have heard many refugees explain it like this, "Stay and be killed, or run." Some may consider that a choice but with those options choice seems like an inaccurate word.

I am so proud of the work my students did this year. In summary they

1. Learned about and supported Nkokwe School in the DRC.
2. Wrote advocacy letters to congress to bring awareness to the violence in the DRC.
3. Learned what a refugee is in the first place and then how to help them locally.
4. Listened to and learned from resettled refugees. Understanding their stories was a great inspiration.
5. Volunteered at the Create Common Good (click that to learn about CCG) farm, a farm that provides employment for local refugees.
6. Befriended Brenda and Becky.
7. Donated incredible amounts of money, gift cards and household items to Brenda and Becky.
8. Created committees and action plans to support Brenda and Becky's needs.
9. And finally, gave an awesome presentation to report on all their work. 

GREAT JOB! A real and measurable difference has been made this year by 5th and 6th graders in Boise. We have heeded the call of our Kid President to make this year awesome for someone else. (click that link for a super great video)
What's holding you back from making someone's year more awesome? Find your inspiration and follow it. It will take you somewhere fantastic!