The Foreign Service Journal, July/August 2018

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2018 59 may not catch everything they say. I interpreted for a client last year who became aggravated because I was having trouble keep- ing up with her. At one point she turned to me and jokingly asked if I was becoming deaf. I told her that my hearing was not the same after the explosion. There are times when my children will tell me that my cell phone is ringing in my purse; I cannot hear it. I have been affected also in how I relate to others. Although I briefly contemplated leaving the embassy immediately after the bombing, I quickly realized that I was probably not the only one on the planet who felt uncertain about life and premature, vio- lent death. When I moved to the United States with my family in 2013, I found out that one could die by similar acts of violence in a movie theater, an office, a mall, an elementary school and even a church. Admittedly, all these examples do not fall strictly under the traditional definition of terrorism, but they carry its traits, which include violence, spreading fear and targeting innocent members of the public. Living in the United States in such challenging times has forced me to become proactive for myself and my family. My children tell me sometimes that I worry too much, or that I am becoming paranoid; but I insist that as immigrants we need to become examples of good foreigners to people who may genu- inely not understand. My American friends laugh good-naturedly when I call silverware “cutlery,” a garbage can “a dustbin” and refer to the trunk of a car as a “boot.” I suppose it also helps to laugh at yourself once in a while. I am careful about what I allow into my mind, and so I study my Bible and read motivational books. President Theodore Roo- sevelt once said, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” I may not be famous. I do not have a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account, but this quote inspires me to take the initiative, to boldly reach out to others in my circle of influence to understand, even as I seek to be understood, one person at a time. I try with a friendly smile, a listening ear or even a simple hello. Over time I discover this requires patience and an ability to look at the bigger picture as I remind myself not to assume any- thing of anyone based on the color of their skin, their religious faith, where they come from or what I think they have done in the past. I must be willing to give others what I want to receive—that is, the benefit of the doubt. Obviously, not everyone will respond how I would like, but I choose to focus on what I can control, and I leave the rest to God. My son, Immanuel, is a constant reminder that good happened to our family during that horrific time in 1998. And because of this, I continue to hope.