June 2022: Encontrar, Festejar, Mirar
Updated: May 29, 2023
Encontrar (to find/discover)
My husband listens to the podcast “Modern American Diplomacy” where they recently aired an episode interviewing three filmmakers about their recent project “The American Diplomat,” a PBS documentary spotlighting the experiences of three African American diplomats - Edward R. Dudley, Terrence Todman, and Carl T. Rowan. The podcast episode itself is a fascinating conversation about the history of racial barriers within the State Department, the progress given where we are today, and need to continue working towards equity.
The documentary explores the lives of these three Black diplomats, all of whom reached high-ranking appointments during the Cold War and US civil rights movement. They fought to represent American ideals abroad even while facing discrimination at home because they believed in the US' broad principles.
America’s domestic divisions are disenchanting at times. Learning a little about what these men and their families endured and their continued hope gives me hope. It validates my pride in the United States, and helps surface new entryways into conversations about racism in America and how it can impact us in our current lifestyle.
Festejar (to celebrate)
Upon reflection, last year was quite a rollercoaster. Many times I felt as though I was gaining my footing only to experience a setback; continued classroom shutdowns due to COVID, the loss of my father-in-law, having to leave Nuevo Laredo unexpectedly - just to name a few. It was a true test of resilience, a “buzzword” in the Foreign Service. Though this year's specific events might not be recurring, it is easy to see how resilience is important when faced with the constant unknowns of this lifestyle. This month I celebrated my 35th birthday, for which it felt right to celebrate my resilience. In some ways, I'm very grateful for the opportunities we've had this year, even during the tougher times. Living on the border gave us the opportunity to support and say goodbye to my father-in-law; and leaving Nuevo Laredo suddenly led to a month long "vacation" in Mexico City, full of sightseeing. I think that the gratitude I felt during some of the darkest times this year is what led to my resilience. Gratitude is what I want to take into year 35, and more so work to make it an ever present theme in the constant unknowns of this lifestyle.
Mirar (to look at/watch)
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