We have had a ton of change

Some is easier than other kinds of change

When you are leaving home – for good

This blog repeats posting, especially in light of the Afghanistan (and possibly other upcoming) refugee situation.  

I was in the USA and had had the opportunity of flying on a very special flight to Chicago:

Confusion

The Zürich-Chicago flight was half-full and I was tired because of the early rising to be “on time” for arrival at the airport.  

Hurry up and wait is the motto of flying, especially internationally.  Because I was tired, the special group Swiss Air was boarding (they always board groups early) looked to me like a band or choir.  

Their “uniforms” were obviously African in dress and their skin tone matched the traditional dress of the women.  The men wore more western clothing, but it was all the same color and style. I was rather confused as to why so many small children, also in the same clothing, were flying with the “band”.

Freedom

I was pleased to note that I had a free seat next to me and spread out accordingly, getting comfortable, starting to watch “The Theory of Everything” when the African gentleman across the aisle from me asked what to do with the customs card the flight attendant had given him.  I was happily made myself available, having nothing to do for nine hours ahead of me; I was pleased to be of help.

Clarification

So, pausing the movie and taking off my headphones, I started to explain the reason for the card and then what was required in each box:  name, flight, and passport, etc.  

When we got to passport part, the young man was a bit concerned.  I showed him my passport to illustrate and he shook his head.  He had no passport, “just” a bag with him, which he showed me. 

The bag was printed with something like, “International Migration Services”.  Well, by then I had figured it out.  There were about three dozen refugees on board, flying to the USA for a new life.  

I felt privileged to be able to vicariously experience their arrival in a country where they would not have to live in a war zone.  

The man, a father with two little boys was traveling with his wife to Chicago first and then to Florida.  In Chicago the group would break up and go on to the places where they had sponsors.  I still think often of these people and their bravery. 

Bravery

These refugees had already experienced many firsts on their journey from Guinea to Tanzania via Nairobi  and then from Tanzania to Chicago via Zurich:  new clothes (they were all dressed alike and thus I thought they were a musical group), flying on an airplane, so many caucasians about (especially for the children), new food, new language, new climate.  They would also be experiencing many more firsts, ones not always so positive. 

I felt for this man, for his wife and kids, for all the others. The list of new challenges they would encounter can go on forever, but their fear of the new was overridden by the fear of what they had left.  They had left a war zone.  The father said, “Whatever is ahead is better than being killed or even worse, seeing your children killed.”  

Lessons learned

I can learn from this man; we all can.  

He had already been able to overcome what seems insurmountable barriers, make important, if still very hard, decisions, and continue on his way to a new solution, a new place.  

He had few illusions to the difficulties he would face ahead, but he believed that there was opportunity ahead and only death and destruction behind.  He knew that his future was and still is in his hands and he had taken the responsibility seriously.

May we be as brave as this man.

Patricia Jehle                            patricia@jehle-coaching.com