2 characters & 2 cultures = 1 friendship

My dear, I just had a crazy dream… It was a day on campus when we spontaneously decided to go to New Orleans to celebrate something special…what was it…I think it was your birthday! I remember that the trip was so much fun, with the craziest stories, a trip that I had never done before in that way. Although I don’t remember any details.. but what I remember is a voice in my head that sounds like the one of a girl.. She said things like..

“Friends, please don't let people's negative statuses and comments discourage you from making New Year Resolutions; as it's always great to have new goals and great things to look forward to.

I've been seeing lots of Facebook statuses complaining against those stating "new year, new me" resolutions. All I have to say is that, though I don't ever publicly do that, it always brings joy to my heart to see people willing to bring new changes and progresses into their lives”

You see she talks a lot…and you also see she has a very deep and warm heart…and a positive attitude. She always cares for others. And so she did when I arrived in Memphis. She became a very good friend of mine…and she was at the same time like a mum for me in my semester abroad. She took me everywhere…to the bank, the stores, the tourist places, she even picked up my parents from the airport. She gave them a cover to sleep, she invited me for dinner, she just took care of me every single day.

I just remember the day when you, Bijou, told me something like, “I haven’t seen a person like you before. Your character and thinking is so different”. What did you mean with that?

So Bijou, I just found pictures in my head.. do you know what happened in my dream further?

Bijou:

I have met a lot of international students coming to study for just a semester at Christian Brothers University. I’ve seen them in their first day when they looked scared, culture shocked, and already nostalgic of their home. And I’ve met you Claudia. I remember you are from Austria and how you talked about how beautiful it is all the time (and of course your accent). I remember the values you’ve brought with you in American and I remember that you left America with the same values. You came here as an Austrian and left as one. The fast-food culture of Memphis, TN never discouraged you from working out everyday and eats healthy.

Claudia, you’re unlike everyone I’ve met before because you have your values and hold on to them no matter what. No pressure or discrimination can stop you from being truly who “you are”. You are unlike any other because after 1 year apart, I still think about our time together and laugh alone in my room about some of the things we did. You are also so unlike others because you’ve gone through so much in your adolescence, but you refuse to let your past define you. Ultimately, you are exceptional because you are and will always be “undefeated”.

In my dream of you, I still see you doing what you love to do most: teaching people how to live a healthy life. As my dream progress further, I see you maximizing people’s potentials, changing lives, and creating new life-changing stories. My dream of you is so unique because you live to serve others. However, when I wake up from my dream, I realize that I haven’t dreamed because you are living the dream, it is in fact your reality

Claudia, you care so much for others that you live yours serving theirs. So I want to ask you a question: Have you ever counted all the lifes you’ve affected and changed?

Well if you need help doing the math, you’ve changed the ones of most students here including mine. Through you we’ve learned about Austria, we’ve learned that long-distance relationship can work, we’ve learned healthy habits, and we’ve also learned that with hard work anything can happen.

Claudia, I want you to think about this question. Finally, I hope you realize that this question is a rhetorical one because the lifes you’ve changed, Claudia, are countless.