Symbols of Home

From castles and canals to sand dunes and mountains, I have explored some of the most incredible locations in the world, which has greatly enriched my life. Yet, I distinctly remember rushing through the lower level of the Frankfurt Airport, many years ago. As my family and I navigated our way from one end of the airport to the other, I was hit by a very distinct scent. The more it wafted through the air, I was finally able to identify this familiar aroma as being none other than… McDonald’s french fries! Despite living in a picturesque German village, at the time, I was instantly overcome by a wave of homesickness. Even in that harried moment at the airport, McDonald’s was a symbol of America, it was a symbol of home.   

Much like McDonald’s french fries, there are some things that are quintessentially American such as:

~ yellow buses at the start of a school year,   

~ road trips to national parks

~ American flags on homes and businesses

~ root beer floats, BBQs, apple pie and, of course, baseball.

In 2019, the Saudi Arabian government sent a group of college students to the United States as a means to further their education. The Literacy Council was brought on board to help spearhead this special project. As a seasoned ESL instructor with the Literacy Council, I was one of the teachers tasked with improving the English skills of these young adults, in preparation for the IELTS and NCLEX exams, which they would take later that year.  

For those who don’t know, the IELTS is an international English exam designed to evaluate English proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing.  The NCLEX is a five hour standardized nursing exam, which uses real-world cases to measure critical thinking skills. It is required in order to become a licensed RN or PN in the United States.

In order to help these students achieve their academic and professional goals, a great deal of preparation went into each lesson, from improving their reading comprehension to honing their writing skills. As the weeks and months went by, I learned as much from the men and women who made up my class as they, hopefully, learned from me. 

In addition to their classroom studies, they were encouraged to have cultural experiences outside the classroom, as well. For one of these ‘experiences’, I accompanied my Saudi students to their 1st American baseball game. I’ll admit, navigating our large group past the ticket booth and onto our seats, with a brief layover at the concession stands, was chaotic. Once they finally got settled, their eyes were full of wonder and their minds were full of questions. Feeding off the energy they felt from the crowd of excited baseball fans, I tried my best to field their rapid-fire questions.  

However, their mood suddenly shifted once our national anthem was announced. As The Star~Spangled Banner resonated throughout the stadium that night, I quietly stood, placing my hand over my heart. In that moment a wave of emotion came over me. This time it wasn’t a wave of homesickness, but rather one of gratitude. 

Gratitude that America is my home.

Gratitude for all the freedoms I partake of each and every day. 

Gratitude for those who have fought on the field and on the floor to protect those freedoms. 

Gratitude for the beautiful parts of our lives that are quintessentially American such as:

~ the smell of McDonald’s french fries, 

~ yellow buses at the start of a school year,   

~ road trips to national parks

~ American flags on homes and businesses

~ root beer floats, BBQs, apple pie and, of course, baseball.

Whatever your plans may be, I hope you have a spectacular holiday, as we celebrate America's 250th anniversary this 4th of July!

The White House. Another symbol of America.