My second nudge in appreciating other cultures came during my two-year stay with my family abroad. It was during this time that my core beliefs were challenged. Since Dubai is a melting pot of ex-pats and Emiratis, I was able to form close relationships with people from around the world. Through these relationships I was able to experience life events in many different ways. Everything from a birthday celebration to the life and death of Mother Theresa introduced me to how life is viewed by others of different nationalities. Every day was a learning opportunity.

As I resumed my search for a school to complete my degree in nutrition, I became aware of the changes my life and travel abroad had facilitated. My experiences led me to add a concentration of international nutrition to my BS degree. Few colleges offered this as an undergradutate program. My decision was made much simpler when I discovered I had friends living in Blacksburg. A family in my Bible study was moving to Blacksburg to start a business and was a Tech alum. The third nudge of adding culture to my degree helped bring me to Blacksburg.

Once a Virginia Tech student studying international nutrition, I took advantage of the cultural events on campus. So, when the time came to choose an organization for my field study, I approached the Roanoke RIS director and was accepted as an intern for my summer semester. I worked with five Sudanese young men and attempted to acclimate them to the American diet. Again, what I thought was a learning experience for the men I mentored turned out to be a teachable moment for me and nudge four. It is not everyday that you hear a story about surviving an attack by a lion during a dangerous trek from Sudan to a refugee camp in Kenya.

When I moved to Richmond in 2008, I decided that it was time to become an active volunteer with RIS for the long haul. The Richmond RIS staff took me in as a part of their family instantly. I worked with the volunteer coordinator and began mentoring a local family. Then, in 2009, my involvement with RIS changed when I was asked to become a community board member of the Richmond branch of RIS. It has been through this last nudge that I have come to accept what embracing and accepting adversity really means: a constant open mind.

Having an open mind is not easy for a perfectionist planner like myself. I like to know what is in front of me so that I can plan. I like to plan so that life can be perfect. The problem with planning for perfection is that it only leads to frustration. So, I would like to thank RIS for reminding me daily that life is a journey that is to be celebrated for what doesn't go according to plan. Thank you for teaching me the value of the differences between individuals and cultures. Thank you for making me the woman I am today.