..... On another blog site that is.
Humbled by Women Everywhere
From the ESL World to the MPA World
If someone told me eighteen months ago that I would be
living in Memphis working at Memphis Animal Clinic, and volunteering with
Memphis Pets Alive, I would have laughed. Until June of last year I was
teaching ESL in South Korea. I knew I would depart later that summer to some
emotional goodbyes, and then transition over to living in Eastern Europe for a
little while. I taught kids aged 3-8
years old, and was the only full time male teacher there at Harmony Language
Institute. Being the only man is not such a bad thing, except when only three
of the fifteen women can actually speak fluent English, it is another story.
Good thing I was pretty close to fluent in the Korean language.
Those women worked at least ten hours more than I, and may
have received half of the pay as myself. Did you know that the word value for
humble when playing scrabble is 17? I went to work humbled every day, knowing
that I was giving my heart and soul to those children just like my female
Korean coworkers were. This reminds me of a group of women I know very well
these days.
Fast forward to the present. After only learning of Memphis
Pets Alive! six months ago, I have become what one might call an active member
of the organization. Once a month there is that “mandatory” Saturday, where I
assist in dog washing, or dog lifting. Once a week there is Wag Along Tuesday,
where Miss Beth and I make sure that every stray dog gets just as good a shot
as every health hold, and adoption room dog receive. I also assist in cat room
activities, and ensure that the “adoptable” dogs are free of any health issues.
Today I received an email informing me that a certain brown
pit bull had found her a new start in life. I was thanked for the wonderful
photos, and the loads of animal rescue info that I provided. Later in the afternoon I threw up a big fist
pump (better than Tiger Woods), upon reading that email once again. As I thought for a few minutes, I realized
that sharing the big news would make the day of a few ladies too. The women of Memphis Pets Alive!, (most
importantly Miss Dani, and Miss Beth for their photography skills), were the
reason that brown pit bull has a wonderful home with a mom, dad, and two kids.
Volunteering with Memphis Pets Alive!, and teaching English
in South Korea are two experiences that one would think are totally
different. Shockingly enough, they tend
to be more similar than they are different.
In the world of education there are a ton of amazing women that spend
their lives touching so many little children. In the world of animal rescue
there are a ton of amazing women that spend their lives touching others,
especially touching the lives of the four legged (and sometimes three legged)
critters they work so tirelessly to save.
I am so blessed and humbled to have been around so many
amazing women, here with Memphis Pets Alive!, and on the other side of the
globe, while teaching English in South Korea.
When you hear of the animals that get adopted at Memphis
Animal Shelter, think of the ladies at Memphis Pets Alive!. When you hear of
the beneficiaries of the Memphis Pets Alive! Pet Pantry, think of the ladies of
MPA! When you go to sleep tonight with your rescue dog, think of all of those
hard working ladies that made sure that dog became a rescue, especially the
ladies of MPA!.
