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Our German Gap Year student ends her time with us August 30. Here’s her good-bye letter, with many thanks.
Even though I can’t believe it, my year at Lydia’s House is almost over. I spent the last year learning so much about a new culture, new friends, and myself. I went from trying to figure out how to walk from the shelter to Mary Ellen’s house to being able to navigate through Norwood with my eyes closed. Lydia’s House went from being a place on paper that my dad and I tried to find online out of pure curiosity, to being a place I call home. A big part of that change was the people I met at and through Lydia’s House.
I’m forever thankful for the Xavier students who came to volunteer. They taught me so much about dinners at Lydia’s House, and their willingness to help was such a great comfort, especially in the first few weeks of my stay. Over time, they became the people I looked forward to talking to all day. I found myself wanting to be at dinner just to spend time with them. All of them sacrifice a lot of their precious free time to help out wherever help is needed, no questions asked. But they weren’t only a big help around Lydia’s House and the daycare, where we faced the daily stress of overtired kids still learning how to control their impulses — they became friends I saw after work, too. Their openness and willingness to help inspired and motivated me to keep giving my time and love to this place.
Our daily meal volunteers were another big part of what made this house feel like home to me. It’s common knowledge that meals taste better when they’re made with love, and good food makes you feel welcome. Having a warm meal every evening rounded out my days perfectly. I loved talking to our volunteers and learning their stories. I especially loved when they came once a month and stayed for dinner, so I could get to know them better. So a big thank you to everyone who brought dinner to Lydia’s House, for spending so much time and love making a meal everyone could enjoy.
A big part of my time at Lydia’s House was spent in the daycare. I only learned about its opening a few days before I arrived, and even though I didn’t expect to work in a daycare this year, I loved the surprise. I enjoyed my time with the kids, and looking back, it’s so beautiful to see how far they’ve come and how much they’ve learned over the course of a year. The person responsible for the daycare’s growth — and the kids’ — is Amanda. Over the course of a year, she taught me so much about children and childcare. She’s patient with the kids and firm when she needs to be, but she never gets mad at them. She plans the staff schedule and lesson plans every week, all while handling new enrollments and all the administrative work that most of us have no idea is happening in the background. At the same time, she’s always available for questions and makes time for every concern from staff and parents alike. Every time my anxious, worrying self came to her with yet another question, she either had an answer or took the time to find one to ease my worries. Thank you for all of that.
I also want to thank everyone who works at the daycare every day. I enjoyed all the time I got to spend with you at work, but also on our hikes and picnics. You gave me a lot of insight into topics I’d never really thought about before, and you inspired me to keep thinking about them. Together, we managed to help the kids build a routine that structured their day — and their lives — in a positive way. That’s what I truly believe. I’m glad to be able to look back on this year and appreciate the small impact I had on the education and lives of the kids at the daycare, which was only possible because of all the mothers who trusted us with their precious children. It must be hard to place your children in the hands of people you don’t know and maybe don’t trust yet. Thank you for giving us the chance to earn that trust.
Over the last few weeks, I had the pleasure of getting to know the older kids of Lydia’s House better. The time we spent together at summer camp was so much fun, and I loved seeing the great minds behind those kids. They taught me so much, even if they probably didn’t realize it.
Before I came to Lydia’s House, one of my greatest fears was getting homesick. While there were definitely times when I missed my family and friends back home, Mary Ellen and her family were a great help. They welcomed me into their community with open arms. I loved whenever they invited me over for dinner, because that meant a chance to watch her three kids interact with each other. The energy was always high, and there was always something to laugh about — most of the time thanks to Mary Ellen’s youngest son, who had a new hobby every time I came over and was always eager to show off his newest trick. I loved being invited to every kind of event and celebration, from soccer games to watching a baseball game from the box, to all the different theater shows, their big joint birthday party, and smaller celebrations like Christmas breakfast, which might have been my favorite.
The biggest thank you has to go to Mary Ellen and Meridith. Thank you for giving me the chance to help around Lydia’s House and for your consistent trust in me and my work, even when things got chaotic. Thank you for answering all my questions about forwarding mail, finding things around the house, and helping me with whatever bureaucratic problems came up over the year. Thank you for taking the time to teach me to drive and for helping me get my license. The opportunity you gave me a year ago, and your willingness to take me in for the year, made me a better person, thanks to your guidance and values. With this opportunity, you gave me more than I could have ever imagined — I got to be part of a wonderful community and meet so many amazing people. This city, this community, and this house, along with everyone in it, will always have a special place in my heart. I wouldn’t want to miss a single experience I had or a single person I met. I want to spend my last few weeks soaking it all in and holding onto it so I never forget. And when it’s finally time to go home, it will be with heavy luggage and a heavy heart.
