Free Write (Language Barriers)

Describe an event in which someone you knew spoke non-standard English or maybe you yourself have had such an experience. In any case, in what ways did the use of non-standard English affect the person or you? What lessons about language did the experience teach you?

JSH Farms, the company I work for,  hires a lot of Mexican's. Mostly because they are very hard workers, and do a good job. I encounter what we call a language barrier all the time, because I don't speak Spanish. Yes I know I should learn, but I never seem to have enough motivation. Anyways I help with payroll, and take and make phone calls. So the Hispanic families will come in to pick up their paychecks, or sometimes they will have a problem with their checks and ask me to help them. One particular story I remember is when two young men came in asked me for their checks. I handed them the signature sheet and asked them their names. One thing that I have realized is that whenever you ask them for their names they always give you their first name. And even though I've been doing this for quite some time, their accents were so thick that I couldn't understand their names! Oh no! So I checked the signature sheet to see which names they had signed their signatures under, and found the paychecks. Handing them the checks they looked at them and handed them back... they had signed under the wrong names on the list. Finally I got my boss who knew who they were and let them get it sorted out.


I really don't view this as a negative experience I think that they felt somewhat out of place since no one in our office speaks Spanish but at least I was able to find someone who could help them.


As far as what I learned from this, I learned their names, and I learned that they don't always sign under the right names on the signature sheet.


I am encouraged to learn Spanish, and I want to but right now in my life I honestly don't have time. Maybe someday... it is a beautiful language.

Free Write (Where was I born?)

I was born in Yakimah Washington, but I lived in Farmington New Mexico from the age of five to ten. I now live in Hermiston Oregon, where one of our mint farms is. As far as identifying with where I was born, I think I do and don't. I do because I still have family over in that area, and I don't because I only lived there for a short time in my life. I know that I live in Hermiston Oregon, now for seven years, but I still feel like a newby sometimes. But not in a bad way. I think the land here is absolutely beautiful. The people are nice too. It is a small place, but I do know that this is my home. I think Hermiston is a very nice place to live, there may not be very many places to go, as far as restraunts and such, but we have people. And these people need God just as much as people on the other side of the world.  I know that God has called me here, and Hermiston is not altogether too small. I don't know what else to say, no not really. hmmmm writing can be exhausing because you have to really express a lot.

First Post

Hello my fellow friends and students alike, my name is Jessica, and I am so excited to begin this blog through the course of English Composition. During this class I hope to learn how to write a paper in Turabian format. Until attending the School of Urban Missions in August, I had never written a paper (or even heard of) of the Turabian format. Although I I used this format for my first trimester, I still am not sure if I did it right! I am sure that this is something that I need to know to do well during my college career, and I know that Professor Galvan can help me!


Outside of the wonderful classes I take at the School of Urban Missions, music is my second love. My first is Jesus, but I have always been quite taken with music. All of my family, actually, is quite musical. My older sister Amanda, and I both sing and play instruments (I play the piano) and are worship leaders for different areas in our church and community. So I would have to say that I think about music a lot. There is just so many different styles, and options. But, yes, it can be overwhelming, and if you don't know who you are in the Lord you can quickly lose your identity. That is why it is so critical to remember who you do music for and why. So me, I just do it for the Lord.

There are other things that share my life as well though. Such as my family, friends, and my dog. My family, now that I think about it, is actually number two in my life. Don't ask me why I put that music was. It was an accident(music is actually probably number four or five)! My parents are my confidants, not so much my friends actually. Reason being, I know that they have a lot of wisdom and will always tell me the truth. I'm trying to be wise with my life, and with my friends too. That is why I have only a few close friends... I don't want everyone knowing everything, and honestly I only have time to invest in a few. But I certainly can give much through the love of Jesus to others. Because His love is the kind of love I myself cannot produce. Thank You Jesus! That is why I want to share Jesus with others, and minister to them through music. God has given me a love for others. And lastly, I have a dog, Sophie. Well, really she's my family's dog, but I enjoy her. Seriously I don't even know if my family even knows how much I like her. Probably because even though she stares through the french glass doors, I don't always pet her. But I am sure Sophie loves me, no matter how committed I am to her! Dogs, got to love them!

Well I will leave you with a Bible verse I have been meditating on:
"The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,
But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty." Proverbs 21:5

This verse encourages me to organize this next trimester well, and invest time into friendships.