"In the 10 years I've worked at the Herald, many people of different races have come through our doors. The ones I remember most are Chinese, Korean, Mongolian and South African people. Looking back at their visits, I realize they gave me a gift a gift of culture and a taste of their homelands.
They were excellent teachers. I still have contact with some, and I remember others when their nations are in the news.
These foreign journalists helped me realize that what I see on CNN or world news broadcasts is not all of what their homelands offer. World news is a snippet of people and places that floats over the wires nightly, sometimes hitting islands of truth and sometimes not.
The woman from Mongolia lived with me for six weeks, and I got to know her well. I found she liked green grapes and potato chips. I also found common traits in her people and American Indian tribes. I was surprised that some lived in round homes somewhat like our ancient earth lodges. She gave me a replica of one of their homes. She told me of the isolation, water shortages and poverty. They have a land that's huge and rugged with temperatures that vary from the Gobi desert to several major mountain ranges."
Get the Story:Dorreen Yellow Bird: Foreign journalists offer cultural gifts (The Grand Forks Herald 10/20)
pwpwd More Dorreen Yellow Bird:
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Yellow Bird: Tribes should snuff out smoking too (2/14)
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