April 15 , 2021 The Beacon • 7
Letter to the Editor
Round on the end , high in the middle . Can you give me the answer to my little riddle ? This is how I was introduced to Ohio , home for me during my stay as an International Farm Youth Exchange in the USA in 1969 . And my first host family was the Warrens of Coshocton County .
They were six in all . There were Charles , his wife Dorothy and his four daughters , Sarah , Dana , Lori and Jacki , whom the father never missed to address as Jacki Sue , as Americans all want to call people with their two first names . A lovely family , very hospitable , sharing a house on the side of a hill . The closest neighbor was Charles ’ mother , who lived by a creek at the foot of the hill . Coming from an extended family , I could not figure out how an old mother with a physical handicap could be left to fend for herself , but I realized it
was her choice . Charles was supposed
to be my “ father ,” but we decided we were brothers because of the short age difference between us . Charles had a small farm with a few heads of cattle , a few chickens roaming around and a couple of cows to milk . I would help him on his old John Deere tractor to make hay and with difficulty to milk the cows .
It was culture shock to me to be in a big country with an endless horizon ( in Mauritius , I could see from any point our boundary marked by the sea ), in company of only white people ( in Mauritius in the 1960s , it was a rarity to see a White person conversing with a non-White ), to drive on the right , to see houses scattered one far away from the other , to drive to the shop and church , to have supper when the sun was still high , to be served eggs and meat every day , and above all to eat my monthly ration in one meal .
Charles was so considerate I could ask him questions about the difference in our cultures and I would get reassuring responses . After dinner , the family would sit around , and we would exchange news and views about our two countries , our peoples , our religions , our food , our dress and our marriage customs .
Social life revolved around the church , and Charles was the pastor ( I had to be dressed to attend Church ! Ha !), and my arrival in the community was announced in the pastoral news . I would join the chorus singing of the Bible to the astonishment of the parishioners , and my best one was “ Mine eyes have seen the coming of the glory of the Lord .”
Charles would ask me to accompany him on his visits to the sick of his congregation , and I was comforted the see the openmindedness of Americans who would agree to me praying for their recovery , not forgetting I was asked to deliver the Sunday sermon on Islam , my religion . I would also mow the church lawn before the family picnics , where the whole parish would assemble to share their meals and fellowship .
Charles was generous . Kindness came as second nature to him , and he would go any distance to make me feel at home : He cleaned his fridge of pork and took one of his calves to be slaughtered according to Islamic rites . He was of humble background but took pride in hosting me and sharing
me with his sister Liz and her family and the whole Keene community , when I could meet members of youth clubs and different associations .
I learned through Charles that Americans are made of a different mettle ; they are humane , open to persuasion , tolerant , can accept defeat in arguments , ready to learn and appreciate different cultures . He taught me to love America as he was the face of America the world would like to see . I loved Charles and his family and the Keene community , and that is why I took my wife to visit them . And in return Charles and Dorothy came to visit me in Mauritius .
My contacts with the Warrens were mainly through the phone calls I made . I could hear them , though I could not see them as they did not use a smart phone because internet is so expensive for them . ( Can you believe it ? This happens in the biggest and richest economy in the world .)
Unfortunately , when I called Charles and family to give them Easter greetings , I was informed my brother Charles had passed away . I broke down . I learned Dorothy prefers to live by herself in the house , reminding me of her mother-in-law .
Charlie , may the Almighty Lord welcome you with open arms . You have been a good shepherd and taken care of his children . May he offer you a place of choice by his side . My heartfelt condolences to Dorothy , who has equally taken good care of me , asking me about my food preferences and washing and ironing my clothes , and Sara , Dana , Lori , Jacki Sue and the grandchildren . Dawood Auleear Mauritius
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