I didn't have time to include this in Friday's post...
We went to one of the two places in the Cities where you can get a CIC medical exam. It's in one of the suburbs (the aforementioned Apple Valley) and is staffed by a physician of Latino origin. The support staff are primarily Latina. The nurse practicioner was listed as "Sr." That's as in sister, as in nun. It's fair (and honest) to say that - as two moms coming in with a child - I was a bit apprehensive.
Then... the NP walked in the door. She was sporting a Wellstone! button. Good sign! As soon as she put her things down she set to work with our materials. She was very cool! That's cool in a good way, not cool as in distant. When I was in her office going over the paperwork she saw my occupation listed as "Professor" and [paraphrasing] sighed, "Brain drain. We're losing all the good people. But, what do we expect when we make policies that force them to leave?" Was I happy or what!
So, all in all, a great experience and a reminder about Catholicism. She happens to be a member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, a very cool order as far as Catholic orders go. You might have heard of Sister Rita. "In 1996 she was arrested for the first time for peaceful protesting, and in 1997 was again arrested and sentenced to a federal penitentiary in Pekin , Illinois . When asked what she got for her 70th birthday, Sister Steinhagen quipped, 'Six months!'"
Anyway, just wanted to add that to the tale. More as it happens!
10 months ago
8 comments:
Great story, mseh . . . It's nice to be reminded that not all Christians are bigoted zealots - just the vocal minority that gets the attention and press.
I happy to read all went well for you. Please remind me when you got your AOR?
Ours was February 2006. I am wondering how soon we can expect to hear about our medicals.
My family are the same types of Catholics you encountered. They get offened around election time with the things put on their windshields while they are in church.
Tom,
As info, "drf" and I got our AOR on Nov. 7, '05 and we still don't have any word from the visa office in New York. Hoping to hear something soon . . . .
Our AOR was 13 June 2005. We got transferred to Detroit, which seems to be the black hole of CIC. If you've been transferred to NY, or not at all, you will likely not have as long a delay. We were txfd exactly one year from our AOR and it was then another five months and some before we rec'd our IA.
Do you know about trackitt.com?
It is always nice when you have the feeling you are in "enemy territory" and there turns out to be a friendly face.
Tom: Alan and I also received our AOR February 2006. So far, no progress. I'm thinking it will be February or March and it will probably be a letter saying our file was transferred.
MSEH, thanks for the trackitt tip.
I love this story.
I have only known two nuns in my life.
One was my co-worker at an alternative school for young people who had dropped out of school. She was a brilliant teacher, and an altogether cool woman.
The other was one of my sister-activists at a sexual assault / domestic violence advocacy program. She did public speaking about her experience as a rape survivor, and spent much of her time listening to and ministering to other survivors of sexual assault.
Both are feminists through and through.
Then of course there's sister Helen Prejean, Barbara Ferraro and Patricia Hussey, who I don't know personally, but which I did.
I get the feeling if nuns ran the Catholic Church, it would be a different world.
MSEH, thanks for sharing this story.
Re: I get the feeling if nuns ran the Catholic Church, it would be a different world.
Yes, I think, for the most part, that you're right. No offense guys, but it brings to mind the song, "If women ruled the world." It should, of course, be something more like "If sane people ruled the world," but it's a fun riff anyway.
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