Happy International Women's Day!

Photo by: stockimages

International Women’s Day is celebrated all over the world today.

My light bulb came on. I thought, “I am an international woman!” By that, I mean I was born in one nation (the U.S.A.) and live in another country (Spain). To get from one place to another, we frequently have to visit other countries. My husband and I have flown to Germany, Belgium, and France just to get from where we live in Spain to the United States or to see our son and his family in Puerto Rico.

Our daughter is an international woman, too. Born in the U.S.A., she grew up in Spain. Now, she lives in the U.S. again.

Our daughter-in-law is Mexican and lives in Puerto Rico. Her siblings live in the U.S.A. and her in-laws (us!) live in Spain. She definitely qualifies as international.

The advantages of being international are huge:

• You have a broad view of the world. Since you have visited different countries, spoken different languages, and adjusted to different cultures, you are very willing to accept varied ways of thinking and doing. You are interested in more than only your own country. You appreciate other people from other places, and no one’s customs seem too strange.
• You are not too “rooted” to any one place. People who move often enjoy the moment and the place. They are adaptable and flexible.
• You understand the importance of knowing more than one language.
• You learn to accept others as they are. A person is a person, and you truly see other people as equals.
• You enjoy foods, architecture, customs, and all the local color. You can morph to feel at home literally anywhere.
• You know how to travel. Packing a suitcase and standing in line at airports are activities you can almost do in your sleep.
• If you are an international Christian, your vision is to reach the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Being international gives you a greater burden for missions.

If you are an “international woman,” I’d love to hear from you. Share what benefits you enjoy from living in more than one country.