KatjaLiebing

ReflectionReynaGrandeVisit

IamgladIwenttothetalkwithReynaGrandeduringtheBordersofDiversityconferenceat
PCC.JustbeingabletoputafacetothestoryandhearafewmoredetailsmadethebookThe
DistanceBetweenUscomealotmoretolifethanitalreadyis.
ReynasformerteacherandmentorDianaintroducetheevenandtalkedabouther
relationshiptoReynaandhowshetookherintoherhomeafterhearingmainlyaboutthelong
wayReynahadtotravellateatnighttodowntownwhereshewaslivinginathermothersplace
atthetime.OnlylaterDianafoundoutallothercircumstances.Dianawasverytearyand
emotionalwhenshetalkedaboutReyneandtheirconnectionwasobvious.Shesaiditwasan
actofkindnessthatshetookReyneinandthatshefeltshereallydidnothaveanyotheroptions
atthetime.Ifounditinterestingthatshementionedshewasnotsureifshewoulddoitagain.
However,IdonotthinkthatreferredtoReynadirectlyasIfirstthought,butmoretothequestionif
shewouldtakeanotherstudentinagainnowadays.
Reynatalkedaboutthemeaningsofbordersandhowtheyarebothculturalandphysical.
Shesaiditisimportanttolearnwhatweallhaveincommonandwhatmakesusdifferentand
uniqueandappreciateboth.Shementionedhowshestillstruggleswithidentityissuestodayand
thatwritingreallyhasbeenagreathelpforherasitconnectsbothheridentities.
Shewentintohowthingshavenotreallychangedmuchandthatimmigrantsoverallstill
arenotwelcometodayandthattheyareoftenbeingtreatedassecondclasscitizensbecauseof
alackingimmigrationreform.Alotofimmigrantsareeitherbeingdeportedorselfdeport
becauseitisjusttoodifficultforthem.Shepointsoutthatover5millionarestilllivinginthe
shadowslikesheusedtoandthattheirdreamsareheldhostage,whichIthoughtwasabeautiful
waytoputit.Anotherquoteofhersstoodouttome:WeavetheLatinoyouthintothefabricof
oursociety.Ifeelthesamewe.WeneedtoincorporatenotonlytheLatinoimmigrantsandtheir
children,butallotherimmigrantsaswell.ShesaiditistimetoredefinethewordAmerican.She
meansthatthetypicalAmericanhaschanged,atleastinmanypartsoftheUSA.
Therewerealotoflittlecommentsthatstoodouttome.AnotheronewaswhenDiana
saidthatifyoulovesomeone,youdontalwaysgetit.Itisjustimportantthatyouarethere.
ThatisexactlyhowIfeelaboutfriendship.Bethereforyourfriends,withoutjudgement.
ItwassurprisingwhenDianasaidshedidnotknowabouttheemotionalandphysical
abuseReynahadtoendureasachilduntilshereadthefirstmanuscriptofthebookThe
DistanceBetweenUs.Firstthesherealisedtherealimportanceofthatoneactofkindness.