He speaks 5 languages

And is learning his 6th

because there are still people coming in

with whom he cannot talk

people whose faces will not light up

with the relief it feels to have someone

who can listen and understand

and to whom you can listen and understand

these are his favourite moments

when they realise they will be heard

when they know that they can speak

and he will teach them to speak more

so they can be heard more

to come to a new place is like being reborn

again you are a child listening and watching

trying to catch up and keep up and understand

forced into dependency, subject to new authority

while you retain the memory of your old self

suppressed for the new, wanting, helpless self

he loves being able to teach people

how to balance both selves

how to learn and love the new

while keeping the love of the old

he teaches not only to how to understand

how to live and operate in a new world

but to feel confident, to value oneself

to feel like a person just like anyone else

that is the strength of his community

for each person to value themselves

to feel that they can offer things

and in turn appreciate the offerings of others

the two must go hand in hand

love your neighbour and love yourself