work(ing) map

I have been wanting to do this for years...this week, I finally put up a world map in my office, and put little sticker-dots on the countries where my current clients come from. I suppose it is not surprising that they mostly fall within the 10/40 window...or close to it. It is also extremely helpful for me to have a visual of where they have lived - it helps me put their story in context, and makes their situation feel more real and tangible. Sometimes in my cozy (albeit it small and "non-proit-esque") office, I forget that my clients come from places without regular electricity or water or food. And sometimes, I forget that they may come from a culture that does not emphasize punctuality, or encourage eye contact...or smell particularly nice. I forget that they may feel totally out of place in my cozy little office, and intimidated by the setting. Somehow having the map up on the wall reminds me that there is a big world outside of my little office; that there are cultures and norms and hurts and injustices that extend farther and deeper than what may first appear. I am reminded to be just a little more patient when a client shows up an hour late, and a little more understanding when they get impatient or demanding. I am reminded that my clients come from very different places and have very different backgrounds, and that is one of the things I love most about this job.