“When we laugh, our brains release feel-good chemicals that enhance attention, memory and creativity.”*

International students coming in from across the globe, many sporting proper names that are both tongue-twisting and truly foreign to the western ear, elect to adopt names common to North America. From early on, Xianghui, aka ‘Paul,’ together with his wife and two young sons, endeared themselves to our community. One memorable moment in the life of this electrical engineer student featured a common garden vegetable. It was on a Thursday at midday.

For the weekly FIL (Free International Lunch) which my wife orchestrated with a treasured cadre of volunteers, we had started featuring a special moment we christened, “The English Slang Expression of the Week”.  It grew in popularity among the scores of students routinely filing in for the basement buffet every week. On this Thursday, I conscripted our friend Paul to lend his talents in demonstrating a slang expression. Tossing him an Irish potato, I signaled to the long sofa with its vinyl black cover. “Once most of the students are settled in at the tables with their food, just stretch out there, Paul.”

At the key moment, taking up my mic, I directed a sharp glance to Paul who lay stretched out on his back – repeatedly tossing the veggie upwards and catching it – “Hey, there, Paul!”

The gathered students turned Paul’s way.

“What is it you are doing over there?” I asked in mock surprise.

His response was perfect.

“Oh … not much of anything, Jerry … just being a Couch Potato!”

In such moments, another brief phrase – one lifted from our ministry’s mission statement – would spring afresh to mind.

(We exist) ‘to meet practical … needs of international students.’

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*Barbara Hubert, Ph.D.