Nintai

I have a friend in Mauritania who was exceptionally bright. He completed his studies at the University of Nouakchott and, like many of his classmates, applied for a Fulbright scholarship to study in the United States. He passed the TOEFL exam and was waiting for the outcome of his application. In the mean time, he needed cash. He applied for a position at the U.S. Embassy and was hired. 

Immediately after he began his new position, he heard some great news. His application for the Fulbright was accepted! His dream was finally in his grasp; soon he would be on his way to get a Masters degree in the U.S.! Yet no one told him that there were many stipulations to being awarded a Fulbright grant, one of which was that no one employed by the U.S. government was eligible. In one moment, his hopes were dashed. He was left with a job but no hope of fulfilling his dream of studying in the U.S. He could quit his job, wait a year, and reapply for the grant. In the meantime, however, he would have no work and there was no guarantee his application would be successful the next time around.

Rather than being sad, or angry, or frustrated, this remarkable young man took it all in stride and focused on the positive. He waited and researched. He found an opportunity to apply for a grant to study in Japan and seized the moment. He applied, and unsurprisingly, was accepted. 

The night before he left, he presented me with a beautiful hand-carved turtle. It was made by his friend, who carves wood as a hobby. His friend spent many hours polishing and refining this turtle's delicate shell. 

I named this turtle Nintai, which means "patience" in Japanese. I hope it will be a reminder for me to always focus on the positive and keep my eyes on the prize!