language that transcends barriers

Bangladesh Woman
Oil & Wax on Canvas 24” X 24”
A.
Beyond Boundaries: A Cultural Mosaic Celebrating Women

i have had many opportunities to care for patients that don't necessarily speak the same language as i; it can be frustrating, but we communicate through gestures, our eyes, our smiles. body language transcends all barriers, actually.

yesterday i had the incredible honor of caring for a woman from bangladesh. she spoke very little english, but i knew when she was in pain, when she was feeling okay; her sister-in-law was able to communicate with me and also was an absolute doll.

my patient had had a c-section the previous day, so it was really important she get up and about - i told her when she was up, i wanted to come in to change her linens. as i was walking by her room, i noticed her empty bed -- i looked over to where she was seated and saw her pointing to her feet, which were uncovered. i said "oh, you need socks!" she smiled and nodded and i went to get her a pair. when i returned, i knelt in front of her and gently put the socks on her feet. when i was finished, i looked up at her and said "better?" she kissed her hand, placed it on my shoulder and smiled back.

i encounter so many women who speak different languages and come from such divergent cultures...perhaps it is because i meet them at their most vulnerable that they can communicate so effectively through their eyes and their hearts - or maybe it is just a connectedness through womanhood.

regardless, i am in awe of being in such a holy place.