Community and Relationships

When Alliah left Miami, Florida, for Flint, Michigan, she never expected to find a new community on a college campus. 

She had originally moved to attend the University of Michigan-Flint (UM-Flint) to study education. At the start of her program, she was so busy working and taking classes full-time that she never had the chance to learn about the groups that existed on campus. On top of that, Alliah is a mother to two children. 

When I graduated college, I didn’t expect to feel so… disconnected.

I was stepping into a new job, learning how to “adult,” figuring out bills and schedules and responsibilities. On paper, life was moving forward. But spiritually? Something felt off, and I couldn’t put a finger on it. 

I often say, “Food is the love language of the Chinese people.” If you’ve ever been to a Chinese banquet, you know that we love good food and lots of it! We celebrate birthdays, weddings, memorials, and all special occasions with food. Good food is the way we share love and celebrate relationships. I’ve found this to be true in every culture I’ve experienced.

I always tell my students that tax collectors were kind of like mobsters. They weren’t your typical blue-collar criminals; they were the worst kind of traitor, getting rich off the imperial oppression of their own people.