If you are by nature curious, you discover a wealth of opportunities to learn about people, how cultures vary, and to problem solve. On Monday, June 30, 2014, such an opportunity occurred, with a statement to the young man washing windows of the building in which I work.
“Tell me about your license plate,” I said after greeting him and introducing myself. I had seen him at work a couple times before this; he was a new man.
I soon leaned a good deal about Aleem Usman. Traditionally Arabic names would be written surname-first, as we would describe it: Usman Aleem. He introduced himself in the English manner.
The Arabic given Aleem means “learned, wise, and knowledgeable.” It seems most apt, because he is a former school teacher from Ohio–hence the license plate. Usman arrived in Sterling, IL, on September 13, 2013, so we discussed briefly changing the car title and registering his plate. I discovered later he should have registered the plate within his first 90 days at www.cyberdriveillinois.com.
Usman’s move to Whiteside County was to fill his desire to become a minister. He is one of several Elders, with a congregation of 74 members, of Kingdom Hall Jehovah’s Witnesses, 12712 Lawrence Road, Sterling.
“They take the lead in the congregation, ” he explained.
One year after his arrival, he returns to part-time teaching at Woodlawn Arts Academy, 3807 Woodlawn Road, Sterling. His classes begin the first week of September in charcoal drawing and papier maché, for students age 16 through adult.
Also, he has transferred his cleaning service business to Illinois, GX Cleaning Solutions. He cleanses residential and business windows; power washes decks, gutters, etc; cleans offices.
Are those tasks you would prefer to have someone else perform? Aleem Usman is at your service for cleaning chores, inside and out. Contact him at 815-202-9413.