6 // Get in the Trenches
Every time I begin to process through these topics one resounding thought surfaces
// We fear what we don't know \\
I have mentioned this is a post before but today I feel the need to shout it from a rooftop. It understandable to be fearful of the unknown but what is not understandable is the ways in which we don't even TRY to understand.
I feel very grateful for the experiences I have been given. I cherish those experiences as a privilege in my life and I am grateful for the ways in which they have expanded my world view. Education is one of those, and also traveling.
My most valued experiences are those which I have traveled to an unknown land and had the opportunity to live with people unlike me. I lived in Asia and Africa for 2 months each and have traveled to Turkey, Ethiopia, Somalia, Germany, and Swaziland. Although I would never say that I fully understand any of the cultures I have interacted with, what I can tell you is that we are all humans. We all experience pain and love.We all need oxygen to breathe and we are all a bit messy.
When asked what I think would change the world, I believe that if everyone was given the ability to get a taste of another culture ( beyond a vacation ) our world would be radically different. I mean really being immersed in a culture. It really hard to hate people you have shaken hands with, shared a smile with or even held their baby.
Knowledge and Experience are so very powerful in breaking down the fake assumptions which cause so much anxiety in social situations between differing cultures.
I found the Shanna, 2015 research article incredibly interesting. How we are so effected by the anxiety that we have been preconditioned with. I know, speaking for myself, that I will already raise my children with less anxiety in intercultural interactions than I was raised with. They don't have to travel abroad ( although that is one of my dreams for them) because I hope to teach them to value differences.
In whatever field we choose, we can use our own education and experience to "lift the veil" of cultural differences for others. We have the responsibility to engage in conversations that bring understanding and enlightenment to those who have not had the opportunities we have. We can cause change in the generations to come by getting into the trenches and having the hard conversations with those in our sphere of influence.
Seeking understanding and seeing people for who they are beyond numbers and statistics is the real agent of social change.
Shanna, L. (2015). Investigating the Effect of Anxiety, Uncertainty and Ethnocentrism on Willingness to Interact in an Intercultural Communication. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology,46(39), 52nd ser., 1-14. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
I found the Shanna, 2015 research article incredibly interesting. How we are so effected by the anxiety that we have been preconditioned with. I know, speaking for myself, that I will already raise my children with less anxiety in intercultural interactions than I was raised with. They don't have to travel abroad ( although that is one of my dreams for them) because I hope to teach them to value differences.
In whatever field we choose, we can use our own education and experience to "lift the veil" of cultural differences for others. We have the responsibility to engage in conversations that bring understanding and enlightenment to those who have not had the opportunities we have. We can cause change in the generations to come by getting into the trenches and having the hard conversations with those in our sphere of influence.
Seeking understanding and seeing people for who they are beyond numbers and statistics is the real agent of social change.
Shanna, L. (2015). Investigating the Effect of Anxiety, Uncertainty and Ethnocentrism on Willingness to Interact in an Intercultural Communication. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology,46(39), 52nd ser., 1-14. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
I've heard what you said about diving into other cultures from just about everyone I know who has traveled abroad. One of my friends did an exchange program in Chile last school year and he said getting to dive into a culture for more than just a couple of days (like you said, on vacation) helped him to learn the culture and appreciate it. I think this is such a great philosophy: expand your bubble and you will come to know, and maybe even love, that other culture. I know for much of my life and even now I don't have the money to travel for long periods of time, but I think we can get this same effect in our own towns through branching out into communities that are not our own. During my undergrad, this has looked like volunteering in South Austin neighborhoods and schools. I wouldn't have known about this community had I stayed in my bubble of the campus area, but now that I have branched out I have absolutely fallen in love with South Austin and come to appreciate the vibrant culture that's there! It's so easy to stay in places that feel comfortable and familiar to us, but we can't grow if we don't step out. Thanks for this post!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Amy! I love your ideas and insights about engaging in cultural immersion to help foster inclusion, acceptance, and understanding, and the call to action for all of us to share our experiences, acknowledge our biases, and truly get to know each other. Thank you for your thoughtful and supportive response, Rob, and your shared commitment!
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I really like the way you have organized your blog! I completely relate to what you said about it being unacceptable for people to not even try to understand. It is especially frustrating when someone has no interest in being educated or hearing anything that conflicts with what they already believe. I always feel like the best way to validate ones beliefs is to understand those who have opposing beliefs. It is important to be well informed and try to understand people. I loved what you said about experiencing other cultures being the key to changing the world. This isn't something I would have said to answer this question, but after reading your words I completely agree. There is a MUCH bigger world outside of ours, and it is too bad that some people don't want to consider this fact. Lastly, I relate to what you said about hoping your own children will travel, and value difference. I also have these hopes. If everyone should learn to value difference, what a different world we would live in!
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