As many individuals know, I love to travel and be among different types of people. In the last 5 years, I have lived in Chicago, Nashville, Los Angeles, New York City, Italy and Barcelona. I currently live in Santiago, Dominican Republic. During the last year, I have studied at home universities in Barcelona and Santiago. Within these school systems, there is a plethora of classes offered to international students such as Intro to Folklore, History of the Iberian Peninsula, Processes of Dominican Culture and Politics, Intercultural Communication and etc. For two semesters, I have been enrolled in an 'Intercultural Communication' type course. Within the course, we learn things that are consciously and subconsciously known to us, ie: we learn that other cultures are different. On a more respectable level, I think we should learn that people are different.
Without a doubt, I have realized that wherever I go, there will be like-minded people and there will be individuals that I have nothing in common with. This is generally based on where they come from, how they were raised, their financial background and many other variables. I have met individuals here(DR) and in Barcelona that may be deemed as the stereotypical 'Cigarette Smoking, Greased Up" Spaniard or the 'Santa Claus of Piropos' Dominican Male. But if we were to take a closer look at these stereotypical individuals, we would realize that they are even different. No one is the same. No one is a complete imitation of another person. Even in the smallest sense, we are all different.
I recently watched the Portuguese film, Era Uma Vez, which depicts the story of love, family, death and many other themes. By the end of the movie, a mother had lost 3 out 3 sons to violence. It was indeed a tragedy. After the film ended, there was a comment by someone, "that was so stupid. It all could have been avoided." (Note that these may not be the exact words, but very close). In general, I think as individuals, we tend to forget that there are people in the world that are not like us, and sometimes, there are people that are very much on the opposite side of the spectrum when it comes to backgrounds and financial stability.
I grew up on the Southside of Chicago and although there was a substantial amount of violence, I understand that there are many other places throughout the world that are much worse. I understand that in some neighborhoods and places, fifteen people may be murdered each day. But I also know that in other neighborhoods, twelve other individuals may be signing million-dollar deal checks. The fact is, we are all different.
I am indeed blessed to have the chance to travel the world and live amongst individuals who are different socially, physically, financially and etcetera, etcetera. I am blessed to become more of a global citizen each day. I am blessed (and humbled) because I have seen both, extreme poverty and extreme privilege. I have grown so much within the last few years, but I understand that I have a lot more growing to do. In fact, growth will not end until my dying day. I will continue going forth, meeting and living among those who are different from me. I will go forth, understanding that we are all different. I will go forth, knowing that there will ALWAYS be someone worse off and better off than me. But one thing I will never lose, is who I am: a man of growth and integrity.
Respect to everyone fighting battles that I will never understand (but I will shole try!)
Peace My Brothers and My Sisters, Mi Hermanos y Mi Hermanas and Mis Fratellos e Mis Sorellas
