I think our choices as writers are definitely influenced by
colonialism. I do feel like my writing is/will be impacted by the “other” as
different and inferior. It’s not that I feel like I’m better than those living
in other cultures; it’s more of the fact that sometimes I feel better off than
some of the people in other cultures.
I can’t help but look at everything through my own economic
background. I grew up in an upper-middle class family and as soon as I got
married I moved into my first house. I didn’t have a ton of money (my wife and
I are teachers), but I wanted a 4-bedroom house similar to the one I grew up
in. In Arizona in 1999 that wasn’t too hard. I don’t look down on people who
don’t share my definition of “success,” but it definitely impacts my opinion of
how other people choose to live. Even when I watch shows like “House Hunters
International,” I’m blown away at how small the places are in Europe and I’m
always thinking “What? $1500 for a studio apartment!”
I process everything
through my own view of what is “better off.” When traveling I don’t think it helps me any that other
countries make money off what I kind of view as exploiting their culture. When
I traveled to Fiji, for example, we paid to go on an organized tour of a
traditional school and a traditional Fijian village. While we were at the
school, we were led around by students who didn’t wear shoes and had all sorts
of scars on their legs. As a teacher, it was sad to see the condition of their
school. On the way out the headmaster hit us up for donations. How do I not
look at their culture as “being in a worse spot”? In the traditional village,
we participated in a traditional ceremony and the women of the village cooked
for us. We sat on the floor, eating food in one of their houses while the women
watched us and swatted flies out of the way. The experience was extremely
enlightening, but I kept looking at it through my lens of “acceptable living
standards.” They obviously benefit from the money we spend on touring their
culture, and I learned a lot about their culture, but I also left feeling bad
for them. I shouldn’t because they choose to live according to the traditional
ways of their culture.
When I travel to Europe, I definitely wish I was in someone
else’s spot at times. The lifestyle and the history of the place make me want
to live there. Then I snap out of it and remember that I only speak English
with very little French that I kind of remember from high school. I also have
my very “American” way of looking at things and I don’t know if I would have
the ability to adapt J
Adam,
ReplyDeleteYour candid and honest tone permeates throughout your blog, which demands your readers' full attention and welcomes their presence. God job.
From the onset, you weave the theme of the title as you detail your perspectives of your traveling experiences.
In your introduction, I learn the important standards you use to navigate your life and decisions: "upper-middle class family," "didn’t have a ton of money," "wanted a 4-bedroom house." You reflect your own culture when you state, "I don’t look down on people who don’t share my definition of “success,” but it definitely impacts my opinion of how other people choose to live." By doing so, you reinforce the theme of your title and your main point: "I process everything through my own view of what is “better off." Could this also connect to aspects of sources you’ve read?
By sharing your reflections of the people, culture, customs, economy, interactions and opinions, you are showing the significance of traveling; this may connect to your research. It sounds like it. But, I am not sure because you don't reference authors or texts.
When I "study" your visuals, I see a beautiful land / sea scape, a joyful family, and friendly children, quite a different message from "students who didn’t wear shoes and had all sorts of scars on their legs," and "I also left feeling bad for them." You address the contrasting texts when you state, "I shouldn’t because they choose to live according to the traditional ways of their culture." The contrasting texts send a powerful message.
Your conclusion illuminates the idea “I know I need a wider lens,” as you state, “I also have my very “American” way of looking at things and I don’t know if I would have the ability to adapt.”
I enjoyed the trip.
Janise
Your insight and self-awareness are refreshing. I think as a society, in some ways we tend to be in denial about who we are and what we think of certain things, such as travelling overseas or judging how others live. It is refreshing to hear a writer talk about themselves in an honest way. It makes the reading more relatable.
ReplyDeleteGiving me some information about your background fits nicely into some of the readings and discussions we have been having about bias and pre-conceived notions of a place. This background information could further be supported by giving your definition of “better off” and providing more context for the phrase “’American’ way” in the last sentence will give readers a frame of reference when reading about your visit to Fiji.
Your title “I know I need a wider lens” is very enticing and made me want to read your entry. It would be great to see in the blog how you think you could get a wider lens. This would flow very nicely from how you view yourself as experiencing travel outside of the USA.
Renada
Adam-
ReplyDeleteFirst, your blog background is quite attractive! I would advise making this post's text white font instead of black font on white boxes on black boxes (maybe it is my computer!).
Your honesty is compelling: they say the first step is admitting we have a problem. Your 'problem' is just seeing the world as you were raised. It is a difficult to realize how we view the world is not always the way the world is...or at least, how the world is from someone else's perspective. Janise said it quite well in her comment above, that your thoughts reflect this very perspective you have. When I took this travel class, I was overwhelmed by my ineptitude in perspective. How can we live in this world without a right and wrong, a left and right? How can we function without a framework developed? I think understanding ourselves, our historical influences and others' really allows for the aperture to start widening...enabling a crucial wider perspective in this global world.
Thanks for sharing,
Katrina
Hello Adam,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about your own experiences with colonialism in travel, as it closely mirrors my own experiences. I am also fortunate enough to come from an upper-middle class upbringing, and while I don’t yet own my own home, I do realize that my standard of living is considerably higher than some of the other countries I visit. I have also had a similar feeling of guilt associated with being the “well-off” tourist when I was in Jamaica; I stayed with my friend’s family in a villa overlooking Montego Bay, and “exploited the culture” by visiting the many tourist attractions, paying for guided trips through waterfalls and zip-lines, but then witnessing the living conditions of many of these guides as below what I am used to seeing. As you mention in your post, it is important to acknowledge your background when discussing other cultures to put things in perspective for the reader, and underscore that in no way do you feel “superior to” another culture, only “different from.” Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Kiersten