Mindfulness Mondays 17: Opening Yourself to Other Cultures
September 21, 2009 by dr. lam
It is rather appropriate that I am writing this blog on a transatlantic flight from Europe to the United States. As Americans we tend to live insular lives. We can travel to any country and speak English and assume that the other culture should speak our own. We see the pervasive evidence of our culture disseminated everywhere including McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, blue jeans, and matinee idols. We live in a chauvinistic position with the rest of the world that is slowing slipping.
Even within the confines of the United States, we expect everyone to speak our language and to conform to our cultural standards. Diversity is a non-issue. Despite great advances over the past few decades concerning racism and cultural division, we may not still be that embracive to all of those around us.
Being a European history major in college, I really enjoyed learning about different cultures. I love tasting different foods, learning the customs from different cultures, and learning even a few phrases from a different language.
This week be mindful of your own culture, but set your intention to gain some knowledge no matter how small about another culture: Google a culture that exists out there on the net and read about it; learn some basic expressions in a different language with Rosetta Stone; meet another person from another culture and ask him/her about his or her life in one’s native country; or try another culture’s food that you have never tasted before and were afraid to do so. By exploring other cultures (especially if you have children who are still open-minded enough to explore those cultures), you can open vistas to your own knowledge and appreciation of other people and narrow the perceived gaps that separate us as human beings. As we discussed in last week’s blogs, we all should be more connected than separate.
Comments
4 Responses to “Mindfulness Mondays 17: Opening Yourself to Other Cultures”
Feel free to leave a comment...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!
Proudly consider yourself a world citizen. Let it also be known that your race is the human race.
beautifully phrased. totally agree. if you would like, get a fun gravatar image. i think it is fun!
Great blog idea!! I just so happen to be learning about India lately!
lol
cool heather!