Ignoring the Globe: Inexistent Cultural Awareness

                                     
“It is only through thriving diversity of cultures that the depth and breadth of human potential can fully articulate”
             -Ashwani Peetush

             Nada, 無, Rien, Nichts, Nothing: this is what our nation is doing in attempts to abolish the Ignorant American stereotype found across the globe. In the United States, we are less exposed to other cultures than, for example, European regions. The benefits of cultural enrichment and bilingual knowledge are vital in today's society, but do we really understand their importance? I realized the lack of foreign activism and education within my nation after migrating to Navarre, Spain, for a chance to submerge myself in the many astounding cultures of the world. Once settled, I became part of an equally-diverse community of which I had never given much thought- “the foreigners.” We ranged from the four corners of the world: Finland, Canada, Poland, USA, Czech Republic, Singapore, Australia, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Holland, etc. We were all so different, yet very much alike. Like cells that compose the human body, all unique and vital for certain purposes, we separately collaborated to keep our communal body alive and pumping through our varieties of knowledge and experience. This personal unity of working together is the basis of life: we as humans are very much akin, yet we cannot attempt to coincide if communication, understanding, and appreciation are deemed irrelevant and ungrounded. With the disinteresting factors of distance, lack of influence, apathetic expectations, and overall empty acceptance, the American heart-land is not contributing to the world’s living body. Through my travels, I have searched and pin-pointed the opinions and contributors that are fueling the ignorant stereotype that defines this nation.

Beginning the week before Semana Santa, a large religious festival held in Spain during the week of Easter, a group of friends and I set out for our European adventure. During our next three weeks, we were to embark on a journey through Morocco and Andalucía. We set out on our way in search of knowledge, new cultures, and fun. We began with a 12-hour bus ride to Sevilla in southern Spain where we caught a flight to Morocco for the weekend. I was extremely surprised at the ease and affordability of traveling around different countries. The price of a flight from Texas to North Carolina would easily equal the same rate as traveling from Northern Spain to Morocco, then to Portugal and back. I see this factor as a barricade for Americans to spread their experiences.*
Once we crossed the Gibraltar Stright , I noticed the heavy French and Arabic influences. From street signs to market menus, worldly influence was obviously dominant. As we marched through the dusty streets hoping to locate our hostel before dark, I heard at least one word in nearly every language: “nǐ hǎo” “Konnichiwa” “Hallo” “Hola” “Bonjour”. This experience really opened my eyes to how positive influence and constant interaction could largely affect a nation’s acceptance and knowledge. Even in our hostel, the Moroccans’ genuine interest and acceptance made each visitor feel at home. The owner of the hostel, Rashid, kept us up nearly all night, every night, asking questions about our stories and sharing his journeys with us. He knew nearly infinite facts and aspects about the world; my jaw dropped once he stated that he had never been outside of Morocco. Through his experience with tourism and positive, multicultural interactions, Rashid had gained insight and geographical wisdom of the world beyond his African home.

From Seville we began “Andalucía hopping” around Granada, Malaga, Ronda, Valencia, and Cadiz. Because I have traveled very little in my own country (going no farther west than Manchester, TN), I was astounded at the extreme cultural difference found only inside Spain itself.  From Catalan, Basque, and Moorish influences, Spain continues to grow as a separate yet unified nation. These influences are strongly embraced through acts of nationalism around the Iberian Peninsula. Each area is greatly defined through separate styles, languages, and ideas such as: the Basque country’s dred-mullets and farming-by-the-sea techniques, Ronda’s southern accents, flamenco, and hanging-cliff landscapes, and Valencia’s Catalan-influenced language and coastal, fire-loving heritage. Each section of Spain publicizes its differences which individualize the provinces. The embracement of heritage and acceptance of those around them creates a strongly unified country.