I thought I would blog more upon my repatriation to the
U.S.A. However, I realized today that the persistent view that I didn’t have
anything to say was more about my awareness. Looking back on blog posts from
2005 to 2015 (wow, 10 years of blogging!), it is obvious that I blogged more
during periods of acute awareness which usually came during periods of
transition to and from the U.S.A. to Europe, back again, and then the longer
period of enculturation in Qatar. However, was the issue the stimulus (i.e. change)
or was it awareness? I now think that it was awareness, something that has been
stirred for me through some interesting experiences over the last week.
Over the last 2 months of being back in the U.S.A. I’ve
noticed a couple of cultural differences that are not profound but nevertheless
important. Americans are much more respectful and comfortable with lines (no
crowding, cutting, or impatience), they tend not to engage informally with
strangers, and their interactions are often quite transactional (get the task
accomplished rather than establish a relationship). While I appreciate the
respect for lines (especially when it comes to auto driving safety), I’ve been
uncomfortable with the lack of engagement. My first attempt to cross the line
was introducing myself to staff at the fitness center I joined this last week.
The very first introduction resulted in a series of discussions with a
fascinating guy, Chris, who is transferring from a local community college to
the University of Southern California later this week. When he found that I had
worked in higher education, he started pumping me with questions that took me
back to the wonderful conversations I used to have in the fitness room in Doha.
He asked about choice of major, where he should live, and how to make the most
of his education. This is a young man who I assume is of relatively modest
means but who now sees himself at a critical juncture of opportunity.
The encounter with Chris contrasted with an a cappella group
performance this last Sunday in Wilmette. The group was from Yale and they were
good enough musically but it was who they were and the way they presented
themselves that caught my attention. First of all, all the 12 singers were
White, something that just is not part of my worldview these days. Then when
they each introduced themselves by indicating their hometowns, majors and
aspirations, they proceeded to minimize the importance of their majors and
often referenced very trivial aspirations compared to the weight of the
institution they attend. I’m confident that the light introductions were
intended to keep things humorous and entertaining but the impact for me was
very different. What I saw was young White Americans taking their great
privileged for granted and perhaps not even taking themselves as seriously as
they might.
How do these fragments fit together? First of all, it feels
good to return to a more reflective place where I am actively aware of what’s
going on around me. Being acutely aware in a different cultural context is in
many ways more natural and spontaneous but I can choose to be more aware in any
environment where I am willing to cultivate perspective. Secondly, I am eager
to reinforce the impression that I know many U.S.A. educators have – that
American students are often complacent about their privilege and therefore miss
great opportunity. This complacency of privilege occurs across cultural and
national borders as well. I do not assert this concern as a criticism of
contemporary students but as a challenge that educators need to address. The
bombardment of information in today’s world is overwhelming. Whether it’s the
hyperbole of news media turning everything into an event (i.e. the need to now
name every storm front that moves across the U.S.A.) or the profusion of
personalized messages and perspectives coming into our cell/mobile devices, how
to sort through what is important and matters is a huge task and requires
considerable discipline. While I know there is a place for light conversation
and relaxation, it seems to me that acute awareness rather than complacency is
what we should seek. This acute awareness would then hopefully (Insh’Allah)
result in discerning and critical analysis, seeing ourselves and others more
realistically and compassionately, and engaging in leadership and membership
that has the potential to shape a justice and caring world.
