From an early age I never had a desire to travel and was reasonably comfortable in my surroundings. Whenever I would hear of someone moving from the United States to a different country because they didn't prefer our culture over another, I couldn't understand. Growing up I was under the impression that our country was the highest standard of living, we were the zenith of modern societies. Our schools and media have reinforced that ideology in us since we began Kindergarten. Why on earth would someone else who had an opportunity to live here, choose somewhere else?
In my sophomore year at Arizona State, I signed up for an Intercultural Communications Class to merely satisfy a graduation requirement. I was quickly enthralled with the lessons taught within that course. I was amazed at how different cultures could be from one another. The concept of ethnocentrism was introduced to me, in which it was described how most people could favor their cultural ways and engage in a belief that their lifestyle was actually better than everyone else's. We learned how your cultural environment can really dictate your values and beliefs. It quickly dawned on me that maybe the way in which I live isn't above everyone else's. I also was curious on how different someone could be due to the environment in which they were accustomed to.
My roommate had told me he had gone to Costa Rica to do volunteer work the past summer and loved it. He lived with a family there and got to see a completely different way of life. He gave me the name of his organization, and within weeks I had booked a trip to South Africa through that same organization. There were many countries available to go to, but I choose South Africa on a whim, I can't even recall my thinking on why I had chosen there, other than I enjoyed the movie Invictus.
While there I stayed with a family outside of Cape Town with other volunteers from all over there world. During the week I would help with the 7th grade classes of a primary school, and on the weekends I was free to explore the country as I pleased. It was a great experience, and an eye-opening one as well. I definitely came in as the ignorant American to some extent, but I learned so much in my stay there. The family I was placed in was truly amazing, and they had no reservations taking a white jewish kid from America to a mosque with them.
During my stay I was able to immerse myself in a lifestyle that was totally different from my own. There were things I loved about South African culture, and there were flaws as well. It also opened me up to the great things that set the U.S. apart, and then it also allowed me to see some of our own flaws too. I gained a better understanding on how my upbringing had shaped me and my peers. My time there instilled a desire in me to travel as much as possible.
Next week I will be leaving for Kenya in which I will be doing AIDS/HIV relief work through the same organization. A lot of my friends don't understand why I'm doing volunteer work instead of merely just visiting the country on my own terms. I always come across the question, "Do you really expect to make a real difference in just a month!?"
I'll save the suspense, as the answer on my behalf is always a resounding No. The impact I can make volunteering in such a short span is minimal at best. If I am able to create enough awareness to help one person from contracting HIV in the future, than I will consider my time there a tremendous success.
The real reason for volunteering is it allows you to escape the stigma of a tourist as much as you possibly could. You can experience and see the culture as if you were apart of it, instead of being an outsider taking quick peeks only to return to their resort when they're done taking pictures. There is no better way to learn a new place than to help work in it.
I will be updating this blog weekly with stories and experiences from my travels. I hope that everyone reading it is able to enjoy it and take something away from it. Over this next year I won't be able to use a phone to contact you while I'm abroad, so this is the best way for my friends to get a sense of how I am doing.
Cheers!
