Altering Perceptions By Exploring The Question Of Culture

Abstract

Being privileged and taking advantage of opportunities to travel abroad to many different regions of the world, sparked my interest in learning about different cultures. In order to fully understand people holding dissimilar customs, beliefs, and values, I had to put myself in their shoes by, in a way, becoming them. This was done through both observations of consistent patterns, and mirroring their lifestyles; immersing in the culture through taking both a fish’ eye perspective, as well as a bird’s eye perspective interchangeably. Being in tuned with consistent patterns of any particular group of people, and stepping out of a place of comfort and stepping into an unfamiliar place brought me to be so aware.

Although my encounters overseas helped me to develop in numerous ways, and taught me to appreciate the little things of life that most people overlook or take for granted, it wasn’t until 2009 when I began to explore my own culture and identity. It took a trip across the country on my own to aid me in making the decision to come out, and face my fears of how I see myself and how others see me.

As far back as elementary school, after returning from Mexico towards the end of third grade, I lived in constant fear of what people may think of me if they knew the truth. I was ashamed of how I did things and the tools I used to assist me in my daily life. I made huge efforts not to be myself, in order to feel more part of the norm. These behaviors began during this time in my life due to children constantly making fun of me for plainly being different, but eventually became effortless. And though maturity sets in later on in life, I still hid my blindness as much as I could; pretending I did see things and avoiding conversations with others if the topic arose.

2009 was the pivot point though. What better time to explore who I really had become, and felt ready to step out into the light. Transitioning into a Master’s program in a faraway place where my past remained behind me and my future was soon to be revealed, placed me right in the present; a confident   and independent individual who felt invincible.

Who am I? What is unique about me and important to no longer keep hidden from the world? How do I want others to see me and understand my blindness?

What does it mean to be blind? How do we define blindness? Do the blind have their own culture? How do they fit in the sighted society of America?

Embracing my social identity and being proud of it, while at the same time walking out of the shadow to educate the world about a distinctive group of people is going to be explored through this reading. AS a friend once stated, There’s no bad students. There are only bad teachers. I hope I can be a good educator and that this reading will enlighten you and assist in learning about a group of people that you may or may not have ever come in contact with. Shall we begin the journey?

Autobiography

My name is Carla Valpeoz and I have a Master’s in Social Justice and Conflict Transformation. I’ve studied, worked, and traveled in numerous countries over the last 12 years, but currently live in Detroit, Michigan; a large city with a small community vive. Exchanges with diverse cultures brought me to working directly with marginalized groups of people, and fighting against oppression and towards equity and human rights.

Self-realizations, as well as interactions with many different individuals allow me to appreciate diversity at multiple levels. I thrust for knowledge and being able to share it. I work at serving as a bridge uniting diverse cultures and sub-cultures.

By establishing connections and linking inner culturally, my hope is that new doors will open, and the travel opportunities that have unfolded before me which have brought me to this writing, will help me continue gaining, as well as sharing knowledge both while at home, and as I further my exploration of the world. I hope to make a positive and rewarding difference in the lives of others through using an array of methods to teach.

Dedication

This piece of writing is dedicated to all those individuals around the world who accept me for me; for all those who’ve tried to understand my struggles and have given me the opportunities to be part of their lives no matter how much or little I can see.

I decided to write this after the many conversations I had over the years with beautiful friends who showed interest in blindness and desired learning about a distinctive group of individuals who see the world through a completely different lens.

In a way, this writing is to thank you all for showing me that it’s okay to be blind and push me to reach my goals and not give up when things get rough. If it weren’t for all of you, I would still be living in darkness and "alone.

Introduction

It was the summer of 2005, when I found myself in a place of complete fascination; something beyond anything I had ever experienced or seen before. It held a rich and continuing history where its inhabitants, in actuality, lived simply, but yet appeared complex in the ways they moved about their daily lives. From the buzzing city streets lined with cafes, souks and trams, to the alluring Mediterranean Sea, I discovered Tunisia. Enrolled in an intensive Arabic language course in Tunis exposed me not only to the language itself, but to the culture of this region and that of the populations of the many students who attended the program.

Though I was introduced to the Islamic faith before my trip to a predominately Muslim country, it wasn’t until this point where I embraced its message; the generosity and hospitality this religion worked at teaching. No matter the direction, the clear crisp sound of the call to prayer five times a day was heard beyond all cities, villages, and landscapes. The echoing of this strong voice far beyond the eye could see release a sense of peacefulness to anyone’s listening ears, and welcomed Muslims to take a break from their activities and work at strengthening their relationship with Allah.

The continuous invite by the local people for a cup of tea, to the many nights of belly dancing at my temporary home, to the conversations with those whose language was not of my own, showed me, over and over again, how Islam plays such a vital role in everyday life, and I couldn’t be more grateful for all that which was shared with me.

The experience that summer carried me down a winding road opening up windows of discoveries. From this trip forward, I became a wondering creature taken by large waves; washing me upon the shores of other unique land masses.

The years following would shape my understandings of me and others; shifting my values and beliefs, altering my life style, and assisting me in making decisions of work and where to live. Little did I know then how much this month-long trip would influence my outlooks and desires in life to come.

This is an example of one of the many life-changing inter-cultural interactions making me the person I’m today. Every one of the travel experiences which followed has taught me something a little different, enriching my growth and opening my mind. I’ll continue to use my life’s experiences throughout this article to give tangible examples to the topics that will be addressed.

But before we dive too deep, I’ve got a question. What comes to mind after reading this short excerpt? Think of your own community and important aspects in your life. In a few words, how would you describe the culture of your home? How do your religious or spiritual beliefs shape your everyday existence?

Culture relates to the set of values, bonds, and/or social practices associated with a particular occupation, action, or characteristic; social or physical. Its group-explicit behavior acquired through both social influences and learned mannerisms. Culture is united at any given location or point in time, and gives humans an identity and a place of belonging. They’re customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, ethnic, religious, sexual, gender, economic, and/or abled group; including characteristic features of everyday existence. The shared set of: spoken or written languages, attitudes, values, philosophies, goals, and practices, illustrating a group of individuals, an institution, or organizations, defines culture. It’s the environment that one lives in; the people sharing in one another day to day physical , and the atmosphere that play a significant role.

Enrolled in a graduate program in the state of Vermont from the fall of 2009 to the spring of 2010, I lived in a dorm surrounded by diversity; students from all corners of the world. One particular student came all the way from Laos; a land-locked country in central Asia. My knowledge at the time of Southeast Asian countries was that the people were very tied to their roots and closed to western influences. For this, I made an immediate assumption that the connection I made with this particular student in class would be amicable, and getting to know her and her culture on a more personal level would be nearly impossible. To my surprise, it was the opposite. We began spending more time hanging out beyond class, hence learning a great deal from one another.

As our friendship flourished, my understanding of this culture expanded. Before long, I was invited to ethnic dinners and festivities within her culture. Although I did not understand the language, I enjoyed every moment; appreciating little things they did, trying new foods, attempting to follow in conversations, and learning traditional dances.

Multiple times throughout the year, I joined in the preparations of large feasts; gathering together to spend the day cooking and later enjoying the colorful foods that were laid out so beautifully on the front lawn.

Though I felt privileged to learn so much from them, the challenge I happen to stumble upon frequently, was proving that I was fully capable of participating in the planning of many meals. Convincing my friend that although I lacked in one ability, I compensated by using my other abilities to accomplish tasks, took many months of consistent conversations and taking control of smaller tasks.

If I were living in her country, I would not have the privilege of learning how to take care of myself. This may give me the feeling of being helpless and powerless; having to spend the days at home with my family being served on hands and knees. It would be unnecessary to learn how to do much at all because there would always be someone to take care of me, and therefore I may never feel comfortable living on my own.

In actuality, it was hard to imagine this kind of life because in America, things are quite different. There are many government programs that teach the blind to be self-sufficient; institutions that promote independent living skills and push people to go out and work. For this, I struggled to understand why my friend wouldn’t allow me to help, but I, the strong-minded person I was then, and still am now, caused me not to fall back on showing her how desired I was to contribute in helping to carry out responsibilities. Although bringing about frustrations and some discomforting situations, I kept making efforts to educate her. I was not willing to give up in demonstrating that blind people are just as abled body to participate in cooking.

Eventually, after many months, we accepted our difference of ideas on the issue. We arrived to mutual understandings, and this opened up opportunities to begin participating fully in the festivities, while at the same time, strengthening our friendship.

At the end of the year; when time for all of us students to part and seek out our purposes in life, I, with many of the other international students spent a morning preparing for what would be something I would never forget. With the leading voice of my Laos friend, we joined hand in hand to help her put on a ceremonial event representing the closing of a chapter and the opening of a new one. People from all walks of life gathered together on the hill where we had started our journey nine months before.

On that beautiful sunny early afternoon, we said our good-byes and wished one another guidance, protection, and love. Although many cried, I restrained myself because I was in awe in noticing the diversity united together at that moment in time. All the same, sad that I would maybe never see some of these people again, I felt