As we approach the last day of my time abroad, and what will be long journey home, I want to take some time to share with you a few 'take homes' I've had while living abroad these past eight months. Let me start by first saying that I am by no means this girl who has been changed for the better and is now a global citizen of the world. There was no revelation nor a turning point in my journey. I was however, greatly and deeply shaped by this entire opportunity, and I can say with certainty that I've learned to take a step back, reflect and open my mind to the world around me. The point of this post is not to 'brag' or 'boast' about my time here. I am beyond humbled by it all. Instead, I want to share what has resonated with me and what I plan to bring back to Canada in my day to day life. Reflection is a powerful tool, as I've learned. So, here goes nothing! Empathy Vs. Sympathy “Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou This first one has been a real eye opener for me while traveling and experiencing new cultures. As humans, it is far too easy for us to compare our own culture to another and to be sympathetic, especially if you are viewing another country as "third world" or "developing". (Not that I'm a fan of either of these titles, but let's roll with them for now). Now, I want to ask you a couple questions... What do you think of when you hear the word sympathy? For me, it's not always positive. Feeling sorry for someone, having pity on someone, or just plain old feeling bad for someone else because they've had a rough go. I have come to dislike this word and what it stands for. I don't believe we should ever feel sorry for anyone, or feel bad for them. Instead, should we not come to understand their trials and tribulations and give them a helping hand however we can? What good does feeling bad for them do? Now, what do you think of when you hear the word empathy? For me, it's much more active. When I was younger, I was always told that empathy was the ability to walk in someone else's shoes. Now, it's much deeper than that for me. I view it as the ability to come into another person's life and truly understand them. Understand who they are, what the believe, why they do/say/believe the things they do, and appreciate them for who they are. Nothing more and nothing less. I truly believe that empathy is a powerful way for us to be in relation with one another. If we have empathy, we have an open mind to not just hear, but listen to other people and let them share their stories with us, and then for us to do the same with them. In a way, it's a means for us to educate one another in our day to day life, and I strongly believe that education is our strongest tool against hate, ignorance, and the many other cruelties of the world. Defining what it means to be a "Global Citizen" “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” ― Terry Pratchett Again, I have by no means exhausted the definition of "global citizen" after this exchange. I believe this takes an entire lifetime, and I may never come to a finite conclusion... But maybe that's the point? If we spend an entire lifetime actively communicating with, sharing among, and listening to the many beautiful people in the world around us, then I feel like we might come that much closer to fulfilling our life's purpose. To understand is to appreciate, in my opinion. It is to think openly and respectfully. It is to be empathetic. By putting yourself out there and taking the time to truly get to know someone else, you are exercising what it means to be a globally-minded individual. Just because I went on exchange does not mean I am a global citizen. Yet, I do feel that I have been afforded the opportunity to become a more globally-minded individual, and that is exactly what I want to bring back to Canada with me. Now, let me be clear. Actively being a "global citizen" doesn't mean traveling just to check countries off your list, or to feel like you've made a difference in someone else's life. I think that's egotistical and self-focused. White savior complex is real. I encourage everyone to be mindful of that. And don't worry... I'll explain what I mean by that later ;) I've come to understand that it's not just about you. It's about you AND the world around you, and how you can (and should) be in relation with it and make connections. It is also realizing what you can bring back home with you. It is understanding how you can help shape your own life and the lives of others that you surround yourself with. Knowledge has the potential to be powerful, and knowing what to do with said knowledge (such as these experiences I have had while on exchange) is wisdom, so long as you decide to actively practice it. Mindfulness“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.” – James Michener The last one, in my opinion, is by far the most important. I want to describe what mindfulness means to me and what I've discovered it to be while living abroad. To start things off, I believe that mindfulness is being conscientious of your thoughts, words and actions. It is opening your mind to the world around you and taking it all in step by step. It is not simply being 'open-minded', although that, too, is important. It is allowing yourself to remain impartial and judgement free of every new person you meet. It is letting them tell you their story and you acknowledging it. One of my professors back home in Canada strongly encouraged all of us to learn how to say "thank you" in the language of the country we are traveling to and/or in the home language of the people we are interacting with. It is these small efforts that can make a world of difference and truly show your appreciation towards another human being. I've been trying to do this more and more, even though sometimes I have no clue how to pronounce it. That doesn't matter though. What does matter is that you are trying. You are being considerate, respectful and mindful of the culture you have been invited into, even if you are a tourist. It's demonstrating to others that you don't wish to take advantage of them nor their home. As tourists, we are all guests in someone else's home. It is important to remain mindful of that. Mindfulness is also living in the moment. This has been extremely important to me while traveling around. It is so easy for us to get ahead of ourselves, and that is something I personally struggle with. Sometimes, I feel like I am rushing through life just to check items of my list of things to do, and I forget to take a moment to appreciate everything going on around me. As we traveled through different cities, I found it incredibly important to take a minute every so often to just stop and appreciate the beauty and wonder of whatever place I was in. I also found that keeping an (almost) daily journal super helpful in my day to day reflections. It helped me remain mindful and present to my quickly passing experiences, and it is something I strongly encourage everyone else to try! I plan on reading my journal on my plane ride home tomorrow, and I am so excited to see where my journey began and how far I've come. So, even though that doesn't even begin to sum up my experiences, I hope it provides you with some food for thought, and maybe it will challenge you to come up with your own definitions of what these three things mean to you. All I know is that this exchange has encouraged me to think in ways I never thought possible. I see the importance, the need, to make connection with every new person I meet, despite how brief it may be. At the end of the day, we all live on this world together, so why not take the time to get to know your neighbours, however near or far they may be.
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