The three things I would take with me if I had to evacuate
to another country would be a bible, my Mom’s cookbook, and a photo album. When I got to the other country with a
different culture I think that the cookbook and photo album would be relatively
easy to explain. While they may not
contain the same recipes or photos, I think every culture could understand
having special foods and memories. The
bible might be more difficult to explain as other cultures practice different
religions. There are even places where
my bringing or reading the bible might be a huge offense.
If, when I got there, I was told I could only keep one item
I would be okay with that. I actually
had a difficult time thinking of three items that are that important to
me. If my family was coming with me I
would be all set. Material possessions
might help me feel like I had a piece of home with me, but I’ve never felt that
I needed things to feel whole. If I couldn’t
bring the photo album I would still have memories in my mind and heart. If I couldn’t bring the cookbook, there are
many meals that I have learned to cook without the recipe and my Mom could
teach me more. If I couldn’t bring the
bible, I would pray and rely on verses that I know by heart.
From this exercise I realize that some things cross cultural
divides while others may be harder to explain.
I also understood that while I had a hard time coming up with three
possessions, the things I chose represent my family culture well. We value faith, education, healthy meals, and
spending time together as a family.
Allison,
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting that we both chose to take a Bible with us on a long journey. As far back as I can remember; I have been a part of the church culture. Through my worship experiences, I have learned to understand how God is present in our lives. I have learned how to love those who may not understand the spiritual realities of this world. Through my experiences with the Bible, I was taught how others suffered that I might have a right back to the tree of life. Life is beautiful and through my spirituality, I have learned how to use my faith to get where I want to be in life.
You also chose a photo album; that was going to be my first choice, but I realized that my family was coming with me, so I chose something else. Photos are an easy reminder of where an individual once was, and how they have progressed or regressed in life. As a baby, there were not many photos taken of me; as I got older, I vowed I would always take pictures as a reminder of all of the great things I have encountered in life. I never thought of taking a cookbook with me. I say this because, in my culture, many of us keep our family recipes in our minds. We watch and learn how to cook certain foods, and then we replicate the dish as needed. This shows how we are different in our cultures. I enjoyed reading your post; you provided insight into your feelings and thoughts.
Thanks,
Lah-Lah