Several times throughout my academic career, my class was asked to write words that we identified with, whether it was adult, tall, American, blue-eyed, Muslim, etc. Unfortunately, it is these “identities” that could get me in trouble as I meet new people from other cultures. And to complicate matters further, these identities are far from self-imposed. Instead, I have no choice but to wear them in plain site as I travel. I can’t hide speaking english with an american accent and having curly hair with a jewish nose. I also have little doubt that Americans and more specifically Jewish Americans might not be loved everywhere they travel. People may disagree with our politics, philosophies, and general cultural norms. It is for this reason, that if given the chance, I want extend that identity.
I am a brother. I am a son. I am a new uncle. I am a grandson. I am a friend. This is easy to say and hard to prove. I can foresee a situation where I am sitting next to someone on a train or bus and they look at me and immediately fill with preconceptions of who I am. This scenario soon devolves into a lecture about why Americans are failing in some aspect or another, and there is little pause to see if I agree with the philosophies and politics of my American people, but that doesn’t matter. I am not an individual here. I am an American. I might as well be riding a Harley Davidson wearing an American flag bandana blasting Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA through the heartland of Vietnam. I might have to wait for this anti-American lecture to start to fizzle, and then I will reach into my backpack and grab a couple photos that I’ve been traveling with. These photos start to show that I am not just an American.
I hope these photos will show that my identity starts with family. Whatever happens, I know my family will be there. Whatever I do, I know my family will support me. And whatever I blunder, I know my family will forgive me. These values I feel transcend any one culture and will hopefully allow me to connect with that lecturer sitting next to me on a much more personal and individual level. I will introduce him to my 5 month old niece. I will tell him what my sisters do and who my parents are. The stories we then begin to swap are more about who we are as individuals and less about what our politics are.
These two photos I will carry with me as I begin to travel.
Andres! That post got me perfectly emo! I’m sure this warmed the hearts of your family. Your niece has the cutest little smile!
I hope you will be pleasantly surprised and encounter people abroad who aren’t quick to judge. I’m so excited to read more about your adventures!
Cuidate mucho!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE these photos, and this post! Andrew, I am so excited for you! You are going to have such a wonderful adventure.
Andrew,
Your post reflects what a special and caring individual you are. We love you!
Mom and Dad
Hey Andrew,
I am finally catching up on your blog and this post reminded me of my own travel experiences and the “W” era foreign opinions of Americans. When my family was touring Viet Nam we got questioned a lot about our politics. We would often explain that we didn’t vote for our President and find a new level of acceptance. We also heard that all of the “round eye, big nose” Americans they met said the same thing. To which we explained that most of the people who voted for Bush didn’t have passports.
Keep those undies clean.
Dave
A happy family. Family is a miracle that the the god give us. 😀