As I began to tell people that I was going to be studying in a country less developed than the United States, I got many different reactions. Some thought I was going to change the country; some thought I was coming to change me. Some thought I was going as a missionary, to bring Jesus to the people; some thought I was coming to party a semester away. Some thought it a terrifying prospect, that I am so brave and that I must be crazy to come live in a developing country for a semester; others saw it as adventure and thought that I must be so excited because I was going to have the time of my life. I am happy to report that even developing countries are livable places and that people live here every single day. They do have internet and cable TV and running water. Many communities of intellectuals emphasized how studying abroad is all about becoming a “global citizen” and how “immersing yourself in a new culture” is the key to doing this and that surely this must be why I was going. Well, here is how it sort of went for me:
Yes, I was very scared sometimes. Scared to leave my family and friends, those who remind me of who am I, of Whose I am, and tell me how much I’m worth when I forget. And yes, I was so incredibly excited to come and couldn’t wait for the adventure, for room to explore, both myself and a new culture that I fell in love with several years ago. I couldn’t wait to be in a world again where everyone spoke Spanish! I wasn’t coming to change the world or anything because if the world actually listened to me it would be an awful place (great advertising technique for this blog…;) ). But I was maybe coming a little bit to change me. I wasn’t coming to party (I could do that in the States if I really wanted) and people need Jesus everywhere, not to mention that I need to get to know Jesus more than many people I meet here. But I really did like the idea of immersing myself in Dominican life. I thought that I could come here, learn how to be Dominican, and end up experiencing how Dominicans live from day to day. But the reality is, I can never have a Dominican experience. I can only have an American experience in the Dominican Republic and here is why:
I am white. (As previously mentioned). I am a US American. Due to fact that racism is pretty prevalent here still, this means a lot of things that I don’t really understand.
1. It means that I get more attention from men, even when their beautiful Dominican girlfriends are cuddled up right next to them. Seriously, the women here are so beautiful! And they put so much work into it. Women with beautiful curly hair have to keep it straightened, which is a painful process from what I’ve heard. And US Americans look like bums compared to these people. They are meticulous and beautiful.
2. It means that tons of people assume I don’t know Spanish and that’s okay. In fact, even when I speak in clear Spanish to people, sometime they are so caught in the assumption that I don’t know Spanish that they don’t even hear what I’m saying, assuming that it can’t be Spanish. And so they try to help with gestures or other things. Yet those who study in the United States are expected to be perfectly fluent in English. But since I’m a US American it’s okay if I haven’t learned the language or put in any effort to understand the culture before coming to study here.
3. It means that I’m paying to experience something these people experience every single day…because I can. Many people here could not do so. Tell me how that’s experiencing their reality!
4. It means that I am so much more conscious of myself as a consumer in efforts to not perpetuate the stereotype of US Americans. For instance, today’s moral dilemma was a pedicure. I have never in my life gotten a pedicure. But all the women here wear cute sandals with perfectly manicured toenails (I am only slightly exaggerating when I say all the women. Individuality is not praised in this country and they pride themselves in solidarity.), and I felt almost morally obligated to have beautiful toenails. I also feel morally obligated to be even more conscious of spending less while I’m here so as not to perpetuate the stereotype of US Americans who invade the country to enjoy the finer things in life while paying less for them. It was a struggle. I opted for the pedicure and Anna and I just tried to get to know the lovely Fanny while we graciously scrubbed our feet. She was so wonderful; someday I need to go back and scrub her feet!
5. It means that I get served more food than everyone else (I’m seriously eating like double or triple of what I was from last semester.) and I’m not expected and sometimes not even allowed to lift a finger to help out because my host mom is so incredible and wants to do everything she can to make me feel comfortable and at home here.
These are a few examples that I have been thinking about the most the last few days. There are many other consequences as well. All I can do is try the best I can to fit in and to do everything I can to understand what the Dominican experience is as I get to know these beautiful people.
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