Dear Chelsea [and Dzid]

Hey there, lovely wom[e] n!  How are you?

Chelsea, yes ma’am, I am soaking it all in. In fact, I’ve gone to bed literally at sensory overload every night since I’ve been here lol—but in a good way—new country, new language, new job, new friends, new foods, and budget budget budget. All the while, there’s the old business of schoolwork, preparations for graduation, the concerns for loved ones back home, and of course, budget budget budget.

Recently, I found myself recalling the conversation I had with Dzid about her first experiences when she moved from Ghana to the US. I’m inclined to believe that her encounters were similarly exciting and overwhelming. Nevertheless, I would also imagine the difficulty in her experience in comparison.

For me, to take an overseas experience ‘all in’ means to recognize the baggage of American privilege in my invisible backpack. I can’t help, but to feel unsettled about the unwelcome many feel with visiting the US from other countries and how contrary this experience typically goes for the traveling American.

For example, in CR, countless strangers pardon my struggling Spanish and yet, are still very eager to communicate with me—even accommodate my broken Spanish with their very articulate English. I had similar experiences during the two years I lived in South Korea and the time I spent in the Philippines. And just the other day, my housemother looked very pleased when I explained that I would cook dinner and that she could try some of my traditional African-American dishes that I make at home.

In the US however, there’s a reluctance to welcome—to smile—to let go of the American attitude that often comes along with carrying the invisible backpack of privilege. There’s an eagerness to judge and to look upon that which our mainstream culture has labeled as ‘foreign’ contrarily. This is not to say that there are no societal woes in CR, but I wish we were not so reluctant to show this kind of love in the US.

Dzid,

Thank you for sharing with me. Such an experience makes me value your testimony with ever more humility. Sure am glad I know you, bella! <3 Please email me your address; I have something I’d like to send you!

Chelsea,

Say ‘hello’ to my former office mates if you’re in the CCUN area. Oh! I’ll be following up with the UPMUNC (UPeace Model UN conference) in a future blog so say tuned. You know, I value your UN expertise. ;) You’ll have to let us know if we’ve met the mark.

Any who, I miss seeing both of your lovely faces.

Until we meet again, may the sun rise in your corner.

Ciao,

Narshonna 

My first outing with UPeace students to a Costa Rican Cafe/bookstore (from left to right Narshonna-US, Essate-Ethiopia, Kalkidan-Ethiopia, and Meghan-US)