Sunday, September 9, 2007

Defining Community

Defining your community may not seem imperative, but in reality, it has a tremendous effect on how we go about our daily lives. Community in Morocco exhibited a very different set of characteristics than community does back here at home in rural Minnesota. We each make choices that affect how we interact with our neighbors and within greater society, and it is up to each of us as individuals to change those choices if we think it is necessary. Maybe we want to see a closer-knit neighborhood or a world more at peace. Set a vision and work to create that new, brighter world.

A difficult part of the readjustment process from Morocco to the U.S. was the redefinition of community. In many ways, I missed the close-knit connections Morocco represented. We certainly have our own sense of community here in the U.S. and in southeast Minnesota, but I think there exist a few things Morocco can teach us, as well as a few things we do pretty well that could be shared with others.

One of the first things that I had trouble processing was the large scale of everything in America. From our large trucks and SUVs to our multi-story buildings, Morocco is not a country with such an appetite for large things. It seemed to me as though the skyscrapers and cars seemed to imply we each want our own space and invasion of that personal space was frowned upon.

But then again, our standards of safety are a little different than those of Morocco. Additionally, we are pretty good at building skyscrapers that reduce our need to sprawl. This is a little more difficult in Morocco, in part due to the availability of large-scale construction equipment.

The lack of local, central markets was also a readjustment. I became accustomed to being able to purchase most anything I needed when in a large city, simply by walking less than a couple blocks away to a general store. Many of our cities here in the U.S. are built with the idea of cars in mind. Large parking lots, exit and entrance ramps, and cement curbs are the norm. It saddens me to think of those without cars, either by choice or by circumstances beyond their control (i.e. financial or technical) and how they must try and work around a society so heavily built on personal automobiles.

Nightly strolls are missed. While many people go out and about at various times of the day for exercise here, in Morocco nightly strolls were a part of the culture and the sense of community. Think of it as a large block party—you saw your neighbors, friends, and family of all ages on the street at night. Walking, playing soccer, eating ice cream cones, and conversing were common-place. I wonder where our sense of spontaneous conversation with our neighbors on a daily basis has gone.

While we here in the U.S. certainly enjoy hosting from time to time, we often find it a chore cleaning the house and preparing the food in anticipation of our guests’ arrival. Moroccan homes are very diverse, ranging from dirt and rock built homes to those of concrete, but yet, no matter the circumstances, a clean house was usually the least of a hosts’ worry. The utmost concern is making sure guests are happy and comfortable. And the conversation must be top-notch.

Then again, after a two-year sabbatical, I found my friends and family here at home in southeastern Minnesota to be very welcoming. Whether it was one of the typical summer potluck picnics or outdoor barbeques, we are keen to get outside and enjoy the wonderful summers our region has to offer.

Communities throughout the world are very diverse. And for me, an amazing part of the experience of life is immersing myself in a few of those. As we go about our daily lives, I encourage you to consider other cultures and how we may integrate good aspects of other communities into our own. Trial and error may prove to be the most logical method of exploration. May we continue to grow together and learn to respect one another as we all share our beautiful world.

Originally posted at rneighbors.org - Rochester Minnesota's Neighborhood Resource Center