Au revoir

After 7 months of teaching in St. Dizier, my contract came to an end, as planned, at the end of April. My final days in France included travels outside the borders to visit some famous and off-the-beaten path European destinations.

Traveling with my Mom around various parts of western Europe helped to reinforce many of the lessons learned over the last few months. From walking across the Rhine River into Germany by foot-bridge to taking a tour of an historic chocolate factory in Brugge, Belgium, we enjoyed seeing new places and meeting new people.

Perhaps what continues to be strikingly obvious, upon returning to the U.S., is the incredible size of everything. Whether it is the size of our cars or buildings or the size of our meal portions, I am reminded that our culture has seemed to embrace the idea that bigger is better. While this is not always true, it is acutely apparent after time abroad.

Another striking difference is the pace of life. French people, especially in areas outside Paris, continue their long lunch breaks, meaning most shops and offices are closed from noon to 2pm. Additionally, life in general is a bit slower paced. A return to the U.S., almost as soon as you set foot in the airport, reminds you that we are a country accustomed to hustle and bustle, clock watching and punctuality.

I do not mean to imply that one culture is better than another; but, rather, to identify and raise awareness of some distinct differences. The value of living, traveling and/or working abroad is that you begin to appreciate these subtleties. To rethink our way of living -- whether it is learning to drive smaller, more efficient vehicles, or spending more time with family and friends, or eating or cooking foods with less sugar and fewer preservatives, there is often much to be learned from cultural interactions.

While I was sad to leave France and a more relaxed way of life, I found solace in visiting with Claire — a French woman who we ran into at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport while awaiting our ride home. Ironically, Claire lives in the same neighborhood in Paris as my friend Anne, where my Mom and I had stayed while visiting the city. She had come to the states to visit an old friend in Phoenix.

I continue to find inspiration in the interactions with people around the world, knowing that we are all learning and hopefully, working towards a brighter tomorrow; and that we actually share many commonalities. We must be open to broadening our minds through new experiences and interactions. These past seven months in France and previous two years in Morocco are proof to me that cultural exploration and interaction is invaluable.

Tunisia

Wow!

This one word describes my experience in Tunisia--my vacation destination during the recent spring break. From the unique people I met to the beautiful places visited and sights seen, the trip was simply amazing. Returning to France was not easy. I wish I could have extended my stay, but for the moment it appears I will simply have to return another time--to reconnect with friends and hopefully, make new ones.

The best part of the trip was the interactions I shared with my new Tunisian friends. I was able to see Tunisia not only through the eyes of a tourist--visiting the popular historic sites, but also, from the eyes of Tunisians. From visiting the Roman ruins of Carthage to the blue city of Sidi Bou Said, to sitting at a cafe with friends, chatting about religion, politics, the role of the media in our current views of the world, and many other topics, I gained an incredible perspective into the country and culture in a short amount of time.

The truly extraordinary people I have met over the past few years, and especially during my time in Tunisia, give me a total sense of happiness and optimism.

Most recently, I cannot stop smiling when I think of the friends I made during my trip. I met teachers, students, fathers, mothers, conservative Muslims, homosexuals, hard-metal music lovers, and shop-keepers. All were eager to show me their country. All are proud of their culture.

Whether receiving a fresh bouquet of flowers picked from the family garden--and with fragrances that I've never before smelled, then returning to my room to find the whole room filled with its truly delightful scents, or sharing stories and laughs on the Mediterranean coast, watching the waves roll in and out, while the sun sets and the stars brighten in the night sky, these memories all bring shivers up my spine.

Of course there were times when I was frustrated--feeling used because of the color of my skin and the inherent thought that I must be wealthy. Then I am reminded of how often I hear stories of friends who have been treated the same way here in France (Arab friends who are questioned by security as they enter a bank where they have an account), and numerous stories from the U.S. and I realize that I must think about how I have prejudged people based on their appearance.

In a way, I think I enjoyed Tunisia because it reminds me so much of Morocco--the food, the religious rituals, the pace of life. The country was unique in its vibrancy and modernity. Taking the metro system in Tunis was fascinating in that it was quite possibly more extensive than what exists in many American metropolitan areas of its size. Similar to Morocco, the ability to travel from the northern coast--a relatively green landscape, and arriving at the eastern coast line and sitting on the beach, one that stretches as far as the eye could see, provides an incredible opportunity for reflection and relaxation as you listen to the waves roll in and out.

It was difficult to leave the new friends I made. But all have been invited to visit me in the United States, and I hope some of them have the chance to do so. I look forward to being able to provide them with a unique perspective of the American culture. Hopefully I will be able to return one day to work or for vacation to reunite with friends and continue the cultural exchange.