All right, lovelies. 🕊️
I was going to write a lighter piece for the free-to-read this week, but then I ran into another North American living in my apartment complex, at least for a few months.
The encounter reminded me how many ways we travel messily in the world, so today I’m sharing anecdotes from that exchange, tough personal history in the background, & suggestions for how to be a better visitor in other lands.
(I owe you a lit piece & an activist one next week!)
https://mlclark.substack.com/p/of-gringos-and-gentle-travellers
Good reads require good readers. Thanks for sitting with it, Satan!
@MLClark I've lived among a lot of cultures, and I've observed people behaving the way you describe. I liked that you didn't demonize anyone, and worked to educate and illuminate.
I like illumination!
You're a good one, Lucifer. :)
Lot of great insights there.
It's entirely possible to function without a shared language, and not be an asshole.
I worked in a kitchen in Prague, when I spoke some functional Czech--and my staff were Czech, American, British, Ukranian, Polish, German, and Ghanian.
The Ghanian and the Pole spoke less Czech than I did, and often spoke in Russian to the Czech and the Ukranian.
But if you pay attention to people, and put away your ego, it's amazing how much you can communicate.
Wholeheartedly agree!
There are so many ways to exist well together. It's a shame we downplay all the wonder that can grow in the gaps between different spoken tongues.
Also - it sounds like you had a great crew, and experience, in that kitchen. Thank you so much for sharing.
@MLClark Dang. Good read!