What I love about the World Race is how many people you’re able to encounter across the globe.
I’ve also realized within just a span of four short months, everyone I’ve met has been the same. What I mean by this statement is that, externally they’re different, but eternally they desire and do almost the exact same things as Americans.
You see, my conception before coming on the race was that every culture I’d come across would look drastically different then my life and the people in America. That may be true in terms of geography, technological advancements and societal statuses etc., but I’ve seen so many similarities to who I am in the people I meet in each country.
Some areas we’re the same in:
social media
clothing
quality time
family
greed
friends/popularity
culture
food
It’s all the same.
Here are some examples of how I’ve witnessed these similarities.
Example 1- When I was in Chile, my team and I would ride the bus as a main form of transportation where we lived. Every time we rode the bus, I witnessed Chileans on their phones, listening to music on Spotify, checking their Facebook and scrolling through Instagram. I was a little taken aback, and felt like I was back in America taking the CTA system in Chicago. It was eerily familiar.
Example 2- When I was in Argentina we got to visit a lot of homes out in in the desert part of Argentina. As we entered their homes, we sat with them at their table and hung out as we drank mate with them (this would be the equivalent of us drinking coffee in America together). Although the environment looked physically different, the need for quality time once again was eerily familiar to my own life back home.
Example 3- This month in Cambodia, I’ve been very aware of the fashion sense in Cambodia. People care about the way they present themselves here and it’s very similar. I’ve seen Birkenstocks, rips in pants and men and women presenting themselves in a fashionable way. I almost regret not bringing more fashionable clothes haha. But still, it has surprised me.
Now, the epiphany I had occurred to me just the other night. Strangely enough, it was the night I rode in the back of a truck, dropping of a group of about 50 kids back to their village from a local youth group. After I dropped them off, I was staring out into the night on our drive back to the church and as I looked into the night sky, it hit me
PEOPLE ARE JUST PEOPLE.
Obviously I know people are just people but I realized in that moment, that regardless of where I go in the world, people are ALL the same, despite our differences.
However, our one commonality that connects us all together is the desire to be known. This is our one strong connection. People just want people to know them!!! Crazy I know. From this moment on, I plan on continuing to observe these commonalities and bring together these factors that make us so similar to further pursue them.
By the end of this year, I want the rest of everyone I meet in each country to feel known and loved. First by me, and then of course our heavenly Father.
Thanks for reading what has been laid on my heart.
God is good.
