Looking at Africa from Rome...

Thoughts on Africa from Rome.
I am having a bit of culture shock coming back in to the places which I thought would be familiar. In Rome, mostly everyone is white. In contrast to Uganda and Rwanda, it is so striking to me. And I am not comforted by this. I think it is the discrepancy, the unbalance of color which is throwing me...And the link of color to privilege and affluence. Most of the people I have encountered in Rome are on vacation which means they have financial means to BE on vacation...and they are predominantly other white people.

I hate this about our world...

I am having a strange experience. I did not fit in Africa for being white. There, I always felt so conspicuous. But here, in Italy, I feel I do not fit because I notice we're all white and I do not like it. I am just like everyone around me and yet so different at the same time.

I do like the invisibility created by my outward appearance which is enhanced by the language barrier. Maybe I am just tired from all the travel, but I am way less invested in learning Italian than I was in picking up Lugandan and Kiniyerwandan and Amharic and Swahili...or it may simply be that I already know enough Italian to get by... Not sure....

The other piece of culture shock I am encountering is simply being around so many other people. Suddenly, there is company all the time. I am here at this conference and I have a roommate. There is an expectation I will talk with people during meals and not simply watch them. There is so much noise coming at me. After nearly a month with a great deal of solitude, this suddenly onslaught of togetherness is so much to take in. I am trying not to be standoffish and I think it is going fine. But I am overwhelmed by suddenly belonging to 55 other people from Argentina, Uraguay, Germany, Israel, Italy, America, Poland, Bulgaria, Syria, Canada, Switzerland, London, Hong Kong, Serbia, Vienna, and Odessa.

I do love being with this group of people from all over the world. There are so many new people to explore here and so much to learn. I look forward to this very much. We are a very racially homogenous group and only represent Judaism and Catholicism, BUT this is a brain child working on bringing younger voices to the interfaith table. So in that way, we are a real success!!

This should be an exciting week of learning, sharing, and connecting. Tonight we (us Jews) had a discussion on how to handle services. Always a fascinating conversation. This talked clearly raised the question which I think is present in all faith communities. At this moment, is your priority meeting your own needs or being a part of the community?

What do you think? Do you see that question playing itself out in some of your community politics? Curious if this experience is relevant elsewhere....