Opinion Column

THE LARIAT
Feb. 19, 2009
Lack of Interaction Leads to Disconnect

Night sets in and the lights of Trafalgar Square illuminate the pillars on the front of the National Gallery in London. A man with long, dark braids plays guitar music on the gallery's steps in a style reminiscent of Bob Marley. The speakers on either side of the guitarist carry his music across the square and the combined effect of the music and lights feels peaceful. The music stops abruptly when a man walks up to the guitarist and holds out a cardboard sign with the words, "Everything will be OK," written across it.

"What is that supposed to mean, man? That's offensive!" the guitarist says loudly.

"It's sarcastic. It's just a joke," the sign holder says in a heavy British accent, stepping back.

"You think that just because I am black. How dare you come over here with that sign? I have a right to be here, man," the guitarist says and the argument continues.

I walk away from the two men toward Trafalgar Square's fountains astonished at the guitarist's reaction. He interpreted the sign in a way the sign holder did not expect when he held up what he thought was a comical message.

After a week studying abroad in the Netherlands with the Baylor in Maastricht program, I have witnessed how differently cultures understand and communicate. A phrase or gesture to one person can have an entirely separate meaning to another.

As I walk the streets of Maastricht, trying to decipher Dutch menus and navigate by Dutch street signs, I am constantly reminded of how insignificant I am in a world marbled with countless cultures. I learned very quickly while traveling in Europe that awareness of my surroundings and the effect of my actions on others is vital for smooth, safe interaction with other cultures.

But, awareness is not only essential in international travel. Even on Baylor's campus, where the majority of students have similar customs and modes of communication, awareness is important. Students must be able to look outside of the "Baylor Bubble" to the city of Waco. Many times, students forget that Waco encompasses more than Baylor campus and Valley Mills Drive. This narrow-minded attitude, when applied to international travel, would be a tragedy.

Imagine students coming to Maastricht intent to stay in their dormitory, never venturing out on the streets to see the city's sights or meet its inhabitants? They would deprive themselves of chances to learn and grow intellectually and culturally. Baylor students make this same mistake of depriving themselves of cultural, intellectual growth by never interacting with Waco citizens.

Jimmy Dorrell, founder of Mission Waco, describes the disconnect between Baylor students and Waco inhabitants as "two worlds in the same city." Baylor students live in a privileged world without noticing the impoverishment around them. "One in five (Waco) families lives in poverty," Dorrell said. Waco citizens have serious needs and Baylor students have numerous opportunities to reach out through programs such as Mission Waco, which gives 1,700 meals away a year and has volunteering outlets such as a children's center, teen center and homeless shelter.

Awareness of the vast diversity of the world and your reactions and interactions is the first step. Reaching out of your comfort zone and putting yourself in the place of someone who has completely dissimilar beliefs and understanding is the goal.

Claire Moncla is a sophomore professional writing major from Houston.