One of the questions I used to get when I first moved to the US was, “Is it a big culture shock?”
This was hard for me to answer because… well, I didn’t know the answer… because I just didn’t think about it. I was a lot younger then and carefree, excited and thrilled to be in a new place. Things looked different, sure, but in some ways they also felt the same. I was soaking it all in, still observing and it was hard for me to contextualize everything I was seeing / experiencing.
An answer came to me while watching the movie Captain Philips. It was 2013. I’ve been in the US for about 3 years.
I remember so clearly, sitting in the theater.
First I was amused, then I was amazed and then I was completely taken aback.
Now here’s a culture shock.
A whole team of people were actually sent to rescue, maybe just that one guy? The government came to the rescue of its people — possibly even just that *one* person?
Is this for real?
“If that was the Philippines, they’d have left them out there to die.”
Nick, who was sitting next to me, looked at me. I didn’t realize I said it out loud.
Harsh. I know. Today, recalling that story, saying that about a place I call home, it hurts. A lot. But at that time, at 23 years od, I said it without hesitation, a knowledge I took for granted.
To be fair, I haven’t lived in the Philippines for almost ten years, so I can’t speak for today. But back then, a government serving the people was completely an alien concept to me. And I bet, to lot of people in the world.
That one person can be *that* important was dizzying. It was kinda scary and kinda amazing… and a big revelation.
Civil rights, human rights, social rights. This unending fight for equality. The loud, messy, fiery, ridiculous, wonderful fight to push us, hopefully, forward… it all started to make sense.
Because only when we really value the life of one person — ANY person — only then can we really make any of these social movements meaningful.
Because when a person, regardless of race, religion, gender, social status, mental & physical health, bank account, education, and all the other things we measure and look at — fully understands his/her worth, WITH the backing of his/her own community, WITH his/her surroundings confirming his/her value — I mean… Just imagine that.
I often get asked about living in the US. There are a lot to talk about: the healthcare, the president(s) , the taxes, the work, the immigration, the activism, the food, the values, the weather…A lot of bad, a lot of good.
But one thing I’ll always, always, be grateful for and I feel very privileged to experience is the passion and fire of so many people to speak up and actively fight for a better world… and to talk, uhmm, ok they mostly argue, about what that actually means… And to demand and insist on a government FOR the people by the people.
American Dream?
It might just be a slogan but it’s a damn good one.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Yo, ‘Merica, thanks for that culture shock. Happy 4th! ♥️
