It occurred to me, that we oftentimes talk about culture as "baggage", something heavy, that we carry with us on our journey of life, that might also hinder us from moving on, if it is too heavy or bulky. Considering myself a global nomad who has pitched her tent in many different places before, I prefer to look at culture as a blanket, something that is ours, that feels comforting and safe. A blanket made of different fabrics, having many different patterns, different shapes, yet providing the same purpose, no matter where you live and who uses it. It can be rolled up to rest a heavy head, tied across a mother's back to hold an infant, placed over a table to provide a child with a secret cave and keeps you warm when it seems chilly.
Exposing ourselves to different cultural norms, demands from us to peak out from underneath that blanket, to observe what is new and to take in what seems strange. Someone once told me that our lives are like tapestries, that are not always a perfect texture, but might have an odd string of yarn woven crookedly through it, our journey through life, sticking out for everyone to see. That reminded me of a quilt, which represents a story, patched together from scraps and sown by different hands, who all contributed to create that special blanket. It is not the sort of blanket that is folded up inside a linen closet or tossed hastily over a chair; it is displayed, evenly spread across a bed, for everyone to admire.
I love having my own cultural blanket. It did certainly come in handy when culture shock had set in after an international move, and I could not get myself to peek out from underneath. My blanket felt too familiar, and I was not going to give up that comfort quite yet. Eventually, I realized that it is ok to peek, maybe carry a small piece of that blanket with me, much like "Owen"in the adorable book by "Kevin Henkes", who is so attached to his fuzzy and worn security blanket, that his mother decided to cut it into small pieces when Owen started school.
Having a small piece of our cultural blanket in my heart, allowed me to find the courage to "confront" new cultures, which enriched my life so much, that it felt like I had exchanged small pieces of my cultural blanket with friends I made when making their country my home. It allowed me to bloom where I was planted.
