One of the benefits of being in another culture can be ignorance.
Really?
I recently read an interview with Arianna Huffington, author and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post. She grew up in Greece, then went to the U.K. for university and later to the U.S. In her interview, she talked about how her ignorance of the local history, traditions, expectations or stereotypes meant she was free to try something the locals might not. She says, “I wasn’t weighed down with the kinds of overwhelming notions that may have stopped British girls from even thinking about trying for such a position.” For the record, she does go on to mention that there were indeed difficulties associated with being a foreigner. But the lesson she learned was, “it is easier to overcome people’s judgments than to overcome our own self-judgment, the fear we internalize” (Newsweek, Oct. 15, 2007).
In fact, living in another culture can be scary, and many people don’t do it because of fear, but we rarely think about the fear that stops us from doing things right where we live. Sometimes living in another culture gives us freedom from some of those fears. It can create the space to recognize the fears that limit us. It is possible that experiencing life in another culture can help free us from some of those fears.
I think this is absolutely right–but you have to take advantage of it. I know when I first moved to London I was well-nigh paralysed with the fear that in some one of the many cultures with which I was interacting, I’d really screw up and everyone would hate me. It wasn’t really until some time shortly before I left that I figured out that my “foreignness” actually gave me permission to do some things that other people in a certain culture wouldn’t do, and get away with it.
It kind of ties in to your previous post, too, I think–deciding which are leaves and which are roots. Possibly fear of stepping out and making mistakes is actually (even though it seems like doing nothing) an attempt to change the roots–without interacting enough to know what you’re trying to change them to.
What an interesting post! I guess we tend to focus on the negative side of things sometimes–or at least I, as a foreigner in my country of residence, will complain that things are harder than for nationals and that I am tired of always feeling like an outsider… But this ignorance has been an advantage in my work, and I also knew it would be! It felt good to be genuinely naive and to pretend I could start off on a blank slate. This feeling should never last too long though… as an interculturalist “at my highest & best,” I always need to get back to the context and I end up learning about the particulars of a culture in order to play by its rules and understand where people are coming from…
I hope my comment makes sense, thanks Beth for the thought-provoking post!!
Jenn, you state it well: that your ” ‘foreignness’ actually gave you permission” and let you get away with things that locals may not. Thanks for the reflection.
That leaves me with the question, what are we getting away with? and why? I expect that kind of “exemption” could be used for good and bad. (I’m sure you used it for good.) I’m going to keep my eyes open for examples of where and how people have used this exemption/freedom/ignorance.
Julie, thanks for the personal example. It does make sense, and I’m glad to hear that what I was thinking resonated with someone else. It’s interesting to hear that you knew it would be an advantage, that you were aware of that going into it.
I agree that we don’t want to stay ignorant and we need to continue learning and growing in our ability to adapt. But I wonder if we can do that while on occasion still availing ourselves of the freedom rather than fear that comes from being a foreigner. Perhaps it also comes with thinking of ourselves as, framing it, as foreigners, rather than outsiders.
I like the distinction you make between “foreigner” and “outsider.” I like that people can be different and still belong.
Ignorance of a culture in which one is immersed may be a benefit, but to a point. When one’s “ignorance” does not lead to actual ignorance of people and their traditions. At such point, ignorance of any culture becomes hurtful and disrespectful to those who live there. Personally, I have witnessed more hurt and even evil from such ignorance than the positives. However, I can see both sides to this statement.
Re: foreigners and outsiders, I, too, prefer this distinction. Yet, I cannot overlook the fact that for some groups even being a foreigner brings negative tones. It depends whether one, just like you, belongs to a country which is a part of the “In group.” Outside of the USA, there are only a few other countries that think of themselves as members ot the “In crowd.” Hence, it is easier for them to have positive association with the word “foreigner.” For others, the word still means that you are foreign to us and hence, you are outside of us.