Identity
Credit: Identity by Tisiya Mahoro licensed by (CC BY-NC-ND4.0)
If there is an identity one can ever take, it is that of a global citizen. I don’t mean just saying it with your lips. Living like a global citizen gives an experience that can never be replaced. Of vital importance to global citizenship is becoming a mindful citizen. Born in D.R.Congo, growing up in Uganda, living in South Africa, then to the United States of America have given me a rich identity. An identity I cannot derive from policies made by political leaders, but from my lived experience. In the spring of 2016, my global class was planned to travel to Martinique. I was excited until I realized that I cannot go, because of Visa issues. However, I was ready for anything to come my way. My alternative destination became New Orleans where I found a place that made my spring break one of my best moments in the USA.
I love to hear and learn from people’s lived experiences. Traveling to New Orleans, I met people who were still suffering the effects of hurricane Katrina after 15 good years. It was surprising and disappointing at the same time seeing an American struggling to have a good housing. I asked myself why, but I never got a satisfying answer. I didn’t need to know either, but rather do what I could be able to do. I was with a team of students and two staff members and we worked with a group called “Rebuilding New Orleans”, helping to rebuild houses that were later sold to teachers in the area. Although it was tiring, I was encouraged to work as much as I can especially digging the road that was not rebuilt since Hurricane Katrina. Because this road was never rebuilt, when it rained, the place always experienced flash flood which is always a threat to peoples’ lives
Credit: “identity” by John Hain is licensed under public domain
For the course of the week, every day left me with strength and courage to face the future. I wondered where the government was when its people were dawning in the hurricane Katrina, I wondered why are people still not well settled after 10 years, and I wonder why people from other countries fail to build their own home and yearn to go to America. I learned to appreciate my own home, though I don’t have a home as everyone would describe it… I am a global citizen.
I love to hear stories, but hearing from Katrina survivors opened my mind. I stopped having a perception that all Americans have a stable life. I stopped complaining about being a refugee and not having someone I could cry to after hearing from a woman who lost a family after days of struggle yet she had a government she looked up to for salvation. After hearing from a woman who became a refugee in her own country, and now he was about to occupy a house that I contributed to its construction, was the most empowering experience.
It did not end in New Orleans and it will never end. I am committed to serving people everywhere I go. Home is where I can serve those who need my service.
This experience relates to SUM learning outcomes below
Critically examine the relationship between dominant and marginalized cultures, subcultures or groups
Identify, explain, and analyze global themes, processes and systems
