On Owning Things and Space
Here's a challenge. What do we own? I'm not against ownership. I AM against greed. Sometimes it feels difficult to tell the difference, especially in between cultures. What is privacy and what is friendly and what is discretion?
In the Philippines, we stay in a three-room apartment. Many of our neighbors and people on the street can see us if we go outside our door. And people live within inches of each of our four walls. We live very close to our neighbors, some who are suspicious of us. Some of whom I feel suspicious.
I have been robbed by men 6 times, by a woman once. Two times, the hold-up involved a handgun. So, I get nervous.
Challenge accepted. Two neighbors came to an apartment party. One house received a hello cake from the Stevensons. Now I have to think of a safe, cultural appropriate way to deal with the two young men who drink cocktails directly below my back balcony and watch me do laundry.
As a white Americana, I get uncomfortable being watched. Well guess what, Rach, there are lots of people who feel uncomfortable each day. You can do this. Write your fear and act.
It may not be culturally appropriate for me to greet the young men, but it's good for Micah to make friends with these backyard neighbors.
It is no good feeling like I have to sneak around my own house. Let's see how this all works out.
In the Philippines, we stay in a three-room apartment. Many of our neighbors and people on the street can see us if we go outside our door. And people live within inches of each of our four walls. We live very close to our neighbors, some who are suspicious of us. Some of whom I feel suspicious.
I have been robbed by men 6 times, by a woman once. Two times, the hold-up involved a handgun. So, I get nervous.
Challenge accepted. Two neighbors came to an apartment party. One house received a hello cake from the Stevensons. Now I have to think of a safe, cultural appropriate way to deal with the two young men who drink cocktails directly below my back balcony and watch me do laundry.
As a white Americana, I get uncomfortable being watched. Well guess what, Rach, there are lots of people who feel uncomfortable each day. You can do this. Write your fear and act.
It may not be culturally appropriate for me to greet the young men, but it's good for Micah to make friends with these backyard neighbors.
It is no good feeling like I have to sneak around my own house. Let's see how this all works out.
