SSU Travels the World

There are differences, and there are similarities. These things exist in all shapes, forms and sizes and quite obviously in all cultures and regions of the world. However, on this trip I have been noticing the similarities between people, and it has been a joy to observe.

People seem to initially have the same wants and needs. We all need food to live, beverage to quench our thirst. We all need shelter; beds to sleep in and roofs over our heads. Even more than these outward items used for our personal survival I have noticed that people quite simply need each other. Whether I was in the house of my home stay family in the Philippines, on the bus with all of my fellow SSUer’s or staying here in this Muslim Village in Malaysia, we need each other. And even more so I am noticing on the trip, we want each other… we as humans want community. Life together is what makes humanity, it is what makes culture. Sometimes life together is what creates hatred, but on a good day community can create peace.

My home stay mother created peace in our house in the Philippines by always caring and looking out for me. She was nurturing and loving and cared for our entire group of travellers. She wanted us around as well; she desired community with our group. She was similar to any other mother figure, which seems to be something you find in most any culture whether North American or South East Asian.

Other similarities consist of the way children laugh and have fun. Here in Malaysia I see kids being rascals just like anywhere else. Their smiles fill up this community. Even Crystal said the other day about the boys in the village that, “Boy will be boys, Muslim or not.”

These are the things that make up our world, there is much more for us to see and recognize as the same (or close to it, at least) instead of seeing all those things that separate us. This trip thus far has opened my eyes to see all that we as humans in the world share just through our humanness; it’s beautiful.