By Angelica Recierdo, News Staff
I perpetually wonder if there is a reliable method for measuring a person’s cultural aptitude. Is it a formula consisting of the number of stamps in one’s passport (s) multiplied by the number of languages they are fluent in (l) plus the number of current events they are read up on (c)? Perhaps this is already a BuzzFeed quiz with results like “You Probably Sat in the Back during Model UN” or “You’ve Been on Four Peace Corps Missions.” Does it come with the territory like having diplomat parents or majoring in international affairs? Or can it be acquired like getting to know the locals when you travel or choosing anthropology as an elective because of general interest?
Regardless of how culture is fostered, there’s a certain swagger that some develop. It can be from thinking they’ve seen it all, to having just one oftentimes biting remark to offer when a certain topic makes its way into dinner conversation. One can observe this intriguing creature tip its nose into the air or fold its hands in dismissal to others in a circled discussion. It is this default rejection of other people’s ideas that is the antithesis of being cultured. It is having eyes of judgment rather than eyes of wonder that put up walls and give names to groups of people. I believe being cultured is synonymous to believing in the positivity of human connection and respecting every aspect of the human personality, even the parts that one may not want to acknowledge or partake in.
Cultured people are curious, participating citizens of the world. They visit obscure countries and discover what makes the people there come alive, and what their routines and struggles are. Cultured people seek to make the world smaller in the sense of familiarity rather than material conquest. They would rather visit the coffee farms than buy it canned at the airport gift shop. They try to surf even if their legs wobble, and that’s more meaningful than posing with the surfboard for a new profile picture. With online sharing so integral to identity and experience nowadays, to be able to sign off and fully immerse oneself in the given place and moment is a respectable skill. For these people, being cultured means giving everything a chance because they know life happens at the end of their comfort zone.
And when presented with a challenge to their views, cultured people do not flinch nor try to push their views on others. In fact, mismatched views could be seen as a chance at deeper understanding of the issue at hand. Other people’s views are not seen as intimidating, rather, they are intriguing or enlightening. They’re able to be civil with the anti-this and pro-that sitting next to them on the train. When asked to introduce themselves, it’s simply, “Hello, my name is.” They choose their battles wisely and understand there’s no need to jump up and proclaim their vegetarian or feminist status. We are humans first, after all, and there’s more to a person than their experiences or societal labels.
So being cultured is simply having vigor for the human condition and recognizing one’s purpose to highlight it. There are no bumper stickers or magazine subscriptions that can enhance one’s ability to empathize. Signing up for a mission trip or swearing off meat are just conversation fillers. The true passion comes in when there’s no one to talk to about it. It will arrive gently in no particularly extravagant presentation like a bird perching on your shoulder. No one will offer congratulations for being cultured. The congratulations come in the form of firm handshakes, warm smiles and deep-bellied laughs when two cultures meet at the border of transcendence and harmony.
-Angelica Recierdo can be reached at [email protected].
