In the beginning, there was perfection. Adam and Eve had it, and they just threw it
all away. God knew this would happen, but I think He thinks that imperfection
is what keeps things interesting. This is not to imply that sin is interesting,
but as flawed humans we really keep existence a unique and unpredictable story.
Somewhere down the line, we all got dispersed into different lands, speaking
different tongues, and believing different truths. Not only were we imperfect,
but we were isolated, couldn’t understand one another, and might not want to if
we could. Today we are less isolated than any time in recent human history, yet
important things still get lost in translation.
Every international traveler understands that communication
is one of the key elements to a successful journey. Not only must you say the
right words with the proper annunciation, you have to be aware of cultural
differences that may impact the meaning of what you say, you have to be mindful
of political notions and assumptions, and – perhaps most difficult – you have
to understand the answer that comes back to you! I have few memories of early
childhood, but I do have a recollection from my first international trip. In Puerto
Vallarta, I was about four or five and met a same-aged Mexican boy named Oscar.
I spoke no Spanish, and he spoke no English, yet we had the best time running
from place to place, just playing by the pool. We just wanted to have fun… and
play. We hadn’t yet been corrupted by a world that told us we were different
and that the unknown should not be trusted. Three decades later, I visited
Haiti by myself, only to be met at the airport by “a one-armed man and a fat
man named ‘Big’.” I was pretty terrified, to be honest, until I safely reached
my destination. I didn’t speak the language, my knowledge led me to believe I
was in a dangerous place, and what I didn’t know was keeping me from enjoying
the moment, which was the arrival to a beautiful new country. In contrast, I
have since visited countries - notably Colombia, Italy, England, Turkey, and
Japan – where I was with people whom I trusted, and the fear of the unknown
nearly disappears.
I have probably never been a great on-the-spot communicator.
That is probably why I like to write. I talk to people every day for work, and
people confuse my need to be accurate with some sort of deception. Honesty comes
off as diplomatic, and taking too long to make a decision comes across as
concealment. Of course, these people don’t know me, and they don’t trust me.
Why should they? Communication is a tricky game. Seeing as how the stated goal
of this blog is international tranquility, I suppose the take-away from this is
(1) people communicate in different ways and (2) what’s lost in translation –
even in the same language – may be due to fear or a lack of trust. What do we
do? I guess you just keep trying, and try to keep an open mind and heart… and
always get a ride from the airport.
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