Embrace the Awkward

     I recently travelled to Chicago. One would think that this would be a common occurrence owing to my close proximity, but this was only my second time in the city. Nonetheless, I had a great time exploring different parts of the city with a friend of mine. We ate cevapi at a Bosnian restaurant followed by some coffee at a Bosnian cafe across the street. In addition, my friend and I visited the Pakistani/Indian area of Devon Avenue. Finally, we visited the Lake Shore area and returned to the predominantly Puerto Rican Humboldt Park. The afternoon was quite enjoyable.

     During my explorations I was reminded of a phrase (or should I say a life motto?) I came up with a while back- "Embrace the awkward." I will explain this concept in a moment. As we all know, each of us tends to be drawn to communities of people with similar ethnic backgrounds, economic statuses, or levels of education. This hard truth can be observed in the various ethnic communities scattered throughout the city of Chicago. This can even be observed in the cafeteria of a public high school. We feel comfortable among those who are similar to us.

     Nonetheless, there is great benefit with exploring other peoples and cultures. Much can be learned by spending time among people who are "different" from us. Whether the differences are economic, ethnic, or educational, one can easily gain better perspectives through diversity. My friend and I visited a Bosnian cafe and sat down for some amazingly strong coffee. It was evident that we did not "belong" there- two white Americans speaking English in an establishment where Bosnian is the common language. Nonetheless, this somewhat awkward occasion was quite enjoyable.

     The concept of "Embrace the awkward" tends to be a matter of attitude. Any one of us can find a community of people that is "different." However, the experience will only be fruitful with the correct mindset of the "outsider." One could enter a culture with a mindset of superiority, for example. This would not lead to a genuinely good experience. However, if one enters a situation with the mindset that "different" can mean good and awkwardness can lead to learning, then he or she will more than likely have a pleasant experience. The key is to not limit ourselves to one group of people or one culture. We need to get out and explore the world outside of our cultural box. Of course, in doing so we must have a positive attitude that is seeking to learn rather than dominate. My experiences (including my recent trip to the city) have taught me to not avoid awkward situations. Embrace them.

Embrace the awkward.