First Thoughts On Hospitality
Hospitality. It's a word very dear to my heart. I grew up in the South. We do hospitality in the South. If any of you has the pleasure of visiting a Southern home like my parents, in-laws, aunts, uncles or friends, you would be forced down on a sofa and promptly handed a glass of sweet tea. You would be listened to, looked in the eye, smiled at, and generally cared for while in a Southern home. No matter if you think it's all a bunch of nonsense, it's the way in which many hot cultures like the South operate.
The Kurds of Kurdistan are hospitable people like the Southerners of the South. They take time to care for you if you are in their space. If you are shopping for furniture, a Kurdish business owner will often give you water or chai. When you are on the road and someone stops an entire lane of traffic to buy watermelon, people are forgiving and patient to that person. Every move made is centered on relationship. It is crucial to show people that you care and want to make them comfortable. It is ingrained in people to show respect to others through hospitality.
I deeply relate to this aspect of Kurdish culture and I value the emphasis placed on the relationship rather than just a transaction or product. I am too easily offended by those who don’t value this relational way of communicating. I have to catch myself from making a judgment about a person's character if she or he does not possess this instinctual trait of hospitality. Cold climate cultures tend to lean in a less hospitable direction, placing value on industriousness and wit as opposed to relating or making someone feel comfortable. They assume that if you want a cup of tea, you’ll ask them for it. However, where I come from, this would be perceived as rude at face value.
That being said, culture is what it is and you cannot put expectations on it that are unreasonable. I'm growing in my flexibility. I'm learning ways to be less offended and more understanding. It just so happens that I relate more to Kurdish culture in this aspect. I've discovered how much I enjoy it, but I've also realized the importance of not rejecting people who do not know how to be hospitable.
Furthermore, I am excited to test out hospitality and politeness in Kurdistan and see what ways the Kurds differ from my own background of hospitality. Also, I am open to criticism of my over-emphasis of hospitality. What are the ways in which hospitality and politeness are superfluous? Conversely, how can I be better at hospitality? I imagine that I will make some big mistakes within this sphere of culture. My guess is that Kurds, similar to Afghans, are the superior hospitable creatures of the world. How do I compare? Only time will tell! My goal, and you can hold me to it, is to flex and to be slow to taking offense. Be humble and press forward.
The Kurds of Kurdistan are hospitable people like the Southerners of the South. They take time to care for you if you are in their space. If you are shopping for furniture, a Kurdish business owner will often give you water or chai. When you are on the road and someone stops an entire lane of traffic to buy watermelon, people are forgiving and patient to that person. Every move made is centered on relationship. It is crucial to show people that you care and want to make them comfortable. It is ingrained in people to show respect to others through hospitality.
I deeply relate to this aspect of Kurdish culture and I value the emphasis placed on the relationship rather than just a transaction or product. I am too easily offended by those who don’t value this relational way of communicating. I have to catch myself from making a judgment about a person's character if she or he does not possess this instinctual trait of hospitality. Cold climate cultures tend to lean in a less hospitable direction, placing value on industriousness and wit as opposed to relating or making someone feel comfortable. They assume that if you want a cup of tea, you’ll ask them for it. However, where I come from, this would be perceived as rude at face value.
That being said, culture is what it is and you cannot put expectations on it that are unreasonable. I'm growing in my flexibility. I'm learning ways to be less offended and more understanding. It just so happens that I relate more to Kurdish culture in this aspect. I've discovered how much I enjoy it, but I've also realized the importance of not rejecting people who do not know how to be hospitable.
Furthermore, I am excited to test out hospitality and politeness in Kurdistan and see what ways the Kurds differ from my own background of hospitality. Also, I am open to criticism of my over-emphasis of hospitality. What are the ways in which hospitality and politeness are superfluous? Conversely, how can I be better at hospitality? I imagine that I will make some big mistakes within this sphere of culture. My guess is that Kurds, similar to Afghans, are the superior hospitable creatures of the world. How do I compare? Only time will tell! My goal, and you can hold me to it, is to flex and to be slow to taking offense. Be humble and press forward.
Well said. Kurdish hospitality humbled me and Indian hospitality continues to. A couple months ago we were buying contact lenses and while waiting, we were given a nice steamy cup of chai :) I'm learning a lot.
ReplyDelete