We politely asked a man for directions in English. I remember that man’s look of disdain as he arrogantly said in a thick French accent, “Why aren’t you speaking French? If you can’t, go back to where you come from!”
The meaning of “Love your neighbor as yourself” never hit me as hard as when I experienced this. Now, the term “neighbor” doesn’t necessarily mean the person who lives next door. It is everyone that is around us. This includes people we do not like.
It is essential to love others as ourselves because negative feelings block our ability to have an open mind. It deters communication that could lead to better understanding and fixing situations.
I could have let this experience scar me forever and keep me prejudiced against French Canadians. I could have generalized and decided to label them all as racists. Instead, I remained receptive and optimistic.
While studying abroad in Canada, I was able to learn its culture, language and history. I began to understand the French Canadian who was so rude to us. Historically, the French were conquered by the British who took over their lands. Quebec is now the only province in Canada whose official language is French. With more immigrants arriving every year, the once prominent French culture is slowly being diluted. Therefore, the discriminatory man acted the way he did because he was being protective of his language and culture.
However, there is a difference between an explanation and an excuse. I understood why the man felt upset, but it does not give him a reason to say such hateful words.
By staying broad-minded, I figured out how to bridge the gap between my American origins and French surroundings. At the same time, I also learned some lessons of my own. I came to understand the difficulty of transitioning from one culture to another. This made me more compassionate and sensitive to the obstacles that international students face when they move here.
Our world is filled with a wide variety of cultures. Sometimes we need to take the first step and reach out to connect with others. These baby steps are what will lead us to better place to live in. There is enough violence, racial intolerance and negativity happening around us. Why not spread a little joy and positivity by loving?