No one wants to be isolated or want to be in a particular place with a definitive lifestyle forever, we want to explore, and in the process of exploration, we find ourselves in places with different ways to live. When you find yourself in those places with cultural diversity, then your pursuit of exploration boosts up.
The anticipation to feel everything you see and what you perceive sets into you. Ranging from the different languages, cultures, captivating sights, and lots more.
I remember when I was opportune to visit a neighboring country, I traveled with both legs from my country's border into the neighboring country. Then, I had a contract job around the border where I had to stay for months. My stay there made me understand something about cultural diversity, more so when you find yourself in a new society, with an entirely different way of life.
As we were navigating through the border, I began to see people with different attitudes speaking different languages and different ways of greeting. It was wow! Immediately after the border was a market, in that market, people were speaking my Nigerian Native Language, and some spoke French, it was difficult for me to differentiate the people from my country from the citizens of that country, because they could both all speak the languages of the two countries. It was so peaceful and the relationship was good.
The way they market their goods was completely different from how it is in my country, immediately, I felt like taking pictures, but before I did, I made sure I saw someone who spoke my Language, I asked if I could take pictures and he said yes, it is a public place, though there so many sacred things in the country and one needs thread carefully, I told him I won't be staying too long that I just wanted to see things around the market and go back. Started taking pictures of the buildings and the things I saw around to keep as memories.
That was the first time I would see a place without a gas station where petrol was sold in jerricans, tin cans, and bottles in different measures placed on tables for sale. It looks so funny to me, but it's just their way of doing things there. I would have relay loved to go deeper into the market, but that wasn't my intention that day, and I couldn't explore much.
But one good thing was I noticed they were very accommodating, they knew where we came from by merely looking out at us from a distance and they were so nice to us, they knew how Nigerians behave the first time they enter the border and that's because they've been living among them like families for a very long time, so it was easy for them to quickly recognize a Nigerian.
Anytime I find myself in places like that, I try as much as possible to be vigilant and understand the good and the bad. Some cultures are friendly and accommodating while some are not. Of course, you'll almost get carried away with the new and amazing things you see, but I tend to ask questions before doing anything. it will be very good to keep good memories rather than traumatic ones.
When I worked around the border then, my colleague almost had a terrible experience, we were made to go from one build structure to another, but I understood that once you find yourself in a place with a different culture, you need to be careful and act ack like you are home, more so when you have to stay there for a few period. I noticed many households we go to have an idol they worship. So I told him, not to barge into anyone's compound without being permitted to do so, but he never listened.
Unfortunately for him, he almost entered a shrine that was built with the same structure and materials as the houses in the community, but he had a little glimpse, and suddenly I heard him scream Jesus, I asked him what happened, he but couldn't answer out of fear for like ten minutes. A woman saw us and told us to be thankful that the custodians weren't around when it happened, otherwise, we would have been fined for making spiritual cleansing, she said nobody aside from worshipers is allowed to go in. To date, he couldn't explain exactly what he saw.
When I find myself in a place related to cultural diversity, I try carefully and understand it is an entirely different culture that is different from mine and I need to respect that. I try to understand the nonmaterial elements of diversity first which are symbols, values beliefs, and I respect them to live peacefully in society. Once you understand and respect this, then you have a seamless relationship when it comes to cultural diversity, then your exploration can begin without flaws, by starting to visit cultural centers, attending cultural festivals, engaging in open and respectful discussions and enjoying the benefits of living in a culturally diverse environment.
Cultural diversity is all about living and relating with people of different ages, sex, backgrounds, religion, values, beliefs, when you beleive the cultural diversity elements that surrounds you are different from yours, all benefits that comes with it are explored.
