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Today I thought about the notion of identity and how complex it can be depending on the place or the environment you are. As Rita told us today, racism has influenced the recent history of Guadeloupe, separating and marginalising groups of people. It was completely the opposite of the video Rita posted about travelling, respect and open-mindedness. However, even if these people struggled, some of their traditions survived and they are still respected nowadays as cultural (and touristic) heritage, for example the creole or the ti punch! As Miguel de Unamuno, a famous Spanish writer, once said: “fascism is cured by reading, and racism is cured by travelling”.

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This first day in the course taught me that insider knowledge on the diverse topics regarding Guadeloupe's culture, traditions and difficult history are not illuminated in such a differentiated way in any travel guide as in these first hours of our adventure together here. I look forward to further input that will broaden my view

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I learned and relarned that I have a great privilege to have the possibility to travel around the world and be in exchange with different people and different cultures. From my early childhood I was able to visit country's like Peru and Thailand, meeting different people while studying or to travel while working. My friends are from Korea, the states, France, Guadeloupe, Peru, Greece,black,white or ginger😉 and from all over the world. Looking at the politics nowadays in country's like France, italy, Germany, the states and nearly everywhere makes me wonder if the lack of possibility to travel for a majority of people correlates with the fear of strangers and unknown culture. People need to realize that we are not living in different countries - we are living on the same Planet🙄

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I learned a lot today about the history of Guadeloupe and about the fact that slavery and racism do not stop just because it is officially forbidden.
I also thought (inspired by Corinna) about what departure means to me, and whether every departure and return doesn't always change a piece of my cultural heritage?
And last but not least, I learned how to drink Ti-Punch properly ☺️

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It was a fantastic start today-so many kind and dear people that I am excited to learn more about and to learn from!
Today, I thought a lot about my heritage. Rita said that the Native Americans couldn’t be controlled by the Europeans because their minds and will were too strong and they couldn’t be broken. Ask most anyone who knows me (and my kids 😂🫣) and that is probably how they would describe me. I have Cherokee roots-maybe that’s where I get it from!
Unfortunately, I can’t tell you much about that aspect of my culture as it was never shared with me. The language, the traditions-in general: the cultural heritage, tangible or intangible have been lost. There was and is no value placed on this group of individuals. Their contribution and influence have been lost. I can’t pass it down (yet!) because I don’t possess it myself. I feel inspired, however, to correct this!

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Today I learnt so much - it is a huge load of new and unique impressions, important information and many nice deep conversations.

Racism and stereotypes same as xenophobia can be healed by traveling.

We have to first reflect our own habits and our own culture in order to understand others.

Cultures can change and all have a certain language so a culture can first be created. I think that this is correct except when we talk about Esperanto which was set up as a mixture of many European language, intended as an easy tool for many people to better communicate among each other but in the end failed as it had no own culture to back up!

Many questions are left, for instance if a culture with many philosophers, writers or composers is said to exist longer? And what would happen if all the cultures lost their religious aspects and doctrines? And what is left for blind or deaf people who can’t see a cultures colorfulness, the beautiful music etc.?

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As God created the nature - humans created the culture. What is the importance of the culture for individuals? Do we need to preserve it or live with it? If culture is ever changing - does the human nature changes with it? I have learnt today that I have more questions than the answers. It is exciting to look into the future where the answers to my questions can be found...