It is said that a good traveler gets lost in the experience, that they embrace the journey and seize adventure. Over the past 5 days, I have seen and learned much but I haven’t had an adventure until… today. My adventure starts with a simple decision to visit the 101 Thai Kitchen, which was recommended to me by a friend before I left Baltimore. As I looked up the directions, I thought “that doesn’t look that far” I grabbed my coat and umbrella (because it always rains; why is the sky so sad lol). Once I got to the train station I found out that 4 trains and 2 walks awaited me. Didn’t bother me. I eagerly began my journey. Walking to the train, I heard a little girl say to her mom, “I am mad at you.” I smile as I am thinking about my sons when they were younger. These memories always bring a smile to my face. Waiting for the first train, there was a man and woman next to me kissing and rubbing. Nothing too explicit but consistent and passionate. I moved to the right slowly to get away and they laughed and moved with me. I blank stared forward, slightly widening my eyes. I look to see if someone else saw, but everyone was in their own world. Paintings plastered through the stations make some these stops visual pleasures. They display the soul of the city and tell the story of the people that ride: families sharing, connecting strangers, the never-ending metaphors of life, etc. It’s a treat. I arrived in Hammersmith and I paused as I am greeted by a grand theater. People are courteous in the area. Frequently, saying “please,” “excuse me,” and “cheers.” I think the niceness was due to the umbrella because it gave me that classic British gentlemen look lol. Walking through this area, I understand how Giddens and other scholars developed postmodern theory. It is vibrant and bustling and filled with beautiful artifacts. A cornucopia of different cultures seen through authentic Indian, Korean, Thai, Japanese, Persian, Chinese, and Vietnamese restaurants all populate the landscape with churches, buildings, and stores. People speaking various languages walking to and fro. But what are their stories? Do they tell their children that they can be prime minister? Do they attend adequate school or have citizenship rights? Do you have equal opportunities or options for economic advancement? Visually, this scene speaks of an ideal society. Looks great, but like in the United States what does it say really? It is easy to let this slice of life fool you into thinking that London is a pure pluralistic society. I begin to think about the idea of diversity, a word constantly among Western countries. Eric Fassin mentioned it yesterday when discussing race and France. Diversity takes the politics out issues and makes them seem like an unfortunate consequences and not a structural problem. I arrived at the 101 Thai Kitchen, walk in and knew I was at home when I saw this guy wearing sweats serving people food. The restaurant was filled and people were enjoying themselves. At that moment I had an epiphany. I have been in quite a few restaurants over the past 5 days and the population is always majority White. This is interesting despite the fact that the population is 44% Black or ethnic minority (click here). Though anecdotal, it does make me think about the intersection of race, class, gender and geography. On my way back at the train station, returning whence I have come, I see something that both disturbs and enlightens. There are four Black girls ranging from ages 6- 9 with their aunt who is quizzing them on their multiplication tables. Suddenly, one of the girls says, “look at me auntie.” They all rush to the pole and begin dancing up and down the pole saying, “I am shaking my bum.” The aunt tells them to get away from that pole and continues to ask math questions. Now, these were children and it was innocent, but it helped me understand how the stripper culture that has affected gender in the United States is also affecting it in the UK. As an American in the UK, I am taking steps not to be ethnocentric, but instead looking hard to see similarities between the two cultures. There are definite differences but just like the globalization of corporations like McDonalds and Burger King (which are seriously everywhere), factors like race and gender share global elements. So the adventure to 101 Thai Kitchen provided great understanding of race, gender, class and ethnicity. It reminds me that each day of one’s life is a journey and we have accept the lessons that are on it. Maybe the real adventure is being open and observant. 2 Random Comments It took about 2 hours to get the Hammersmith section of London by train and I later found out it would have only taken 20 minutes by car lol. Saw a car pull up and someone got out of what I thought was the driver side in mid traffic and momentarily freaked out lol
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5/22/2023 09:31:30 pm
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Myron Strong
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