On a trip to California last year to celebrate a birthday, I caught up with several college friends. There was Gail, a Filipino- American; Yi Sun, a Korean-American; Cherlyn, a black American; Marcy, a white American; Fitsum, an Ethiopian, and Glenn, a Japanese- American.
I chuckled to myself as I hugged them and got caught up, having somehow forgotten the rainbow-like nature of my associates from early adulthood. My college wasn’t necessarily the most racially mixed place on Earth, but there were plenty of opportunities to meet people from all over the world and from a variety of backgrounds. It was a far cry from my upbringing, where a mixed group mostly meant black and white people.
Some people claim not to see color in others. To them, “seeing” a difference is somehow inferior to being blind to differences in people. But recognizing and appreciating the uniqueness among the intriguing splashes of cultures and ethnicities of the world can be both respectful and educational.
A friend, who grew up as a missionary kid abroad, said her life was more interesting because she got to know people from other backgrounds.
Another friend recently remarked that hanging out with people who are different enriches her in ways she could never have never otherwise experienced.