Where is home for you?

The professor in today's class asked us to bring an object that represents our culture. Like children in elementary school, we were going to "show and tell" about where we come from. This posted a real dilemma for me. There was, no right answer, no multiple choices that come in A, B, C, D, or all of the above, no right diagnosis, or next best step in management, that can be conveniently picked out. 

"Where are you from?" This simple question that is part of our daily interaction is often one of the hardest for me to answer.


For a person who lived exactly half of her life in one place, and half in another across the Atlantic ocean, traveled to more than 13 countries, lived in 4 continents, my answer shifts depending on who is doing the asking. I can say where I was born, I can say which street I have lived on for the longest time, which language I am the most fluent in, where my parents are from, but my heart doesn't feel that sense of belonging and pride.

Should we feel proud? Is one culture really "better" than others? Should we put people in boxes so it's easier to identify them? Most people with an open mind would answer no to those questions, yet it continues to be the norm of how we interact with one another. Isn't it?

Yet the sense of belonging is so important to our being. It's our safe place, our point of reference, our root. So I continue to travel the earth, looking to plant my root, to fall in love with a place or a person that I can finally rest my heart....

Perhaps though, I was meant to be an air plant, and that is OK too :) After all, our time on earth is really just a journey. In whichever way you experience life, life is bigger than all of us. (I am not smoking anything when I am typing this, I swear).

I have decided to call myself a gift collector and distributor, instead of a homeless. For every place I have traveled or left my foot print, I collected memories and gifts that others have bought into my life. That gift could be a deeper understanding of history, religion, human emotions, or delicious food, new perspectives in the world. These gifts will stay with me, carried on to another place, perhaps someday, I can alleviate suffering and bring joy in someone by passing on a present from my treasure box.

p.s. my job is really like a global ambassador if you think about it, hmm... now where can I get paid for this, that would be the next big question.

p.s. Shouldn't you be learning about medicine in medical school? what was the point of all this? Well, you are right. Before going off tangent right there, the exercise was meant to bring awareness and sensitivity to patient's culture when doctors interact with them. I guess my little introspective was really meant for the benefit of my future patients (if you would like to pre-sign up now, you are welcome to take a ticket at the door :) future 15% discount).

p.s. nevermind about the global ambassador job, I would have to politely decline (this should be everyone's duty really). I already have a job in training, even though it doesn't pay.....yet.