From white bre(a)d to Turkish delight
When I first moved here 15 years ago, it was something of a cultural shock. That is, the lack of variety in most elements of culture is something I felt keenly, and unexpectedly. My olive skin, Asian heritage, slight southern drawl, and international interests - even my style of dress - stood out like a Texas snowflake.
Accustomed to living in places with ample varieties of ethnicity, languages, religions, traditions, beliefs, and politics, it took time to adjust to the relative uniformity here. Yet as the years pass, that description becomes less accurate. North Idaho's feathers are increasingly colorful.
As I was writing this, I was looking forward to Turkish folk vocalist and doctoral candidate Aysenur Koliva at the Post Falls Library last night. She performs again Friday at Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center, whose board makes a concerted effort to recruit richly varied performers. This musical scholar and teacher comes from Istanbul not only to croon for her audiences, but to share the cultures of the Black Sea.
Speaking of Turkey - that ancient and fascinating place of cultural contrasts - perhaps you sampled the Turkish Delight at Lakes Middle School's fifth annual multicultural faire this past weekend, where area residents share their ethnic heritage, or someone else's. Teacher and organizer Kristin Odenthal provided the Turkish display with its lush fabrics and artifacts; Turkey is one of several countries she has visited.
We go every year to open this enriching, vivacious event and enjoy the performances. Without fail I learn something new. Saturday I learned that on the island of Sardinia - an autonomous region of Italy - they speak a dialect which closely resembles Spanish. A richly costumed, lovely lady with an accent I wouldn't have identified as Italian taught me that Sardinia's history also includes strong Spanish and Arab influences, so their language and culture reflect all three. Her homemade Italian wedding cookies were the perfect end to my cornucopia-lunch of Philippine-style chicken with spicy noodles, followed by shawarma - a popular street snack in Israel and across the Middle and Near East.
Did you know Turkey is in the Near, not the Middle, East? So is Iran. Iranians, also known as Persians, are not Arabs, contrary to common misperception. We speak Farsi and share common heritage with Greeks (Hellenic and Aryan peoples of old).
Much to my chagrin there is no Persian food here, outside of a few households, but you can taste authentic Greek at Olympia or Santorini's. Regulars may know that much of the food (as well as the owner) at The White House restaurant in Post Falls is Turkish. The popular Daanen's sells homemade German food in the deli. Variety pleases the palate; I hope time brings more of it to the area.
All this helps me feel a little less out of place. They give me hope that "different" - no matter the source, style, or subject of its form - isn't necessarily considered bad and may even be welcome. One culture needn't conflict with or invalidate another; they can enrich, when openly encouraged.
It is not similarity, but difference which makes each person, each culture distinguishable and therefore valuable.
The human mind is capable of retaining, even confirming personal identity while learning about an infinite variety of others. National or ethnic pride is one of those things that provides joy and feels natural to most people, but also something which, if taken to extreme and exclusion, can be very dangerous (as C.J. Sansom's acclaimed new novel "Dominion" illustrates well).
"No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive." - Mahatma Gandhi
Vive la difference. Thanks to all who strive to enrich, from within and without our borders, transcending imagined limits of mind or geography.
Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network with degrees in international studies and law. Contact her at [email protected].