One of the many blessings of travel is learning about other cultures. However, you do not have to travel internationally to find different cultures. Here in the United States, the cultures in various parts of the country differ dramatically. Unfortunately, misunderstandings about differences are causing some huge rifts in our democracy. Stereotypes and misinformation color our views. A new program called the American Exchange Project is trying to address this problem.
What is the American Exchange Project?
AEP connects high school seniors from differing parts of the country throughout their senior year. The summer after they graduate, these students then get a chance to visit each other’s towns. They work to understand the culture, recognizing the differences, but also the similarities. I have had the privilege of participating with the program this week, hosting two young ladies from California.
A couple of young men from the Northeast also came to our small, rural town in Texas this week.
AEP recognizes many Americans live in “isolated bubbles.” We tend to congregate with people who think exactly like us. AEP’s mission is to “facilitate interactions between Americans from different backgrounds in the interest of forming ‘a more perfect union.’ ’’
Acting as tour guide
We visited some of our local attractions like the Oil Museum, Country Tavern, Kilgore Mercantile & Music, and the Rangerette Museum. Some of the small business owners, ranchers, and law enforcement officers shared their experiences with the young people.
I’ve lived in Kilgore for 25 years, but I’ve never visited the Rangerette Museum. For those not from this area, the Kilgore Rangerettes are the ones who started female drill teams. Before the Rangerettes, no women were allowed on the football field, or really at any sports venues. I had no idea about the strict military-style discipline these young women subject themselves to.
Facilitating Deep Discussions
We have had respectful and passionate discussions about oil and climate change, race, gun control and other so-called hot button topics. For example, I think that our visitors have seen a different side of the oil industry than the stereotypical big, greedy oil companies. On the other hand, we got to see passionate young people concerned about the environment. Does the process need to be sped up to convert to renewable energy? How can we do that? The young people debated the economic cost for individual families involved in hundreds of small businesses verses the environmental cost. The realization that petroleum is used in hundreds of products, not just gasoline for cars, opened their eyes to the complexity of the problem. Yet, are we too complacent? How do we speed up changes to be better stewards of our planet? Listening to the dialogue between the young people and adults encouraged me about the future of our country.
These young people also served together during the week. They helped sort produce and organize foodstuffs for our local food pantry, Helping Hands. Several of our local kids did not realize the extent of poverty in our own community.
This week the Kilgore students went to Palo Alto or Boston to let their new friends show them around their home towns. They will seek to understand places that are different from Kilgore.
This was the first year for the exchange, but founder David McCullough III, has a vision for 100,000 graduating seniors to eventually participate every year. This could truly change the contentious climate of our country. If you want to find out more about this program, follow this link:
The American Exchange Project provides a good model for us to follow as we travel with the Father. We should travel with a sense of curiosity as we learn about other cultures. Thank you to the students who taught me that this week.
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