A Global Community in the Desert
I had the privilege of spending these past two weeks in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, assisting at a conference that endeavored to apply research to education. The Latin American School for Education, Cognitive and Neural Sciences brought together not only recognized authorities from around the world, but also an international group of PhD candidates and new professors. They gathered in the small town of San Pedro (population: approximately 5,000) in the middle of the Atacama Desert.
There’s something about being in the middle of nowhere that amplifies similarities and fosters connections. We were all affected by dry skin and an unreliable Internet connection, awed by the expansiveness of the desert and the actual number of potentially visible stars in the night sky (San Pedro is one of the best places in the world to stargaze), and afflicted by the earthquake in Japan. For the purposes of the conference, the aura of fellowship encouraged thoughtful discussion about applying the learning and intellectual sharing to the real world. The atmosphere generated ideas, cultivated future research collaborations and motivated each participant to pass on new knowledge to their respective areas.
It was a beautiful example of how the strength of similarities could overcome differences and the beauty lies in getting past stereotypes to experience a true willingness to learn from and through others. There was less identification with divisive labels, such as Costa Rican versus Uruguayan, student versus faculty and scientist versus educator. Instead, the conversation shifted from a comparison about what each person could or couldn’t do to a sense of teamwork with a focus on how people could work together to achieve more than one could on his or her own. We became humbled learners who recognized the essential humanity that bonds us together as part of the same global community.
Achieving openness can be facilitated by a purpose, such as the aim of the LA School, but I believe that this phenomenon can actually happen anywhere. It just requires that you step outside of your comfort zone, outside of the categories that your mind has already formed. The surprises you’ll find can diminish fears, break barriers and, most importantly, construct a sense of connectedness that has the power to lead to positive changes.
Have you been surprised by similarities you share with another? How have you seen or experienced the power of connectedness?
P.S. I made it back home to Huancayo safely and am slowly settling back into the groove of things. Thanks for your patience!
Tags: andes, atacama desert, comfort zone, global community, insight, inspiration in chile, LA School Chile, LA School conference, learning, openness, similarities, wisdom
Abe Palmer
Wonderful words of wisdom!!!!! Connectedness, I like that. Everyday I work with people that insist on living in their own little cave completelly unaware of what goes on around them (That's sad). Life should be charished. Life should be shared with everyone. Welcome back Samantha.
Samantha Bangayan
Indeed! At the same time, I think it's not always obvious how connected we really are. Traveling sure helps!
Thanks for the comment, Abe. =)
resumesurvislady
Beautiful post…invokes memories of a year I spent many years ago living in the Australian Outback….One of the biggest lessons I learned during my year abroad was we have more similarities than differences. Your reference of the night sky, seeing all the stars….I can just imagine how beautiful that was to see!
Samantha Bangayan
Exactly! Being human is already an important sign that we're going to have a million more similarities than differences with the person next to us and around the world.
You're right about the night sky! I had never seen so many stars before in my life and would never have appreciated the sight had I not actually been there and seen it with my own two eyes. =)
Faraz
A friend of mine who recently visited the Atacama Desert reported the same feeling of astonishment at the incredibly clear night skies. Did you take any photos of the stars whilst you were there?
Samantha Bangayan
Unfortunately not. =( I'm not much a photographer. In fact, I think it's kind of a blessing because I soak up the experience in my mind instead! But sometimes I arrive back home and think — "Hmm…there might have been some good photos for the blog." =)
Keyuri Joshi (on the
As I read this lovely post, a feeling of warmth and peacefulness came over me. How nice to hear about the human spirit engaging in collective goodness with one key action. I see that as putting aside the ego. I love what you say… that attendees became learners, that cultural boundaries were set aside and people just came as people. What a powerful thing. Don't you wish we could clone that everywhere. The possibilities of growth for all of us would be limitless.
Samantha Bangayan
Yes! It would be amazing if we could all just focus on our shared "people-ness" everyday, everywhere. =) It's so true that the action necessitates humility, that the ego be put aside. Thanks for understanding. =)
Diana
Hi Samantha,
What a beautiful post and I love what you mentioned about "how the strength of similarities could overcome differences and the beauty lies in getting past stereotypes to experience a true willingness to learn from and through others".
I have lived in 3 different continents, grew up with parents from different religion and background and married to someone of a totally different culture, I really can validate that if can remove the labels we have on people, it is when we have open ourselves to learning and growing.
I love the diversity and one of the biggest reward about blogging is the connectedness within the community. It's amazing to see there is so much collaboration among one another.
Samantha Bangayan
Diana! Not only do I feel connected with the world, but I feel especially connected to you through your comment! I also come from a multicultural and multi-religious background from one continent, moved to another and my partner is of a third. =)
Your latest post really vibes with my thoughts. I wholeheartedly agree that blogging is definitely one of the best modern examples of connectedness. =)
writing4effect
I got goosebumps as I read your last paragraph (before the P.S.). That is so true, indeed — very well articulated — ☺
Samantha Bangayan
Wow – thanks, Sherry! The positive results of connectedness can be so powerful!
Allie
Samantha! You are my window into the world. I had dreams of travel for leisure and study, 20 years ago. Fast forward to a family in the suburbs, football, SUV, dog and all the trimmings. Don't get me wrong, I love my life and have been blessed beyond belief BUT I wanted your life when I was in my 20's.
I know I can't have your life but we can share the same beliefs of common "people-ness". Your post and blog is amazing.
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It is sad that having to be in the middle of nowhere people find similarities and connections. The simpleness of less clutter fosters togetherness. I wish more people would recognize that simple fact and then find happiness with themselves and with people around them.
Thanks for thoughts.
Samantha Bangayan
Wow, Allie! I can't believe I almost lost your kind thoughts! Thank you so much for appreciating my reflections. Funnily enough, I always ultimately dreamed of the suburban family life and I know that I'll find my way there one day, so you're really living my dream. =)
I think you've really made a point about how simplicity made all the difference in allowing people to connect more and more deeply. That's one of the main reasons why I appreciate the simplicity in Huancayo. At the same time, I think there are more people finding the value of simplicity even in the big cities, so let's hope the snowball grows! =)
Catarina Alexon
Just look at five year old girls anywhere in the world. Dressed in pink with a doll. Doesn't matter if they are Saudi Arabian, American or Chinese.
What happens later in life is that different cultures have an impact on how people develop.
Samantha Bangayan
What a touching image, Catarina! Children are the best examples of openness and connectedness. =)
Culture and society do make a big difference in creating invisible barriers, often unconsciously!
Jill Tooley
Samantha, I really enjoyed this post. Unfortunately, I've never had the pleasure of traveling outside of the United States so I don't have any multicultural stories to share. However, everything you mention here reminds me of the Buddhist way of life: interconnectedness and the idea that all of our actions and experiences affect one another in some way. It's a beautiful thought, but also a somewhat scary one! Human connections are so strong and complex…it never ceases to amaze me.
Samantha Bangayan
That's true! Connectedness means that we all affect each other, in beautiful and not-so-beautiful ways. I choose to focus and build on the beautiful. =)
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, Jill. =) Heading over to your blog right now!
Janet @ The Natural
Samantha, aloha. What a wonderful surprise it is to discover your blog. It will be a pleasure to follow your life reflections.
The message in the following sentence of yours struck such a responsive chord in me that I did a cut, paste and it is now living on my computer.
"It was a beautiful example of how the strength of similarities could overcome differences and the beauty lies in getting past stereotypes to experience a true willingness to learn from and through others."
Samantha, I think that if we take the time to truly listen to others, we will almost always be surprised by the similarities. In the isolation of your setting and the reason for being there, I suspect you all heard each other better.
It seems that the power of connectedness is its strongest in times of great joy or tragedy. No doubt the strength of the emotions present open floodgates to awareness and a willingness to connect.
Thank you for so eloquently sharing your thoughts. Aloha. Janet
Samantha Bangayan
Janet, I am so pleased that that sentence meant something to you. I realized that vibing with another person's thoughts (e.g., in their blog) can create a profound sense of connectedness too! Thank you so much for connecting with me. =) I'm subscribed to your blog and am so glad we're in touch. =)
I really like what you said about listening — the ability to listen wholly and deeply, without judgment, seems key to connecting with others! Being all ears is reflective of an open heart!
Dahlia Valentine
Hi Samantha… This is one of the most beautiful things about travel and immersing yourself in a culture other than your own.
But I've also discovered that when I've either spoken at or attended conferences, there is a camaraderie that develops among participants that's almost surreal. I've made some truly amazing friendships with people at learning events. I mean people who are complete polar opposites of me. And we end up loving the heck out of each other. I wonder what it is that brings out this realness? I don't know, but isn't it amazing?
Dahlia
Samantha Bangayan
It's so true! I find that conferences foster a spirit of learning that prepares us to agree to disagree. The most beautiful part are building the relationships you describe because we learn even more from people who have very different opinions from our own! =) It IS amazing!
Thanks for your thoughts, Dahlia! =)
Jane | Find All Answ
Hi Samantha,
I used to travel a lot for scientific conferences (I am a Young Scientist in the field of Medical Physics, full time, by the way :)) and have experienced similar feelings. When we travel to totally strange places and see people smile at you on the road or a park, it creates a unique feel. I actually can't explain it.
Connectedness is something very special, and it lies in the eyes of the beholder!
And as you say, the weather usually creates awesome ideas. We (our research group) have got amazing ideas when we go for a walk on a beautiful day during conference tea/lunch breaks.
Thanks for writing a fresh and cool post.
Cheers,
Jane.
Samantha Bangayan
Hey! So happy to be connected with another blogger in academia. =)
However, putting academia aside, you've really provided a good example with a smile in the park. Sometimes, strong connections are made with just eye contact and a smile. =) How beautiful!
Niclas Johansson
Samantha,
Your writing is absolutely beautiful. The description of what you felt when out "in the wild", connected to nature and to fundamental human elements, brings back memories of similar experiences I had as a child when I spent many summers and winters up north in the deep woods of Sweden. Although very different – on the surface at least – from the desert setting, I recognize the feeling. Space to reflect, empathize, center and ground oneself, opening up for that common ground that modern society/urban life sometimes makes us forget.
Thanks for the reminder. I wish you a wonderful weekend!
/Niclas J
Samantha Bangayan
Wow, Niclas, thank you so much for the kind comment about my writing. How lucky you are that you had opportunities to get away from the big city as a child! I imagine it encouraged the development of reflection.
Thanks so much for stopping by and making the connection! =)
Gregory McGuire
Hi Samantha,
Your thoughts on connectedness remind me of a study that was done a few years ago where a group of college students were asked to play different roles.
For 2 weeks, one group was to play the role of prison guards and the other group was to play the role of their prisoners. Even though both groups had similar backgrounds, when placed in a position like this, the students exhibited the traits of the role they were to play.
The guards became domineering and the prisoners exhibited hopelessness. There was a movie made dramatizing this study, called "The Experiment," with Adrien Brody and Forrest Whitaker.
In society, it seems we all have so many different roles to play. Societal, educational, economic, political, and cultural roles all seem to define who and what we are. I sincerely believe that if we were to strip these away, our connection with all things and all beings would be more evident.
Thanks for a very thought-provoking post.
Gregory
Samantha Bangayan
The infamous Stanford study! That's a really good example of how our environment can strongly influence barriers we create with others. Often, these barriers are so ingrained that we can't even see similarities anymore and have convinced ourselves that they don't exist.
I'll have to catch the movie on the study! =)
Thanks for stopping by, Gregory. =)
Oliver Tausend
Hi Samantha,
thanks for sharing your wonderful description. I had immediately a mental picture in my mind.
You point out the importance of stepping out of the categories we formed in our brain.
Categories are OK, but in most cases they lead to over-simplification of complex topics or – even worse – to false cause settings – such as attributing any relevance to nationality.
Wonderful post, thanks again for sharing.
Take care
Oliver
Samantha Bangayan
That's exactly what it's about – over-simplification! It's impossible to say that all people of a certain nationality or culture will be or act in a certain way, but it's hard to step out of the natural categories the brain forms because these categories simplify the world for us. Well said, Oliver! Thanks for stopping by and looking forward to being more in touch. =)
Nanette Saylor
What beautiful imagery you shared in this post, Samantha.
And the energy of connection is so clear and purposeful here:
"We became humbled learners who recognized the essential humanity that bonds us together as part of the same global community."
What's most powerful about the impact of awareness changes is that though we may desire to bring this change about to whole world, our impact is most valuable when we concentrate on starting the ripple in this simple, yet profound, local way. And like the power of the earthquakes and tsunami's, the resounding impact will go on and on and on, even without us.
Blessings to you-
Nanette
Samantha Bangayan
Nanette, thank you so much for sharing your wisdom. It can be overwhelming to think about purposely changing the world, but I can now see that starting from the ground up can create lasting changes even without our knowing. And sometimes those changes are the ones that make all the difference. =)
I took a glance at your blog, loved it and just know that I'll be an avid follower! =) Heading over to comment now! Glad to be in touch. =)
Mavis Nong @ Attract
Hi Samantha,
Thanks for sharing a beautiful description of what you felt when you were out “in the wild”, connected to nature and to fundamental human elements.
Welcome back!
All the best,
Mavis
Samantha Bangayan
Mavis, thanks for the warm welcome. =) You've really underlined the learning experience I had! Take care and talk soon. =)
dennis salvatier
"There’s something about being in the middle of nowhere that amplifies similarities and fosters connections. " So very very true. How awesome that you have the opportunity to do this. I really admire you, Samantha.
Samantha Bangayan
Wow, that's a strong compliment from someone I personally admire! =) Thanks for identifying, Dennis! =)
DP
I was thinking of doing a trip that went up to San Pedro Atacama and Uyuni. Are there tours that would return to San Pedro so that I could then get the bus San Pedro-Santiago?..Are there flights from Uyuni-Santiago? I dont know for sure if there are uyuni tours from san pedro that return to San Pedro those that left when i was there were all getting dropped in Bolivia.
Samantha Bangayan
Yes! As far as I've heard, there are definitely tours that do the round trip. All you have to do is walk around the main plaza of San Pedro and you can compare the different prices of tours to Uyuni and back! =) Not sure about flights, but there are definitely buses to Santiago through San Pedro.
Thanks for stopping by. =)
P.S. Sorry that your comment disappeared, friend! It went to spam for some reason!
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vincnt Tufano
Wonderful words of wisdom, Samantha. i have felt this special feeling of connectedness many times in my interactions in Peru over the years, and despite the differences in cultural l background have often felt spiritually closer to my Peruvian acquaintances than to my own countrymen in the USA.
Samantha Bangayan
Vincent, you really got me with this one! Peru is one of the few places in the world where I truly feel at home, at least in the Central Andes. =) It's hard for me to explain the exact reasons, but I think that we really understand each other. You're right that it may have to do with something more spiritual.
Thanks so much for stopping by to read my blog, Vincent! =)
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The Pepperrific Life
Wow, you write so well and with so much insight, you leave me dumbfounded! :).
Thanks for the jolt. I do have to get out of my comfort zone. I guess that’s why I’m miserable most of the time. But that’s why it’s called “comfort”, right? 🙂 It’s such a difficult task to drag myself up from bed to go out and explore the world and everything it has to offer. Curling up under the sheets seems a more, well, comforting alternative. But in the long run, my mind pays the price for it. Positivism then shrinks to the size of a pea, and then I become anxious about the future.
Connectedness… I should say that to myself a lot of times. My decision to stay cooped up in the house is doing me no good. I should reconnect with old friends.
Samantha Bangayan
Aww, thanks so much for your kind words, Pepper! I so know what you mean about exiting the “comfort zone.” I’m just too comfortable where I already am. =P But at the same time, I’ve always been a person of extremes and when it comes down to it, I realize that I’m willing to risk it for the potential of sheer joy! =)
I can only imagine the newfound energy you’ll exude when you *do* get out there and reconnect with your old friends! Can’t wait! =) And thanks so much for taking the time to connect, friend! So glad *we* connected. =)