I have the privilege of studying abroad.

While I understand not everyone may be able to take a trip to a foreign country and study there for several months, the ability to immerse yourself in a different culture is an experience that everyone should be exposed to and internalize in their life. Whether it’s going to a different state, county, or even part of town, there is plenty to learn about what makes the human network such an intricate and interconnected community.

We live in such a fractured society. We become comfortable and complacent with our surroundings only to long for new and “better” places without finding the little gems in our own. And while other cities may glimmer with hope and opportunity, these places also have some soiled aspects to them, too -- much like our own homes. Despite the obvious regional differences, the fundamental aspect of our being is what helps enable us to thrive as a species that has covered all continents on this planet. We might have a different understanding of the world, but that does not make us inherently wrong -- just diverse. No place is perfect, so let’s stop acting like it is.

It frustrates me to see so many bigoted and judgmental people who will completely minimize the situation of another person’s struggle or situation. Studying abroad in Germany has made it clear that communication is the key to finding out how to truly be a progressive society and find the missing links that show us the commonalities between people and groups. The world watches the U.S. in fear as it sees the ignorance and stupidity of Trump supporters shout hatred without reflecting on their own experience or analyzing the neighbors around them.

The problem with intolerant people is not necessarily the nature but the nurture of education, access, and openness. Generalizations do not help to bridge gaps, only glance at the other side seeing the outskirts of what it really means to be identified by that label. And what’s even crazier is that once that barrier is broken and the identity is fully explored, we all end up being mostly the same.

I’m tired of fighting with people about racism, sexism, queerness, religion, etc. I just want to have a conversation and ask the Whos, Whats, Wheres, Whens, Whys, and How’s. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but inquiry enables the educators.