Colonial-what?

In a few short hours, we will be docking in Myanmar. And as I struggle to decide what to call the country (“Myanmar” or “Burma”) I can’t help but to think about the strong colonial presence in each of the last three countries we’ve visited.

Currently governed by the “junta” (military based government), “Burma” became known as “Myanmar” in the last 90s. Earlier this week, we had a discussion in one of the classes on what name we should be using in regards to the country we are about to visit. Do I use “Myanmar”-- a name given by the dictator government? Or do I use “Burma”—a name given by the European colonialists who occupied the country earlier on? And that question just spurred all types of thoughts in my mind.

What is it with humankind and our need to have more? And by “more”, I mean the desire to occupy other’s land? A will to impose “our” beliefs and structures on to other countries? A need to “humanize” the “savage” countries?

I wonder how different Japan, Hong Kong, and Viet Nam would have been had there never been any form of European colonialization. Would that culture be able to remain “pure” despite our ever-fast globalizing world?

In Hong Kong, I found it to be quite manageable to maneuver around without the ability to speak Cantonese. Most of the streets were written in both Chinese characters and spelled out in Roman characters. Almost every shop had someone who spoke some amount of English. Signs for “high tea” were everywhere in the hotels we walked by and subway/train stops were read out in both Cantonese and English. Perhaps Hong Kong is a unique case but the British handover did occur almost 10 years ago.

If the French hadn’t imperialized Viet Nam, what words would we have in lieu of “cravat” or “chemise”? Would our banh mi be as tasty without the baguette? Or would it be even better? What would Café Sua Da (iced coffee) be without the rich coffee that was brought over? Would the Vietnamese language still be written in Han characters instead of the current Romanic based letters?

A lot of people have asked me over the years why I don’t live abroad and teach English. Ideals of colonization. That’s why. That’s my issue I can’t get over. And although I understand that more countries are wanted foreign teachers, I just don’t think I can feel good about it. Despite the fact that I would be “merely” providing a good/service in demand. And of course, I wouldn’t be forcing it upon those who I taught to. Eh, I’ve just got issues.

Many folks who have done SAS or have lived abroad often speak about the challenges they face upon the re-enter of their lives back in the States. I totally see that’s going to be a huge problem for me already and I’ve still got two months left. But for me, it comes down to what I’ve been referring to as “American Guilt”. I’ve been afforded immense privileges having been born/lived in the States and I am well aware of that (especially when I’m back in VN). But I’m not sure if I’ve ever been a proud American. Is that wrong? So many of the places I’ve been to, folks display such a huge amount of patriotism—and I don’t know what I have to do get some of that.

So that’s my issue for the time being. (1) Colonialization/Imperialism and (2) American Guilt

Excuse the brain dump with this posting, I just needed to do some processing. :o)