Embracing

EMBRACING

by: Martim Martinho

Manuel Filipe

ABOUT THE STORY

Thestoryweintendtotellhighlightsthebeautyof multiculturalismandincorporatestheexperiencesofindividuals whocomefromdifferentbackgrounds.Themaincharactersare Fatima,airanianwoman,andJuan,anMexicanman.Fatima grewupinIran,butthenemigratedtoasmallneighborhoodin NJ,USA,whereshewasexposedtosomeAmericanculture cultureandlanguage.Juan,ontheotherhand,wasraisedina smalltowninMexico.Althoughtheycomefromdifferentcultural backgrounds,theyshareacommoninterestinmusicandwill becomeclosefriends.Thestoryrevolvesaroundtheirencounter, whichleadstoanenlighteningexperienceforthem.Throughthe dialogue,theaudiencecancometoappreciatethesignificance ofmulticulturalism,wherediverseculturescancoexistpeacefully, embracingandcelebratingtheirdifferences.Thestoryaimsto promotetheideaofinclusivityandencourageseveryoneto embracethediversitythatmakesourworlduniqueandbeautiful.

FIRSTENCOUTER1.

Juanlookedaroundatthenewsettingwithamixtureof curiosityandapprehension.Hehadlefthishomein MexicoandarrivedintheUnitedStatesonlyafew monthsago.Hecouldn'thelpbutfeeloutofplace,buthe wasdeterminedtomakethebestofit.Hemissedhis familyandthefamiliarsightsandsoundsofhis hometown,buthewasexcitedtostartanewchapterin hislife.Ashewalkedalongthebusystreet,henoticeda woman,Fatima,lookinghisway.ShewasfromIran,but hadlivedinthisneighborhoodforafewyears.She couldn'thelpbutbecuriousaboutthisnewimmigrant. Theireyesmet,andFatimaofferedafriendlysmile.Juan hesitatedforamomentbeforereturningthesmile.

Fatimawalkedoverandintroducedherself,eagerto learnaboutJuan'sbackgroundandhowheendedupin thisnewsetting.Juanwashappytosharehisstory,and Fatimawasintriguedbythechallengeshehad overcomeandthesacrificeshehadmade.They discussedtheirdifferentbackgroundsandexperiences, andSarahsharedherinitialthoughtsaboutthenew setting.Sheadmittedthatshehadsomepreconceived notionsaboutimmigrants,butmeetingJuanhad openedhereyesandmadeherseethingsinanewlight. Theybothrealizedthatwhiletheycamefromdifferent partsoftheworld,theysharedcommonhopesand dreams.Astheypartedways,Juanfeltgratefulforthe chanceencounterandhopefulforthefuture.

2.ATTHECOFFEESHOP

JuanandFatimametinacrowdedcoffeeshopand exchangedpleasantries.Heaskedherwhereshewas fromandshesaidshewasfromIran.Juannodded,but inhismind,hewasalreadymakingassumptionsabout herculture.HeassumedshewasMuslimanddidn'teat pork,whichhefoundstrange.Fatimanoticedthelookon Juan'sfaceandrealizedhehadalreadyformedabiased opinionabouther.Sheaskedhimwherehewasfrom, andheproudlysaidhewasfromMexico.Sarahchuckled andtoldhimthatshethoughteveryoneinMexicowore colorfulclothesandatetacosandburritosallday.Juan laughed,butthenherealizedthathetoohadabiased opinionaboutherculture.Theycontinuedtotalk,andas theysharedtheirexperiences,theybothhada realizationabouttheirownbiasesandmisconceptions. JuanlearnedthatnotallMuslimswerethesame,and thatheneededtobemoreopen-minded.Fatima,onthe otherhand,realizedthatnoteveryonefromMexicoate tacosallday.Theybothagreedthatitwasimportantto challengeassumptionsandbeawareoftheirown culturalbiases.Thisexperiencebroughtthemcloser togetherandtheyexchangednumbers,promisingto meetupagainsoon.Multiculturalismhadbroughtthem togetherinanunexpectedway,andtheywereboth gratefulfortheopportunitytolearnfromeachother's cultures.

3.OPENINGUP

Afterinitiallybeinghesitantandcautiousaroundeach other,JuanandFatimaeventuallybegantoopenupand sharestoriesabouttheircultures.Fatimatalkedabout herfamily'straditionsduringmajorholidaysandJuan toldheraboutthemusicanddanceritualsthatarean importantpartofhisculture.Astheycontinuedtolearn moreabouteachother,theybothrealizedthatthe differencesintheirculturesweresomethingthatcould becelebratedandsharedratherthanfearedand avoided."Ineverrealizedhowmuchtherewastolearn aboutothercultures,"FatimasaidtoJuan."It'spretty amazingtoseehowwecanallbesodifferent,yetso similaratthesametime."Juanagreed,"Yes,it'slike we 'reallpiecesofapuzzlethatfittogethertomakea biggerpicture."

4.REALIZATION

Theybothleftfeelingmoreinformedandenrichedbythe experience.Thelessonstheylearnedhelpedthemto becomemoreopen-mindedandacceptingofothers whomaycomefromdifferentbackgrounds.Asthey partedways,theybothtoughtaboutwhatamore diverseandacceptingworldcouldlooklike.They realizedthatmulticulturalismhasthepotentialtobring peopletogetherandenrichtheirlivesinwaystheynever thoughtpossible.

SUMMARY

Inconclusion,thestoryofmulticulturalismhighlights thebeautyandrichnessofdiversityandhowitcan makeourlivesmorefulfilling.Thedifferentcharacters inthestorycamefromdifferentbackgrounds,with uniqueculturesandtraditions.Throughinteracting withoneanother,theywereabletolearnabouteach other'scustoms,beliefs,andvalues.Throughdialogue andcommunication,theywereabletobreakdown barriersandbuildmeaningfulrelationships.

AUTHORSMESSAGE

Thisstoryisatestamenttothefactthatourdifferencesneednotto divideus,rather,theycanuniteusandmakeusstronger.Itis essentialthatweembracemulticulturalismandappreciatethe diversitythatexistsinoursociety.Bydoingso,wecanexpandour worldview,challengeourassumptions,andgrowasindividuals.Let thisstoryserveasareminderforustoreflectonourownbiases andtoseekoutopportunitiestolearnfrompeoplewhoaredifferent fromus.Together,wecancreateamoreinclusiveandharmonious societywhereeveryonefeelsvaluedandrespected.