Teen Travel Blog

Adventures Cross Country received this essay from Jessica Aronson for our Summer of a Lifetime essay contest and we were all moved by her essay and thought you would be too!

I was a blur of color as I flailed my arms wildly in my fluorescent tie-dyed t-shirt and traditional floral sarong, attempting to follow the angelic Thai dancers. I longed to master their smooth movements and gentle twirls, but continued to stumble as my feet wove and twisted in an attempt to imitate the complicated steps. My inability to understand the beautiful dancing custom distanced me from the culture, as I felt completely lost. However, as we danced throughout the night, my perspective of our differences was transformed, allowing me to cross the bridge of cultures.

On our last night at Kenoi, a tranquil Thai hill tribe where I spent a week volunteering with a dozen American teenagers, the villagers planned a celebration full of traditional Thai dances. My companions and I climbed the splintering wooden steps to a small plateau, where the ceremony was held, and were guided to dusty lawn chairs, surrounded by dozens of villagers sitting on the damp grass. I felt like we were royalty, perched on thrones as we were presented with various embellished Thai outfits from each of the tribes. I watched the villagers on the floor, whose piercing black eyes stared curiously back, and was disturbed by the sense of superiority that came with the privilege of sitting in the plastic chair.

As we observed each tribe demonstrate their unique traditional dances, I led the bravest of my group to the center of the verdant dance floor to join the heavenly performers. I much preferred being a part of the Thai culture than watching from a distance, even if it meant dancing as ridiculously as my eight-year old brother on Christmas morning.  However, despite my former incompetence in mastering the various wrist-flicks and toe-taps, I became relatively skilled in the art of Thai dancing after the third performance. As I copied the elegant moves of the Thai goddesses, I observed the Americans and Thais absorbing the exuberance of the evening, and began to realize the parallels between our cultures’ simple pleasures. I could see the common unbridled joy for dancing and laughing as I spun throughout the crowd. Each step I danced led me across the cultural bridge, refining my understanding of our similarities.

After the sophisticated dances of the experienced women, fifteen of the village orphans presented a simpler performance. While the adult dances were calming, filled with fluid motions perfectly paced with the soft ripple of a deep drum, the orphans twirled with enthusiasm and energy. They hopped around the field, watching each other for clues as to what move was next. As I joined them, I was reminded of my kindergarten ballet recitals: a mob of carefree children prancing around joyously, not caring about where they were going. Suddenly, Zai, a shy Thai girl dressed in grungy, checkered shorts and a faded, threadbare sweatshirt, grasped my hand. I looked across the matted lawn, and watched as a multicultural chain of Americans and villagers linked together, holding each other’s hands and moving in unison to the vivacious beat. The performance had evolved from pleasant entertainment to a stimulating celebration of cultures, sparking unity between the seemingly incomparable worlds. At that moment we were one; we laughed from the euphoria of each other’s company, and cheered when anyone joined the circle of diversity. I, an American freckle-faced teenager, whose comfortable life and family had prepared her well for a successful future, was connected with those who had spent their whole lives in cramped bamboo huts. I had finally crossed the bridge of cultures, and was completely enthralled by our countless similarities. ~ Jessica Aronson

Tags: adventure, thai culture, thai dance, thailand

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