Introducing: Emerging Cultural Beauty and Things

I could feel her watching me. Every step I made, inch by inch, as she grinned in amazement bliss filled her eyes. I made my way to the counter, placing all but one soft drink and Turkish Lira in the palms of her hand. Without hesitation she flung open the door behind her and beckoned to several children in the back room. They emerged from behind jumping and running towards me. Their hands began to reach out to me as they caressed my hair. My Turkish Delegate Leader whom I was with told me they have never seen black people.
 
Growing up in Miami, Florida, I always believed I had some sense of cultural awareness because I was exposed to a great amount of Latin Americans, Haitians and Jamaicans in my neighborhood, church, school and even grocery store. Not until I traveled to Istanbul, Turkey for the 5^th World Youth Congress with Voices United, I realized there much more to culture then my day to day interactions at home. Since then I am left with a thirst and hungry to be more exposed to those around the world. There is no better feeling in the world where you are emerged into an environment where you are force to get comfortable while learning about such prominent history that has cultivated a nation. 

My name is Peta-Gay Sheerwood; an American by birth and Jamaican by blood. I am a third year telecommunication student at the University of Florida. Just like the Turkish store keeper and children, I want to be sprung by the fascinations of a different culture. For culture is a beautiful thing. It encompass massive amounts of beliefs, traditions, customs between individual groups of people. Ones culture may be inherited in the depths of their rich foods, fashion and the way they go about life. This blog is intended to share a few of my culture shocking moments from places I have traveled and intend to travel around the world. This blog is not limited to restaurants, plays and events in my neighborhood but my interactions with others as I am Emerging Cultural Beauty and Things.