When I travel, I believe it’s important not to stand out as a tourist. Instead, I aim to blend in and become a local. This isn’t just for safety but also to show respect for the place I’m visiting. My goal is to immerse myself in the culture as much as possible. If the local people are wearing specific clothing, I want to do the same.
I first experimented with this approach in Jordan, where I decided to cover my head, just like the locals in the desert. This was quite unusual for me because it’s not something I do in my own culture. However, that’s the beauty of traveling; you step out of your comfort zone and embrace new experiences.
So, how did it all come about?
It happened unexpectedly during a Couchsurfing hangout when I met a local person who kindly showed me around. We got along well, and on our second meetup, he surprised me by gifting me traditional local clothing. I felt a bit unsure about accepting it, but he genuinely wanted to share this part of his culture with me, and I wanted to wear it with authenticity.
We visited a local shop, tried on a few outfits, and found the perfect fit. I enjoyed wearing the traditional clothing and truly felt like a local. We even spent time with his friends, who appreciated seeing me in their traditional clothes.
When I was flying back to Germany, I was still wearing the traditional outfit. During my layover in Turkey, people started speaking to me in Arabic. It was an amazing experience – they didn’t immediately recognize me as a German anymore!
What was it like to wear these traditional clothes?
Initially, it felt a bit strange, especially because the clothing was all white and easy to get dirty. However, as I wore it, I grew more comfortable and started to enjoy it. The white color helped with the heat, and the airflow made it even more pleasant to wear. Wearing traditional clothes in Middle Eastern countries makes more sense than wearing European clothes due to the climate.
Regarding Western perspectives on cultural appropriation, some people might find it silly to think this way. In today’s woke culture, individuals often assume their opinions are always right, but they might not actually engage with people from the cultures they aim to protect. They want to preserve these cultures but sometimes make decisions without considering the voices of those within these cultures.
This doesn’t make much sense to me. People from these countries usually don’t mind and might even appreciate it. For example, it’s similar to people from the USA wearing Lederhosen at Oktoberfest in Munich – it’s generally not a problem. Even though most Germans don’t wear Lederhosen regularly, I don’t even own a pair myself. It’s not about completely understanding the situation; it’s more about being vocal and thinking you’re right without really listening to others. A more respectful approach is to first talk to people from these cultures and see if they have any concerns before making your own decisions.
