Relevance

Someone lamented recently how tragic it was that youth today don't have penpals, that this lack of interest in peers from other cultures was typical of smug city youths.

I thought about these comments. Is it true that kids in general, and The Boy in particular, have no interest in the lives of peers in other countries? Have I, as a parent, not fostered cross-cultural interest in The Boy? Now that I have thought about it, of course it's not true.

We live in the heart of one of the largest multi-cultural cities in the world. Our local newspaper boasts that ours is the most culturally diverse neighbourhood in Canada. The Boy is half Chinese, he has an aunt who is Portuguese, despite his poor grades in French, this holiday season, he has uttered several expressions in French that impressed me. He has good friends who are Jewish, Japanese, black, and white. And these are only friends I know of. He has classmates who are gay, he is friends with kids from different socio-economic backgrounds. Many of our neighbours are Italian. Many of the shops we frequent are run by Jamaicans. Many of his teachers and camp counsellors have come from all corners of the globe. Every school he's been to has hosted annual multi-cultural events.

When he is on MSN Messenger, he talks to kids from different countries. He often looks up information on different subjects, including cultures, on the internet. Lately, his favourite site is Wikipedia.

Tonight, he was a volunteer at a Hannukah lighting of the candles. His friend's mother recruited him to help wheel seniors from their rooms in a nursing home to the common room so they can sing, say prayers and light the candles. After, they played a few games of draydle.

I have invited his friends and their families home for dinner, out for meals in Chinatown, I have given them lucky money pouches at Chinese New Year. So I am thinking, writing is not a favourite activity for The Boy. He and his friends are actively engaged in each other's lives leisurely, academically and culturally. When The Boy has direct access to people, experiences, and information, where does a penpal fit in? Is a penpal even relevant for youth who are computer savvy?

Has globalization not evened out our lives and brought us closer to one another across cultural and distance barriers? In what other country and city do we have direct access to so much, and have we not taught our children well when we see them living in harmony and engaged in constructive activities, despite the gang bullying and gun violence around them.

I will deal with the issue of penpals next time it is raised. But all the same, I will arm him with the vocabulary to defend himself should the subject come up again.