Why to attend a circumcision festival in the West African village you are working in as a Peace Corps volunteer?
If I faced such a situation I would attend the event for several reasons. First of all, I am in the village with the purpose to improve the health situation. I should know what the villagers do and how they treat their lives. All the aspects concerning health care should be done in my presence. Therefore, it is my direct responsibility to be informed about all the changes which occur in the village and about all the traditions connected with health.
People in West African villages have specific traditions and customs which may seem barbaric for civilized people. I am sure that if I faced such a request I would be happy to visit such an event as this would help me become closer to people, to understand their visions and considerations. I am sure that I would not be shocked as having lived in the place for 1 year I managed to get used to the environment and to draw specific conclusions about people.
How would you respond to the village elders?
Village elders are highly respected people in West African villages therefore, I am sure that my response would be affirmative with all the respect. Moreover, I would consider it an honor to sit while the ceremony near such respected people. I am sure that I would respond in such a way that to underline my respect for elders. I would make sure that I want to visit this event for the elders to be sure that I am interested in the supportive environment at the workplace and the place, I am living. I would also notify the elders that I was not impressed with the tradition and in my opinion, it is harmful to perform such things in those conditions, however, I would visit the place with pleasure to show my respect and to help the villagers to change their vision of hygiene.
Would you attend? Why or why not?
As I have already mentioned, I would attend the event being in West African villages with the purpose to improve healthcare, I must visit all the events which are connected with the health issues. Circumcision is a surgical operation that is going to be completed by professionals. Being aware of the absence of the medical education of the members of the village, I am sure that people who are going to participate in the traditional circumcision do not have medical education either.
Therefore, I will visit this place with the purpose to see what is going on there and to explain the basis of the medical knowledge if I see that something goes wrong. Moreover, I will be able to understand the life priorities of these people which will help me in completing my work. I am to inform people about the basis of their hygiene and about the most important data they are to know about healthcare.
What are your “cultural limits”? How do you maintain your cultural limits while still respecting the cultural values of the people around you?
We live in the modern world and I understand that different people may have various customs and traditions. I cannot say that living in a strange country I am going to apply to the traditional behavior of those people, however, I am not going to judge them. Different people live according to their beliefs. Still, healthy behavior and other issues connected with health and life bother me. I am sure that the traditions which deal with human health and which may harm them should be eliminated.
I am not going to say about it in a rude form, however being a medical worker, I will do all possible to assure people that they are to lead a life free from dangerous actions. Having lived in African villagers, I got to understand that these people have a lot of barbaric traditions. I knew that I was going to face such issues, therefore, I was not shocked and prepared myself for their activities. Even though I do not like them and I would do all I can to protect their health, I will not try to restrict them from the issues which do not affect their health condition even though I consider those actions inappropriate.
What cultural values would influence your decision to attend or not attend?
My cultural values are not connected with gender, ethnicity, cultures, and other factors which usually prevent people from performing particular issues. I am sure that none of the cultural values would influence my decisions as I am going to be guided only by the professional issues. Medical factor in the expecting traditional act is the only important factor which is going to affect my decision, as having chosen to live in the West African villages I knew that I would have some cultural difficulties if I have any and the very decision to go to Africa was supported with the fact that having personal cultural visions I am not prejudiced about them.