Inclusion

At the Global Sustainability Jam, I was part of a Creativity Jam at Hamburg, North Germany. Initially I was skeptical to attend it, due to the fact that it would mainly be in German. But I was told that things would be translated as and when required, and shouldn't pose as a problem. I decided not to skip the opportunity and be part of something so global.

It turned out to be a lot more than I expected. Initially, things were translated exclusively for me, and the instructions I followed without much problem. It worked for me, somehow. But the team I was part of, made the effort and very wonderfully so, of talking only in English, to me and to each other. It was overwhelming, to say the least. The thing that changed and turned everything around was one presentation. The speakers asked what everyone preferred and the first answer was German. But there was someone, who strongly said that it should be done in English, not because he didnt speak German, but because he thought it would be correct to do so. I wanted to clap and scream bravado, but controlled myself. The only word that could define the moment was gratefulness and some sort of 'support'.

The next day, while the instructions were being given, there was a two language approach that was taken, once in English and once in German. To which someone from the participants, again, asked and I quote "Why don't we do a check of many of us actually need German, because we dont follow English" and not one hand went up. Oh, it was beautiful, I wanted to cry, I think. I was blown out of my mind, because it wasn't me who asked for it, wanted it, but one among the group itself. 

From that moment on, there was English and yes, spurts of German, but everyone was comfortable with how it worked.

I dont know how to put it in words, but its a feeling that I felt for the first time in Germany, of inclusion. Something I was yearning for. And it took me one month, away from the 'town I live in', away from aquaintainces and among a bunch of people I met over a weekend.

Inclusion, is a wonderful thing.