Have you ever been in a situation where two kind people you knew couldn’t get along? Each is nice to you, but neither could stand the other, and you are caught in the middle?
Since I realized how cultural differences affect our perception of others, I’ve talked to several friends about judging others wrongly. A few friendships have been saved.
But now, as I roam the cocoa industry to learn, I find myself in this situation, again.
I’ve been through bushes thick and thin in Ghana, listening to cocoa farmers talk about their lives and work. I’ve also sat at dinner tables with friends in France, tasting chocolate and discussing our perceptions of one another. It’s obvious…
We have so much to learn about one another.
These days, I’m working with others to develop a platform that, among other things, would attempt to bridge the cultural education gap between African cocoa producers and the consuming world. This has given me much insight into the topic, and I’m happy to share my thoughts on how we can improve cultural understanding through cocoa.
Cultural understanding is complex. Sure, but we can make many, many attempts, at least.
Thanks for reading this.