To Be or Not To Be....

In Thailand, India, and here…really almost any place where the people have naturally darker skin, they want lighter skin, using whitening cream and such. In America, and other places where they people have naturally lighter/pale skin, they want darker skin, using tanning oils and spending too much extra time in the sun. Here, the question would then be, “To be or not to be white/dark/black?” I found this concept pretty interesting when I first really encountered it in Thailand, but I think the saying goes here: “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” I’m not going to lie, though, I definitely fall into this category. I’m white (I know that may surprise some of you…)and I like to have a bit darker skin… I get proud of tan lines. Unfortunately in my case, most of the time it’s actually burn lines…

I found this interesting in Mozambique, though. Another concept from “The grass is always greener on the other side.” I guess it was somewhat like this in India, but not as much in my face as here. The question here would be “To be or not to be fat?” In the Western countries, to be fat is not good. To be fat, according to magazines and other forms of media, is ugly and bad. I think here we need to define fat. Common sense tells me fat is a person who is unhealthy because of their weight. Fat to our Western media says if you can’t see just skin and bones, you’re fat. Due to this definition that is ever so present around us in the US and I’m assuming other western countries, I have always felt on the bigger side. In other words, fat. I was always the chubby child. But, really, I have never been unhealthily fat looking back at it… and sort of at me now. But also, in America in particular (cause that’s where I’m familiar with), normally I would say I’m fat and people would say, “No, you aren’t fat.” And be all PC about it. The role has seemed to change here.

It’s not a mean thing at all. It’s just a difference in the culture and behaviors. Let me preface this, I don’t think I’m skinny by any means, but I also don’t feel like I’m hugely fat. Chubby is the word I guess I like to use. Here in Mozambique, my mama has called me fat more than once. Gorda is the word for it… She points at my belly, sometimes, and that it sticks out some. I was taking it with a light heart (and still am), but it takes a bit of a toll on a person. Growing up in a culture where fat is bad, being called fat does not help my self-esteem on my body image, which has never been great anyways. And, as in the USA, it’s placed on the fact that I’m tall. Not really always the reason… but, if they give me a reason, I might as well take it.