We sat around a table in the lobby of the “President” hotel, 20 accented voices in chorus arguing about the proper way to play the card game “mafia”. Argentina asserted it was played with two people adopting the role of guardian. Estonia refuted this, claiming that only one person was chosen as guardian but three people got to be the “mafia”. Meanwhile, Brazil confusedly turned in her seat as people referred to the strange name of this game; she had always known mafia by the name “werewolf”. As we debated the intricacies of the game we had learned to play differently in our respective countries, a sense of unity began to arise out of the chaos. Over a deck of cards, 20 people from all over the world began to understand each other better.
In February of 2018 I applied for an online public speaking contest through the United States English Speaking Union. The English Speaking Union is a United Nations NGO based in London that has satellite branches in 50 countries around the world. My speech on girls’ access to education did extremely well in the national competition and I was named the United States delegate to the international competition in London. The week-long event held in late May included extensive public speaking training, excursions to famous English monuments, and the chance to mingle with 52 other young people from 49 other countries.
I was traveling alone to London and my eleven hour journey in solitude left me plenty of time to dredge up worries about the week ahead. Naturally, I was nervous about competing, but never before had I experienced such immense pressure to properly represent my country. I was also afraid of unintentionally offending someone’s culture, mispronouncing my fellow competitors’ names, or even worse, accidentally developing a British accent.
The second I stepped into the Dartmouth House, the headquarters of the International English Speaking Union, all of my worries melted away. The 52 other competitors filtered in over a couple of hours until the baroque rooms were packed tight with well-dressed young people. A public speaking contest attracts an articulate, opinionated crowd and so we habitually fell into discussion over differences in food, music, culture, and politics. The words “hegemony” and “memes” were seamlessly thrown in and out of conversation as the volume mounted to deafening levels. To new to each other’s names, we referred to each other by country leading to funny statements like “Where is Sri Lanka?” “The Netherlands has such a pretty dress on.” and “See the United States and Mexico CAN get along!”. As we stood in the rooms of the Dartmouth House, laughter and discourse began to dissolve cultural divides.
Throughout the next week our sense of global community grew over shared experiences. We pounded the streets of London with wide eyes, sightseeing, participating in workshops, and exploring every part of the city. At one point we discovered we had royalty in our numbers, which of course demanded us to refer to the delegate from India as “your royal highness”. While our excursions took us all over London, the cultural exchange we participated in took us all over the world. I learned about American military bases in Okinawa from an Okinawan herself. I heard about Russian propaganda in Estonia, and the impacts of globalization on Rwandan culture. This week taught me that travel does not have to be by plane or boat but can be by word.
While I still don’t precisely know how mafia is played, I do know that I now have a global family.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
0 Replies to “International Mafia”
Comment on this article
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
This is a topic that’s near to my heart… Take care!
Thanks for finally talking about >Family Travel Insurance <Loved it!
Family volunteering opportunities are a great way to give back with your teenager at your side.
May I simply say what a comfort to discover someone that actually knows what they’re discussing over the internet.
Wow, this list is amazing! I’ve always wanted to experience Mardi Gras beyond New Orleans. Thanks for sharing these incredible locations. Can’t wait to start planning my next adventure!
My partner and I absolutely love your blog and find most of your post’s to be precisely what I’m looking for. Would you offer guest writers to write content for yourself?
I wouldn’t mind creating a post or elaborating on a number of the subjects you write regarding here. Again, awesome weblog!
excellent post, very informative. I’m wondering wwhy the other experts oof this secto do not notice this. You should proceed your writing. I am sure, you have a huge readers’ baee already!
Hello.This post was extremely remarkable, especially because I was browsing for thoughts on this issue last couple of days.
You completed several good points there. I did a search on the matter and found mainly folks will agree with your blog.
WOW just what I was searching for. Came here by searching for
T Thomas Group offers bespoke travel planning.Luxury Travel Specialist that specializes in customized itineraries, luxury cruises, small group tours, solo travel and all aspects of LGBTQ+ travel. We ensure a seamless and luxurious travel experience, designed exclusively for you.
Thank you, I have just been searching for info approximately this subject for a while and yours is the best I have found out so far. However, what concerning the bottom line?
Are you certain in regards to the supply?
Hello! Would you mind if I share your blog with my myspace group?
There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content.
Please let me know. Thanks
Very interesting subject, thanks for posting. blog
It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy.
Great post and straight to the point.
Interesting post. I’m glad I came across this page. I’m going to bookmark it so I can read any future posts.
An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a coworker who has been conducting a little research on this. And he in fact ordered me lunch because I stumbled upon it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending some time to talk about this subject here on your website.
Hi! Im originally from Cambiaso and
I do mission trips to the village every year. I have read your article and I am so grateful for what you have done with my people. I would love to connect with you.
Wow, this article really resonated with me! Traveling in Europe with family can be such an incredible adventure, but it definitely comes with its own set of challenges. From navigating unfamiliar streets to finding activities that everyone enjoys, it’s a whirlwind of excitement and sometimes chaos. But hey, isn’t that what makes the best memories? Thanks for sharing your experiences and tips, they’re super helpful for planning our own European family escapade! ???
It’s hard to find knowledgeable people in this
particular topic, but you seem like you know what you’re talking about!
Thanks
Greetings! I’ve been following your website for a while now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give
you a shout out from Atascocita Tx! Just wanted to mention keep up the great work!
Your writing has a way of making even the mundane sound interesting. Kudos!
They are very very similar to the key facet all of us keep hidden from the world, the part of us that dares to dream impossible issues, where all our hopes and fantasies are born.
This article is impressive for me as mine east coast of usa
Howdy! This blog post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this
article reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept preaching
about this. I will send this article to him.
Fairly certain he’ll have a very good read. Many thanks for sharing!
Absolutely love this list of Mardi Gras celebrations outside New Orleans! Each destination seems to offer its own unique blend of culture, music, and vibrant festivities. While I’m tempted to explore them all, I can’t help but dream of experiencing the colorful chaos of Mardi Gras in Goa, India. Exploring India’s rich cultural tapestry during this festive season would undoubtedly be an unforgettable adventure. Thanks for inspiring wanderlust with these fantastic recommendations!
Thanks verfy interesting blog!
I was able to find good info from your blog posts.
“MyFamilyTravels provides a wonderful platform for families to share their travel experiences and glean inspiration for their own adventures. The diverse array of destinations and insightful tips make it a valuable resource for planning memorable trips. Kudos to the team for fostering a community that celebrates the joys of family travel!”
Your site is great and I plan on exploring it even more in the future. It is well written, comprehensive in it’s suggestions, It was a great article, thanks for sharing!
nice
There is certainly a lot to learn about this subject.
I really like all the points you made.
Nice Blog, Thanks for sharing this informative blog. We provide a Nepal Tour Package from Musafircab.
Yes. This is exactly what you should know to have a comfortable and cost-effective trip.
bookmarked!!, I love your site!