Authenticity, beauty and truth defines my cultural values
- Ali Zain Hussain
- Mar 5, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 10, 2020
Culture is an essential aspect of everyone’s life. It set values, ethics, traditions, customs, and guiding principles for one to operate within their culture. However, these are the material aspects of cultures, and since they do not have any physical form, there is no need to save it. At times, when people move around the globe, their cultural values and individual identity shapes accordingly. Similarly, here, I will talk about Dr. Soheil Ashrafi’s culture, which has formed over the years as he moves from his birth - Iran to Australia and travels across the globe along the way.
Hailing from Iran, Dr. Ashrafi was born and raised in Tehran. He completed his early university education in Iran. He then left the country in pursuit of international experience and master studies in a more vibrant and internationally diverse countries. He first moved to Armenia, studied there for eight months at the University of Yerevan. Following which he came back to Iran for a short time and then left for Australia in late 2006. Ever since, he is living in Australia and has back and forth been to Iran and other countries across the globe.
It’s been fourteen years, Dr. Ashrafi has moved to Australia, he still embraces his culture. At the same time, he is critical of Iranian and Australian culture as well. He recognizes himself as more of an international person, who takes considerable honor in accepting the different cultures and values. No boundaries or borders can make me compelled to associate himself with one cultural identity. Politically, however, he takes joy in connecting himself with Iran, because he cares for the future of Iranian people.
There are specific values, which plays an essential role in any culture. “In Iran, culture plays a vital role in deriving the people’s attitude, together with its ancient history. Over the years, Iran had been invaded by different nations and cultures such that Arabs and Islam, which led the country to become an Islamic state, ultimately, Dr. Ashrafi said.
Further, countries like Australia are highly based on individualism. There is absolute individualism such that children would become independent early in their life. They are not obliged toward their family and friends. Whereas, if we consider societal values, there are specific responsibilities of the individuals toward their family, friends, even society based on the social norms. Therefore, the idea of amalgamation of different values and ethics make Dr. Ashrafi consider his ideal culture to be a combination of both, Iranian and Australian culture.
As people move across the globe and adopt through new culture, values, languages, and more, they become more pluralistic. It makes them shape and evolve their identity based on the community they are living in, which ultimately impacts their languages and cultural values. It might lead the people to bring variation in their comfort level so that they feel and become a part of new cultures.
Additionally, cultural shocks are ubiquitous experiences when people move to a new country or cultural environment, which is different from their own. People may feel isolated while moving between cultural and social settings due to various reasons. Also, when people move across borders, there are high chances they would be judged by others based on their cultural identity, religion, or nationality. But Dr. Ashrafi did not face such challenges.
I am not a categorizable person. Yes, I am Iranian if I look at my passport, but I am an Australian citizen, too. But it is very difficult to categorize me as an Iranian guy, or Australian guy, like who is this guy? And, I think it is exciting even for myself, and I am feeling less and less and less and less connected to a specific identity. I think I am kind of developing my very individual, unique identity.
Nevertheless, Dr. Ashrafi, after all these years of experiencing different cultures and living outside Iran, has developed his individual culture. “I have an identity of a universal character,” he said. He concerns about people around the world, more universally, not just culturally. He constantly thinks about the universal human conditions, future of humanity and humankind, and much bigger questions.
He does not feel restricted by any rules, which makes him respect other people and their values even more. He does not feel any difference between himself and other human beings, regardless of who he is, what is his qualification and status, what is his profession. He tries to be as humble with other creatures, which he finds a meaning of life. This is something he has learned over the last ten years as a result of traveling to different nations and having unique experiences.
We are all equal, and we all are in different positions and do different jobs, he said.
As a result of all the unique experiences Dr. Ashrafi has had, he considers himself as a person with a universal culture.
Dr. Ashrafi's whole identity and culture stand out on the values of Authenticity, beauty, and truth - to be truthful to yourself and others.
Videos produced by: Sehar Naz Janani
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