Southern Exposure

Have you ever seen some episodes of the late 80’s / early 90’s TV serial “Northern Exposure”? I hope you did, but in case you don’t know this rare example of intelligence and sensitivity of some enlightened American screenwriters and producers, let me give you the idea. For Italian or Spanish readers, I refer to “Un medico fra gli orsi” or “Un doctor en Alaska”.

A young Jewish physician, Joel, leaves behind for some time his life in Brooklyn and moves to Cicely, Alaska, to look after the sick villagers as a way to pay back to his sponsor the studies in medicine. He is not very happy about renouncing to the great stimulations of the Big Apple, even less to end up in a place where moose are more numerous than humans. But he has no choice, so he arrives in this small and peaceful community, full of very interesting characters and an incredibly beautiful nature.

The beginnings are always difficult and the intercultural shock obviously shows up to the poor doctor: the white timber workers are not really like Greenwich Village intellectuals, and natives do not really look like the smart people in 5th Avenue either. But this young Republican and urban professional will soon find out that even in this “middle-of-nowhere” called Cicely there is a lot to learn about humanity, principles, simplicity, honesty and a respectful life towards Mother Nature (though people there go out hunting a lot, I must say…) And Joel would soon become a part, a very important part of this idyllic society.

To be honest, this serial is the one that has best matched what I look for in such a commercial product. It is a low-cost production (you don’t pay the beauty of the Northern nature, and somebody told me it had not been filmed in Alaska!), the actors are very good (even though, as far as I know, no one got famous after this work) and the story-boards are simple, but also profound, and sometimes even hilarious and surrealistic. What I think makes the serial really special is that all characters prove an enormous, but simple at the same time, sense of humour, philosophy and humanity. Not all of them are saints, and some look more ambitious than others, but their lives and thoughts are described as to make you think a lot after you turn you TV off.

While preparing myself to go to Socotra (let us be honest: I was not aware of its existence until I was offered to go), I was fantasising about being this Joel arriving in a small community. I knew that here I would not have found any beautiful young woman flying on a Cessna, but I would have loved to meet someone like that radio station dee-jay, who plays good music for his village and broadcasts the (very) local news!

No. Socotra is not Cicely. But why can’t it be? What makes it impossible?

First of all, Socotra is real life. Not a TV show: in the episodes I saw there is no “baddie”. Everyone has its own vices, but frankly there is no one who disturbs the peaceful days in Cicely, or not even a character you would hate. Socotra has a much bigger community than the one of Cicely and obviously some are more honest than others. Also, it is true that honesty itself is not a clear-cut concept everywhere! Secondly, Socotra does not have its own radio-station, or any other infrastructure existing in Alaskan villages. Third: here we have no moose, but goats: all over the place!! And last, but not least, the intercultural shock is much greater for me than for Joel.

Big cultural differences, like the one I am facing with people who do not speak a language I can understand and do not share with me many values and norms, are barriers not only in your professional activities, but also in the interpersonal sphere. Therefore, it is difficult to establish a real friendship with any local. And I do not really feel like running after Italian tourists either…

In conclusion, I would say that the considerable cultural knowledge you collect from the people you work with in different cultural environments may be a precious treasure for yourself. And, of course, for a simple matter of mental survival, you learn a lot about chameleonic behaviours according to the kind of place you are in. But what you pick up and gather along the way often ends up in a strongbox you would open only when you return to your cultural peers. But Joel could have his opened all the time: for the benefit of the people in Cicely, but also for his own. He could openly share culture and skills with those who have welcomed and accepted him as a new member of the community.

And that’s the point. What if I suddenly really open up my strongbox and then find out that what I actually opened is a Pandora’s Box of unforeseeable consequences?