HUM FPX 1150 Assessment 2 Comparative Analysis and Reflection HUM FPX 1150 Cultural Understanding in a Global World
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Comparative Analysis and Reflection
The selected artwork is a short story/poem titled “Gate A-4,” written by Naomi Shihab Nye. Naomi was born in 1952 to a Palestinian father and an American mother. During her high school years, she lived in Ramallah, Palestine, and later moved to San Antonio, Texas, where she received her BA in English and World Religions from Trinity University. Nye draws upon her cultural background and life experiences in her work. “Nye gives voice to her experience as an Arab American through poems about heritage and peace that overflow with humanitarian spirit” (About Naomi Shihab Nye | Academy of American Poets, n.d.). This paper will analyze her short story/poem by exploring the story’s expression and underlying meaning.
Gate A-4
“Gate A-4” centers around a woman traveling at an Albuquerque airport en route to El Paso, Texas. While waiting for her flight, she hears an announcement: “If anyone in the vicinity of Gate A-4 understands any Arabic, please come to the gate immediately” (Shihab Nye, 2008). When she approaches the gate, she sees a woman dressed in full Palestinian embroidered attire, sobbing on the floor. The narrator, who speaks Arabic, gently explains to the woman what the flight attendants were trying to convey—that the flight would be delayed. Once the woman understands, she begins to feel calmer. She was worried about missing her flight to El Paso, as she was scheduled for a medical procedure the next morning. The narrator stays with her throughout the wait and even sits beside her on the plane. They communicate with the woman’s sons, informing them of the delay, and she also has a conversation with her father, where they discover mutual friends.
While waiting, the elderly woman shares a snack of homemade mamool cookies—little powdered sugar crumbly mounds stuffed with dates and nuts (Shihab Nye, 2008). She offers the cookies to all the women waiting at the gate, and they all accept them. “The traveler from Argentina, the mom from California, the lovely woman from Laredo—we were all covered with the same powdered sugar. And smiling. There is no better cookie.” The story then transitions into a poem, describing how the airline handed out free juice to the passengers, with two little girls distributing it to everyone. It depicts the bond between the narrator and the elderly woman, who are now best friends, holding hands. The woman carries a potted plant, a tradition from her homeland: “Always carry a plant. Always stay rooted to somewhere” (Shihab Nye, 2008). The narrator observes the peaceful atmosphere around her, with everyone getting along and sharing, and thinks, “This is the world I want to live in.” The poem emphasizes that, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or age, people can still connect, and a small gesture can make a significant impact. What may seem small to one person can mean the world to someone else.
Cultural values
The cultural values depicted in “Gate A-4” include language, food, and traditions. In the story, the elderly woman speaks only Arabic and struggles to understand the airport staff when they inform her of the delay. Confused, she breaks down, thinking she will miss her flight. Another woman comes over to help, explaining the situation to her in Arabic. Nye uses language as a cultural value to illustrate how communication can bridge cultural gaps. As the woman becomes more comfortable, another cultural value, food, comes into play. The elderly woman offers homemade mamool cookies, which she shares with the narrator and other women waiting at Gate A-4. “Food can bring people together in a plethora of ways—cooking together, eating together, and learning about food together are surefire ways to bring you and your loved ones closer” (Belle, 2020). Food is a universal cultural value that transcends differences, and Nye’s poem highlights how the simple act of sharing cookies transformed the atmosphere at Gate A-4. Lastly, traditions are also emphasized when Nye describes the elderly woman’s potted plant. “Such an old tradition. Always carry a plant. Always stay rooted to somewhere” (Shihab Nye, 2008). The plant symbolizes the woman’s connection to her cultural roots and the idea that one’s traditions and cultural values remain with them, no matter where they are.
Cultural perspective
My grandmother is from Mexico and does not speak English well, often struggling with communication and comprehension. Reading about the elderly woman in the story, sobbing on the floor due to a misunderstanding, reminded me of my grandmother. It brought me comfort to think that there might be someone there to help translate for her and make her feel at