As part of a contemplative practice, I was offered cacao to taste as I watched a video on the way cacao was retrieved for the use of large western companies. The video exposed the exploitation of child labor in the Ivory coast and the harsh labor conditions of workers surrounding cacao production. As the video came to a close for the contemplative practice of the class, I watched laborers who worked with cocoa every day try chocolate for the first time. I was then invited to become conscious of my thoughts and feelings as I tasted chocolate.<\/p>\n
While I was given a sweet treat during this exercise, I found myself focusing heavily on the bitter conditions that allow chocolate to be so easily accessible to my classmates and I, but not the people that labor tirelessly to make its production possible. Throughout the course material, I have been assigned readings that have shed light on the exploitation of developing nations and the labor of people within them, but it was not until this contemplative practice that it fully became personal for me. Suddenly, as I was sitting in my nice lecture hall, listening to the professor I pay a significant amount of money to learn from, I realized that in that very moment I personally was benefiting from unfair trade policy and harsh working conditions. I had a product of western privilege resting on my tongue in the form of chocolate, which is an inexpensive commodity to me, but one paid heavily for by its producers.<\/p>\n
Far too frequently in courses, I separate myself from the material. Ultimately, the contemplative practices such as the cacao experience have allowed me to pull myself back into what I am learning and create an increasing level of understanding.<\/p>\n
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