Algerians in the Chaparral

The Berbers, the indigenous population of North Africa, partnered with, fought against, and embraced so many different civilizations; the Phoenicians who established Carthage, the Romans who destroyed the city and incorporated its territory into the Empire, the Vandals, multiple Arab dynasties, and the French. In 1962, the locals finally established their own republic – Algeria.

“I feel like I’m home,” one of our new Algerian friends said last week as we wandered through the maritime chaparral landscape of Manchester Preserve in Encinitas, California. So many of the plants looked familiar to them. “This one,” pointing to a lemonade berry branch, “looks just like one of our oaks. Thick leaves. Thick bark. All to protect itself from drought.”

Citizens of Mediterranean climates all share a common bond – a familiar habitat, a sense of place amongst the shrubs.

Our seven new friends connected with us through the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program a couple of months ago. Organizers called and asked if we could give their participants a tour of our favorite habitat. All were connected to firefighting or environmental conservation in Algeria and were very interested in hearing about our efforts to protect the chaparral, including our lawsuit against Cal Fire.

As we walked, we thought about the short period of time the United States has been around in contrast to the many civilizations of Algeria. We wondered how Algeria’s long history has impacted how Algerians see themselves and the land upon which they live. “Is there a national, conscious connection,” we asked, “to all those thousands of years of history that have shaped you as a people?”

“Very much so,” Bachir replied. “We all have a very deep connection to the land. Urban, countryside. We all feel it.”

As Americans, it was humbling to spend the morning with a group of people who have such a powerfully direct line to the beginnings of Western civilization, and who fully embrace the cosmopolitan nature such a heritage has to offer. Each of them spoke several languages. Each of them were thrilled to explore the United States (they had already spent time in Washington D.C., with Portland, Maine being their next stop), to meet new people, to learn all they could about another culture. Each of them were solidly connected to their homeland, deeply rooted through several millennia of human history, history that shaped us as a species.

Our time together provided a significant contrast to what we have been dealing with lately in our country – division and the crippling influence of self-victimization.

Throughout our morning walk, we never detected anything other than an enjoyment of life, pride in being Algerian, and a willingness to embrace the future as a promising adventure. No mention was made of how either the French, the Arabs, the Vandals, or the Romans were to blame for the myriad of challenges Algerians face today. Our friends celebrated life as it is now, were proud of their nation, and projected a sense of wisdom that only 3,000 years of common history can foster.

An example worthy of learning from.

Boualam, Moumene, and Amel learning the remarkable story of the San Diego rhyolite cobbles.

Mohamed and Kamel enjoying the beauty of the rare Del Mar manzanita.

The guys (L to R): Boualam, Bachir, Rick, Rachid, Mohamed, Kamel, and Moumene.