It is possible that you are familiar with or have heard of Alice, the character from Lewis Carroll’s literary work ‘Alice in Wonderland‘. Yes, indeed, she is the bored young girl who, driven by curiosity, followed a hurried rabbit, leaned over its burrow, and fell, fell, fell, until landing in an extraordinary world, contrary to everything she knew and considered conventional.

Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do […] when suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her.

There was nothing so very remarkable in that; nor did Alice think it so very much out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to itself, ‘Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!’ (when she thought it over afterwards, it occurred to her that she ought to have wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural); but when the Rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and fortunately was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge.

In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again. (Carrol, 2022, p. 4-5)

This episode represents only the first of many borders crossed by the protagonist along unimaginable and intriguing paths, making her oscillate between the desire to return home and the curiosity to remain and unravel the surrounding strangeness. This journey leads her to dreamlike spaces and encounters with eccentric creatures that challenge her understanding of the world and herself. Alice realises that she is facing a unique opportunity and reflects upon it:

‘It was much pleasanter at home,’ thought poor Alice, ‘when one wasn’t always growing larger and smaller, and being ordered about by mice and rabbits. I almost wish I hadn’t gone down that rabbit-hole—and yet—and yet—it’s rather curious, you know, this sort of life! I do wonder what can have happened to me! When I used to read fairy-tales, I fancied that kind of thing never happened, and now here I am in the middle of one! (Carroll, 2022, p. 22).

Thus, Alice’s journey symbolises the complexity of the human experience, often marked by the duality between boldness and hesitation, aspects that intertwine in the narrative web of Wonderland.

Through reading the book with Alice, we learn that questions play a crucial role in the processes of seeking (self)knowledge. They are important tools to stimulate critical thinking and enable the (de)construction of (pre)conceptions, as they guide us to our internal world and allow a deeper understanding of who we are in relation to the world and the people who inhabit it – both influencing and being influenced by it. This contributes to the (re)discovery of our own borders.

In this sense, we need to enhance our ability to understand and respect others’ perspectives, experiences, and values. It is essential to move towards the Other, entering their existential space-time, to recognise and appreciate the diverse coexisting realities that also find expression within us. That is, to exercise “the appreciation of the diverse diversities of the self and the other” (Dervin, 2010, p. 157). Thus, placing ourselves in Alice’s shoes represents, potentially, a fruitful exercise in alterity and empathy.

Would you be capable of such a feat? How would you feel if, suddenly, you found yourself at a crossroads, confronted by an enigmatic cat with a broad and perpetual smile, reciting bewildering and philosophical advice? 

That’s what happened to Alice at a certain point in her pilgrimage:

— Cheshire Puss, she began, rather timidly, […] would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?

— That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat.

— I don’t much care where — said Alice.

— Then it doesn’t matter which way you go, said the Cat.

— So long as I get somewhere,’ Alice added as an explanation.

— Oh, you’re sure to do that,’ said the Cat, ‘if you only walk long enough. (Carroll, 2022, p. 42)

This passage suggests the importance of having clarity regarding our goals and destinations when making decisions since the path to follow naturally depends on the place or what we wish to achieve. However, unlike Alice, who chose to live her adventures, expressing indifference about the direction to take, many of us, at times, may not be as fortunate; we don’t have the opportunity to choose our destinations, which simply unfold before us. Driven by our instincts, desires, or needs, we are led, for reasons beyond our control, to places never imagined.

In an exercise of empathy, have you ever imagined yourself in the shoes of an immigrant? For instance, in the position of a war refugee, where the lack of control over one’s destiny is a stark reality and the absence of true choices prevails?

Often, the priority is simply to find a safe place, regardless of how uncertain or challenging the path may be. Yes, when crossing borders of any kind, it is common to be engulfed in fear and uncertainty; it is in those moments that our vision can become obscured when confronting the unknown, as demonstrated in this next episode.

The players all played at once without waiting for turns, quarrelling all the while, and fighting for the hedgehogs; and in a very short time the Queen was in a furious passion, and went stamping about, and shouting ‘Off with his head!’ or ‘Off with her head!’ about once in a minute. Alice began to feel very uneasy: to be sure, she had not yet had any dispute with the Queen, but she knew that it might happen any minute, ‘and then,’ thought she, ‘what would become of me? They’re dreadfully fond of beheading people here; the great wonder is, that there’s any one left alive!’  (Carroll, 2022, p. 55)

Immersed in a threatening environment, Alice maintains serenity and assesses the situation, anticipating potential conflicts. Through observation, she devises strategies and strives to prevent fear from subduing her, highlighting that many borders often prove to be hostile and challenging, demanding resilience, calmness, and rationality in moments when we simply aim to feel welcomed.

As she continues her adventures, Alice underscores the importance of internal and external dialogue in constructing a more comprehensive and inclusive understanding of the world and ourselves. Her journey through various symbolic borders highlights the complex process through which we delineate our identity, on the border of the possible, in the transition to becoming who we are. Thus, Alice did not pause before eccentric conversations and transformative rituals. She remained continually open to exploration and questioning, available for dialogue and interaction with others, no matter how strange they might seem. Faced with each new experience, a persistent question guided her: Who am I?

“Who am I then? Tell me that first, and then, if I like being that person, I’ll come up: if not, I’ll stay down here till I’m somebody else”—’but, oh dear!’ […] I am so very tired of being all alone here!’ (Carroll, 2022, p. 11)

Who are you?’ said the Caterpillar.

This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, ‘I—I hardly know, sir, just at present—at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.’

‘What do you mean by that?’ said the Caterpillar sternly. ‘Explain yourself!’

I can’t explain myself, I’m afraid, sir’ said Alice, ‘because I’m not myself, you see.’ ‘I don’t see,’ said the Caterpillar. ‘I’m afraid I can’t put it more clearly,’ Alice replied very politely, ‘for I can’t understand it myself to begin with; and being so many different sizes in a day is very confusing.’ (Carroll, 2022, p. 28-29)

Certainly, Alice transcended successive borders. In seeking an exit, she embarked on journeys that were not merely physical transitions from one place to another but rather encounters with the diversity within herself. This represented a unique opportunity for growth through the exploration of an unknown world that she so eagerly sought to understand.

Have you ever considered how many moments in your life you’ve reflected on who you are and what you truly want? Have you had unexpected encounters or interactions that challenged all your expectations? How did you respond to that feeling? Have you ever felt alone and lost? What strategies or approaches did you use to overcome these feelings?

The dialogues between Alice and the fantastical characters highlight, among other issues, the challenge of establishing communication between different forms of existence, a cross-border communication. However, the essence of her journey has always been the pursuit of self-knowledge in and through herself, in the other, and through the Other, without prejudice or judgement, in motion, creating dynamics to overcome the challenges we all face when crossing borders in the construction of our identities, in the dialectics of “I-We” (Dubar, 2006). We believe that this represents the significant opportunity to live between borders, possibly the most crucial for our humanization—an opportunity inherently linked to the dimension of self-awareness, a sense of belonging, and acceptance of the Other in interaction and intersubjectivity.

And you, what do you think about this?