Well, my friends, it’s been a week since I’ve been home. It’s been good to be home, to see so many people and receive warm welcomes. Gratefully, the transition back into “normal” life has not been difficult.
I was recently listening to someone talking about cross-cultural work in regards to the term “culture shock.” I’ve read articles on this topic before, but I never really understood it like I do after hearing this particular explanation.
Often we speak of culture shock as what happens when we see poverty or tragedy. This is definitely a level of “culture stress,” but true culture shock comes when a worker realizes that this is life and that they are going to be a part of that culture now. The lady I was listening to talked about “mentally unpacking.”
Tourists rarely unpack. While they may hang some clothes or put things in drawers of their temporary residence, they don’t “mentally” unpack. In their mind, they’re just passing through, on their way home. This comfort of “going home” gives the worker a lot of patience and tolerance. They aren’t bothered by the culture or the differences. They may be “shocked” but they’re not “in shock.”
Workers who are staying on the field for a length of time, though, need to unpack, both physically and mentally. They are no longer simply passing through as guests. They must now embrace and walk in the culture. Inconveniences become a way of life. Patience and faith, if not maintained through consistency in prayer, wear thin. That is where culture shock hits.
While my trip was only short term – only two weeks in Colombia, the “field” I’ll be in full-time – I had a chance that many short-term workers don’t have: unpacking. Most short-termers are kept very busy seeing new sights, attaining new experiences, evangelizing, and building relationships. I had a different experience. The team I partnered with wasn’t interested in just having me experience new things – they were interested in having me experience life and work. I participated in daily life. Because of this participation, I experienced some of the frustrations of culture stress.
While I know I didn’t “unpack” completely, I am incredibly grateful for the type of experience I had on this trip. I believe that the next time I return I will be even more prepared for the challenges because this last trip. I’m grateful for G and the Misión Colombia team that were more sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit than the voice of logic (logic says, “Have her experience everything!” The Holy Spirit said, “Don’t have her do anything, so she can learn to trust Me”).
Now that I am home, I am once again unpacked. I haven’t put away everything I brought back, but in my heart, I am home, at least for a season. I don’t have one foot here and one foot in Colombia. I am ready to enjoy every opportunity here as I prepare to return long-term.
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