That’s quite a question. Why? If we could fully understand cultural differences, we would probably have the answer to a lot of the world’s problems!

Perhaps the real question should be, do we really WANT to understand other cultures?

There are certainly some very good keys that help us understand the different ways of thinking and different cultural traditions and ways of doing things. One of the very big keys is language. Even when we speak the same language there are misunderstandings and conflicts.

There is a song I heard over and over again when working in a well know Italian Restaurant.

You say potaytoe – I say potarto  (pronounciations of potato)
You say tomaytoe – I say tomartoe .. etc.

It would play several times a shift, and I would laugh to and at myself. Why? Because actually we kiwis (for the most part) say potaytoe – and tomartoe. Now work that one out!

Well actually how we pronounce a word is not near as important as how we understand that word. Sure the dictionaries tell us how we should understand each word, but our brains often have their own idea about things. In our minds words are translated into mental pictures and these pictures are what bring us the understanding.

Now picture this:

I grew up in New Zealand where rubbers are things you erase pencil lines with and guillotines are things you cut paper with. I cross the ocean to the USA and Mexico. In the USA I worked in the office of a christian children’s magazine. You can imagine the bewildered looks I got when I went around asking where the guillotine was, and then the consequent laughs when it was understood what I really wanted – mm the paper cutter!

Ok, these are simple examples and of lesser consequence than other words and ideas that have different interpretations according to developed life experiences, tradition and culture. And what about the languages that don’t even have words to express some of the ideas that are so much a part of our culture and/or beliefs?

For example some of the dialects don’t have a word for atonement. How is a missionary able to share the gospel with no word for atonement?

Creative missionaries found ways! But it took time and dedication. They spend time with the local people observing everything they do and say in an effort to understand the way they think.

This helped them come up with ways to describe concepts so that the people can understand them even though there is no actual adequate word in their language to express these ideas and truths. This is why computers may be able to translate, but never interpret. Translations can be a mess, but a good interpretation will communicate.

So just how DO we break through some of these cultural differences?

1. Understand that everything we speak creates a mental picture in the listener’s mind. Every listener will have a slightly different picture.
   
   
2. If you really want to communicate, it will mean taking time to understand just what your listener is understanding from what you are saying.
   
   
3. To detect what your listener is understanding, ask questions.
   
   
4. If your message is really important, ask your listener to repeat what you said in their own words.
   
   
5. The real question is are you content to just talk (throw words in the air and hope they are understood) – or do you want to learn to really communicate?
   
   

Yuli

Tags: communicate, communication, concepts, cultural, differences, Culture, interpret, kiwis, language, listener, translate, understand, understanding

If you don’t find enough challenges in your life at home, I can guarantee you when you travel to a foreign field you will find all you need. First thing you will discover is this thing known as culture shock which mostly means “your way” of doing things is not the only “right way” in this world. If you have traveled at all, you will know what I mean.

My philosophy is that you can cope with anything when you know there is an end in sight. As for missionaries and others who are planning to stay awhile, thats a whole different ball game.

Culture Shock Briefing
In fact most missionaries go through some sort of briefing or orientation before embarking on such as adventure, so they know what to expect. At least they will have SOME idea of what they may face upon arrival. What really happens is that your world is suddenly turned upside down when you enter a foreign country with the idea that the return date is set somewhere in the rather distance future.

Now if you are a perfectionist and find yourself traveling to a country like Mexico, you are in for a mm what’s the word? Treat? Wild ride?

Well one thing is for sure, the perfectionist traits of my personality are now nowhere near as defined as they used to be.

Facing The Need To Change
One of the first situations I faced was with some new found friends who were also working with me in the office. As insignificant as this situation seemed, at the time it was a “big issue” to me, and that’s the whole point about culture shock. It is not the big things that can be difficult to handle, it is those little things. I had dictated some letters to be sent out and they were typed and presented to me with a big smile, all ready to sign.

Oh my, what is this, was my first reaction when I looked at the letters. I can’t sign this! First I had asked for them to be justified, and they were sort of. Each line was filled with a number of xxx at the end sufficient to create a perfectly justified look. Mm, and then the grammer! Sure my Spanish was not perfect at the time, but even I could spot the grammar errors, and I was supposed to sign this! Help!

So the challenge her was should I return the smile as I signed the letters, or return the letters? This was my first week in this environment so my perfectionist traits were still very strong and the letters were handed back for retyping.

That was the first day, but it was not long before I realized that as bad as these letters looked to me, they looked just great to the girls with me. Plus I had to face the question, what was I here for? To change their culture? Or to show them how to live the Abundant Live within their culture. The latter of course was my true mission.

Lessons From Culture Shock – What Is REALLY Important?
So it was time for ME to change! Culture shock raises some very valuable questions:

• How important to you are the people around you?
  
  
• Is enjoying your friends more important to you than having YOUR own way in everything you do?
  
  
• Do you spend your time with your friends trying to change them?
  
  
• Is your culture and ways of doing things more important to you than your friendships?
  
  

Yuli

Tags: culture, culture-shock, Mexico, perfectionist