Reverse Culture-Shock? Part III

I have a little more time on my hand today so I thought I'd blog a little. I'm not going to give an extensive commentary on the things that I noticed and experienced while being back in the States here, but I will just note them.

* The refrigerators in the States are huge!
* Although homes have land-lines, most use their cell-phones for long distance calls. It was not like that when we were living there 22 months ago.
* Clothes, electronics, durable goods are cheaper in the States than in India. The clothes in the States are of higher quality, I noticed. If I want to buy quality items that are equivalent to the ones in the States, I would have to pay more here than back in the States.
* While I was back this time around, what I perceived, intuited, or felt (not sure what the exact word is) that many people in the States are seeking or are in search of significance. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but I sensed in people a desire for more meaning or significance to their daily existence. I don't find this as much here... well, at least not in the way I felt it back at home #1. (Maybe I'll write more about this when I feel more motivated to write...)
* America is really rich. After having lived here for over 21 months, I realize that being rich is not a bad thing in itself. Being poor is not more virtuous. In our wealth, it is easy to get caught up on our own wants and pursuit of more wealth. However, if we are able to live more simply in order to share our wealth and resources with others, then, I think wealthy people can do much good.

* I noticed scooters and even scooter shops! I guess with the gas prices going up, people are opting for a cheaper mode of transportation.
* The lack of trash piles or visible dump areas make us forget how much trash gets thrown out.
* Contentment can be experienced anywhere in the world if I know where it comes from. I'm still learning it but I do feel like I understand it more having lived away from the land of abundance.

I'm not complaining but wondering....

what is going on? This summer has been so incredibly cool that I'm not sure what to make of it. Unlike last year, I have not been taking multiple showers, I'm not sweating while cooking, and I can almost expect the cool breeze to come across during the late afternoon with some rain. I love it!! Hopefully I am not jinxing myself by writing this! ;) Anyone from California wanna come over here? ;)

I'm having trouble with the internet again where I cannot access blogs and certain U.S. sites. I seem to be able to using my cellphone but not using my cable connection. Oh well. Hopefully, it will fix itself!

"Sarita" H. from Epicentre who is currently in Delhi visited us this past weekend as she had to do a quick visa run. We took her up to the Sikkim where it is even cooler and we had a lot of fun being tourists together. It was nice having a familiar face in our corner of the world.

Oh yeah, I also have a few more reflections from my time back in the States but, I'm finding it more difficult to take time to blog these days... I am not feeling that inspired to write these days, but if I feel that again, maybe I will...

I don't think that means what you think it does....

For those of you who have been overseas (especially to the developing world), you probably have some funny stories to share about how English was misused. We have had our share of laughter over various signs, T-shirts, and verbage which made us wonder, "Huh?"

As you are aware, there are lots of pirated movies and music sold here. Many people don't even know that it is illegal because it is done so regularly. One day, one of our friends approached Paul and asked him, "Paul can you copyright those songs for me?" Paul's initial thought was, "Huh?" Then, he realized he was asking Paul to make a copy of a music CD. Our friend didn't quite get the meaning of "copyright." Paul didn't have the heart to correct him.

One of our other friends who holds a prominent position in a Christian organization would get really excited about something and he would use the word, "damn" to show his excitement. He would say things like, "It was damn good food." or "It was damn cheap!" At first, Paul and I were kind of caught off guard and found it funny. But then, we noticed that he used it all the time and we realized that he didn't quite have the English acuity to understand that some people would be shocked to hear the word, "damn" from a Christian leader. Finally, Paul and I decided we needed to tell him, just so that he understood what it had meant, what it could mean, and how people might misunderstand him. Since then, we haven't heard him use it.

But, what we saw today probably has to be the ultimate example of English not understood but worn proudly. As we were riding our scooter to the office, a guy walks by wearing a T-shirt boldly declaring in thick black capital letters, "I MASTURBATE." Oh, if he only knew what it meant!

One natural disaster after another....

I feel at loss for words with the recent catastrophies in Myanmar and now, China. The combined death toll and the level of suffering people are experiencing are just staggering.

Over 100,000 people are estimated to have already died as a result of the recent cyclone in Myanmar, many of them children, and it could easily go up to 150,000 due to the government’s slow response in allowing aid to enter the country. Literally hundreds of thousands have been rendered homeless, losing everything, and are now in danger from exposure, disease and starvation. These figures are beyond comprehension in terms of the immense human suffering.

I have been feeling pretty angry at how the ruling junta in Myanmar has been handling the disaster and the lack of concern shown toward its own people. I have been praying that relief would get in there quickly. Even though I live so much closer to Myanmar, it still feels so far away.... I don't like that feeling... I guess it's this feeling of helplessness that I don't like....

I know that foreign aid, especially from the U.S. is not very welcome in Myanmar currently. Cindy P. (an ex-pat worker who has been in this region for 20+ years) has some contacts with Burmese Christians there who can make sure relief funds get into the country quickly as possible. If you want to help or want to know more about how to give, please send me an email.

Spirituality

We had a get-together when we were back and we had a general Q&A session. One question that was asked had to do with what our spirituality has been like being over here where we are more isolated in terms of "spiritual feeding." I think that was the jist of the question...

Since that evening, I have spent some time reflecting more on this question as it is a great one. How has my spirituality been the last 22 months?

I feel like we have been void of great spiritual teachings here locally. I can understand about 75% of the sermons preached here and they hardly feed my soul. I find that they lack depth and in all seriousness, this is an area of huge need. However, I have not sought out other sermons or teachings on line. The truth is I feel like I came here having been "fed" well and having received a lot of good teachings for many years. They are stored in me. I feel like this season has been much more about digesting those things I have learned, making them more and more my own, sifting through certain theology that I might disagree with, wrestling through things that sound good but not sure how to put it in to practice practically, and realizing that there is still so much more to be learned. Outside input is important, but I don't feel dependent on it, if that makes any sense....

What I have realized through deeper reflection is that the practice of being in His Word, dialoguing with Him in prayer, obeying (as best as I am able), all of these foundations have been laid. So, as I have been away from where there is abundance of outside "feeding", I have felt well fed by God. I feel like I have grown in learning and being fed from the Word and letting God speak to me.

I remember the time when I was graduating from college and I was feeling nervous about being on my own, away from the fellowship where I fell in love with Jesus all over again. I remember the words that one of my staff worker, Alex Van Riesen said that has always stayed me. "Jesus will be your discipler wherever you are. He will disciple you." I have found these simple words to be true. Jesus has been my discipler since from the very beginning. As long as I have remained in the vine, I have been finding life, of course with much pruning.

So, while the "outside" input may have been lacking (although I get plenty on my 'character issues from my gracious husband), I have not felt depleted of the spiritual nourishment. It has been the opposite for me. I have experienced some of the most intimate moments with Jesus during these 22 months, many through hard times and failures, and sometimes in midst of wondering if I'll make it through, but as long as I remained in Him, I lived.

So, what have I learned about spirituality? "Remain, stay, abide, stay connected to the vine. It is me who must stay connected. I have learned that whether the sermons are good or bad, I can stay connected to Jesus, for He has given me the means to stay connected through His word, prayer, obedience, and the Holy Spirit, my teacher (discipler). What that looks like has been different at various points and stages, but the goal isn't perfecting the "form" of spirituality, but actually connecting and staying connected to the source of life....I can confidently say I love Jesus more than 22 months ago. Why? Because I know Him more deeply than 22 months ago. And, when I know Him, I can't help but to love Him more.

Reverse Culture-Shock? Part II

There were a few instances of minor dissonance we experienced being back in the States. They were actually sometimes surprising to us since we used to "complain" so much about the ways things are done here. Here are a few stories.

Traffic rules:
We have become accustomed to driving and crossing the streets the "Indian" way that it actually took a little getting used to driving and crossing the streets again in the U.S. You might be thinking, "What do you mean?" Well, for example, there are traffic signals here in the main business area, but for most of our town there aren't traffic signals. So, for the most part, you and other drivers (as well as pedestrians, bikers, and cows) learn to communicate one way or another. As Paul would say, there are rules that people follow - they are just different. We have found drivers here mostly courteous and working well together to make it a "safe but expedient" experience.

One time in San Diego we were coming back from somewhere late in the evening and we were stopped at a traffic light where there were no cars coming from either direction. We would not have thought this way before we came to India, but we were both commenting on how ridiculous it is that we have to wait for the traffic signals to change when it was clearly obvious we were the only people on the road. We're not proud to admit this, but we said, "Oh what the heck," and made our left turn while it was still red! I know.... it's horrible. We didn't do it again but we realized it was taking a bit of getting used to.

I had similar kind of experience crossing the street! I am so used to crossing the streets here while cars are coming, easing myself out and judging how much time I have to cross. I found myself walking out into the street while the traffic was moving and had to go back. There was one point where we had to wait for the signal to turn green (but I knew I would have had no problem crossing the street) and feeling kind of annoyed that I could have been over on the other side, but I had to wait. Paul reminded me of the cost of the fine if I were caught jay-walking, which made me think twice about doing it. I didn't realize how much we had become conditioned by the Indian traffic "laws."

There were many moments when I kept feeling like Paul should be driving on the left side but I got over that pretty quickly.

Shopping:
I usually enjoy shopping (especially window shopping) but I found myself not feeling that interested in it. Partly, I think it is because my wardrobe has changed and the things that are currently in style in the U.S. I can't wear here. This was just being practical and realizing there is nothing I could really buy there. I also found myself feeling overstimulated being in the stores. There is just so much stuff and selection.... I found myself going outside of the store just to enjoy the air and wait.

I also found myself struggling at times feeling a little "out of style." I brought my best western clothes, but I kind of felt like a little shabby and behind the times. There was one light sweater/cardigan that I brought thinking it was cute, but I didn't realize how raggedy it looked until I saw myself in the mirror close-up. Clothes have become much more functional for me, although I still choose the colors, materials, and the style here, but it is rare that I wear my sarwar kamise (Indian garb) and feel "fashionable" or "dressed up." I feel feminine, but not dressed up in the same way, if you know what I mean. Anyway, I felt like I lost my edge in "fashion," not that I ever really was that in tuned with it, but I just felt a little out of place.... I did end up buying myself a light sweater/cardigan that I thought was wearable in both places. It was a good purchase. ;)

Since I am on the topic of shopping, I was utterly shocked to realize that it could cost somewhere between $3 to $10 to bag up a gift! I was calculating it in my mind-- even if you purchase the cheapest gift bag, you add the tissue paper, and a card, they add up really fast! It is just something I noticed....

The End, Part II