Sunday at home.

Wow I didn't even know how much I missed being in a worship service like the one I was in today! It was incredible. The sermon was about Abraham and his faith in God when he was told to offer Isaac as a burnt offering. Regretfully I didn't quite catch the whole sermon because my body thought it was 4am...and I dozed a bit. I played with some of the little kids on the playground. We came home and had lunch, and during naptime I setup my hammock outside to read. I promptly fell asleep, but when I woke up I watched big, dark, majestic clouds rolling across the planes and up the mountains, and I could only stare in amazement at the power and beauty of something as frequently seen as clouds. My mom has had to deal with some volunteers that are not culturally aware. Kids my age that grew up in the west and had never really been taught the importance of respect. Respect for their elders, and respect for another's culture. I'm not generalizing, and saying that everyone that grew up in the west has issues with respect. I am saying though that people of different cultures interacting need to try not to jump to conclusions or judge people by their words or actions based on their cultures, but the culture of the person they are interacting with. does that make any sense? I am going to have to post this tomorrow... dad turned off the internet for the night.

I found this article on lonelyplanet.com, and I thought it was interesting.


Culture Shock vs Cultural Connection

One of the best things about traveling is making connections with people from different cultures, in an authentic and mutually enjoyable way.

* 'Cultural sensitivity' is simply a matter of respect: take your behavioral cues from the locals and, if in doubt, try to see things from the locals' point of view.
* Go with the flow. Other cultures have very different concepts of time, personal space and socially acceptable behavior. You'll find it a lot less stressful - and a lot more enlightening - if you just chill out. You might even reassess your own ideas.

* Dress appropriately. Looking at the locals is a good way to gauge what to wear. Particularly in conservative cultures, don't flaunt your flesh and try to be neat and clean - it's only respectful.
* Try to be conservative with resources such as water, food and energy - you may be depriving local people or making a negative impact on their environs.
* Buying locally made crafts and curios means your money goes directly to the community.
* Enjoy the ancient art of bargaining: part pas-de-deux, part drama, part chess-game, bargaining is a skill and an art form. It's as much about the social interaction as the final outcome. Make sure you know when bargaining is appropriate - and when it's not. Have fun with it and keep things in perspective - does haggling over that last dollar really make a difference to you, compared to the vendor?

It's when you make those cross-cultural connections - even though initially you may have thought you had nothing in common - that it hits you again: people are the same wherever they're from; we all have the same needs and desires, aspirations and affections. Reveling in that realization is the holy grail of traveling. (Lonely Planet)