Yellow Shirts and Wobbly Knees
I always thought choosing what color I’d wear was an individual right of sorts. I could choose according to my mood, my preferences, my style. But that was before. Now, I know otherwise. In my host culture, colors have meaning. They represent history, connections, honor, respect. And I have had to learn this lesson the […]
Laughing in the Face of Culture Shock (and a giveaway!)
“Culture shock is rarely terminal.” Seven years ago we pasted this Paul Hiebert quote on our concrete wall in Cambodia, right next to silly photos of each member of our family. We did it to remind us to keep a sense of humor when cross-cultural living grows unmanageable. Seven years later, our homemade poster is […]
Then and Now: Lessons Learned With Culture Shock + Little Lemonies
We just re-entered our host country a few weeks ago after a year-long home assignment (our longest one in almost 9 years). I knew there would be some culture shock after living in the comfy US for so long. Thankfully, with language skills and lots of the Father’s grace, it hasn’t lasted too long. I […]
This Week’s Theme: Welcome to Culture Shock
“Culture shock: A state of anxious confusion experienced by someone exposed to an alien or unfamiliar environment.” American Heritage Dictionary It might only take stepping outside your door to feel the reverberations of culture shock, or the subtle differences might feel more like you are just a little bit off balance, searching for something stable […]