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the good things I have learned

I was thinking in the mirco (bus) on my way home from work tonight as I watched the sunset over the pollutioned hills... and I thought, I have learned so much from living here. I almost think it is like a culture shock. They say that there are two common times to get a culture shock when living in a new country: the first month and about 9 months into your stay. Well I have now completed 14 months here in Chile. I don't like to describe what I am feeling as shock, since that implies a negative experience. And in all honesty, nothing that I am experiencing is new information to me. But I am just now seeing how these cultural differences effect my life personally. And that is where I think the shocking part comes in.
I will give two examples:
1) The fact that many people my age date not because they are really commited to that person (and please, chilenos, don't try to argue with me, I am just comparing the system of thought to that in the US). Basically in the US, you might go on a date with someone, but you don't really date unless you want to be with that person. And here in CHile, (AND UNDERSTAND THAT I AM NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS WRONG OR RIGHT) but they date here more jsut because everyone is dating someone. Really, I was shocked to find out from some of my married or seriously dating friends that they were both dating someone else when they met and then they broke up sometime after and started dating. Now I know this happens in the states, but jsut trust me that there is a different mentality here toward dating. Now this comes into play not in my own dating life (no chileno prince come to sweep me off my feet yet!) but in the way I give cousel to friends. And I have been realizing that I need to change my view on dating. I need to aculturate my thoughts. Hard.
2)Affection. For those of you who don't know me very well (or for those of you who do, but haven't heard about this part of my life) I will let you in a little personal Becka info here. I am a very touchy person. I guess I am what they call regalona here which means touchy and loving. But when I was 16 I got involved with a guy (nothing too serious, but to my 16 year old mind it was serious). But basically this guy was very touchy feely and he scared me. I won't go into details, but my relationship him was not good for my affection and since then I have a hard time with affection and guys. Well, the point of this little story is to say that being here in Chile where it is rude not to kiss someone on teh cheek when you meet them, and where generally the people are just very open with their affection, it has been good. I love being affectionate and I can feel God healing me and teaching me to love people with affection without being scared.
So I have been learning a lot. I have seen God changing my heart and teaching me a lot. I also see how my training in intercultural communication has helped me approach culture very slow to judge as bad or good. Just different.

Comments

Kallie said…
It's funny I always think I'm really open to new ways of thinking and doing things until I come across people who think and do things differently than me :) It's like how people like free speech until they're offended. Praise God that he breaks down barriers that we don't even know we have. It was great talking to you the other day!
2:38 AM
Anonymous said…
becka! so one of my good friends here in denver (lori) is considering moving down to argentina with her husband to teach english in a few months ... i told her about you, and assured her that you'd love to talk with her about how much you love south america and gave her your blog address / email address. presumptuous yes, but not unrealistic i hope!

consider this your fair warning in case you get an email or comment from a girl named lori who says she knows me.
7:31 PM
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