Oh, Canada...

It's hard to believe that nearly a month has gone by since I left South Africa and returned to my home and native land. While in South Africa, I'd heard the term "reverse culture shock" and was aware that it could happen to me. After a few days had passed, though, I hadn't experienced any sort of "shock," so I figured I was safe. A couple of days after I arrived, I had lunch in Simcoe with my Mom's side of the family. I listened patiently as conversations revolved around the family news and future plans for vacations and purchases. In the midst of it all, my uncle leaned back in his chair and said, "psst... Lindsay... are you experiencing reverse culture shock?" I thought about it briefly and said, "I think it's more "'reverse cultural awareness'." I am aware that Canada is a prosperous nation, and we are very blessed to be so. My highschool history teacher Mr. Yates hit the nail on the head when he repeatedly told his classes, "You've all hit the jackpot in life." Canada is an amazing place to live.

I think that my awareness of North American materialism kicked in after I spent Christmas 2005 at a camp for International Students. It was there that I met a fellow from Burundi whose large family lived in a refugee camp. As he told me stories of his childhood and about his country, I was shocked at the injustice. I was horrified at the things we take for granted in Canada - freedom, warm beds, decent weather(you may disagree on that one, but have you ever had to worry that the roof of your house might blow off during rainy season?). I inwardly became extremely critical of our nation and the way we live. I remember watching a TV special on garden shows. I was so annoyed that people would spend millions of dollars on flowers and producing a program about them. Didn't they know that children were DYING all over the world from preventable causes? This silent attitude continued for quite some time. But at one point between now and then, I realized that being critical wasn't helping anyone. I thought about the way Jesus lived. Did He minister to people by criticizing them? That couldn't be farther from the truth! Jesus LOVED everyone He saw and came into contact with. He healed them, talked to them, prayed for them, and saved them from being stoned to death. I decided to kick my criticism habit and start loving and accepting.

I've learned more about this since returning home. I think it's amazing that there are so many distinct cultures all over the world. Canada's culture is different from South Africa's culture. Not so much that it feels like you're on another planet - people are still people wherever you go. People in both cultures are kind, hospitable, and joyful - they hope to get married and have families - people go to school and get jobs. It's the little things that are different - people coming over unannounced and being integrated into whatever's happening - entire extended families living in the same town - ways of greeting people. It's hard for me to even think of little cultural differences - but I know they're there! There's nothing like being in your own country and knowing exactly how to conduct a phone conversation or being able to say "The Maritimes" or "toque" knowing that everyone understands those terms. Just knowing what the norm is wherever you happen to be. You don't really appreciate it until you've been immersed in another culture.

I want to get to the original focus of this post - which was going to be titled, "I Underestimated My Own Country." When I experienced the hospitality and openness of the South Africans I met, I was almost overwhelmed. I thought, "Gosh, it's certainly not like this in Canada!" But over the last two weeks during my trip to the Maritimes, I realized that I was very, very wrong. I was welcomed into so many homes, offered so much food, and was often entertained by those I stayed with. I was blown away by how kind people were to me. Canadians really are wonderful and hospitable people. I want to extend my thanks to those who took care of me during my time out East - my grandparents, Bethany and Sarah, Amanda, the Torrances, the Strubels, Shauna, and Kathryn and Tim.

I guess you could say that I did experience reverse culture shock - just not in the way I'd expected.

I love my Canada!

Photos

Just wanted to show you some of my favourite photos over the last little while. Feel free to click on them to see a larger size.

A Colour-full Easter

I have a pretty fantastic friend named Raymond. He invited me to his home in a place called Uitenhage(I pronounce it "You-tin-ik", though that's probably not completely accurate) so that I could meet his family and see where he grew up. I was equally parts excited and nervous. I was entering a completely different culture than my own - even from what I'd been experiencing in South Africa over the previous two months. Raymond lives in a "coloured community," a culture distinct from the white and black cultures of South Africa. I enjoyed my time there - meeting relative after relative after friend after relative - but honestly, it was an extremely overwhelming experience. Raymond's parents don't speak very much English, and saying "how are you?" in Afrikaans is pretty much the extent of my conversation skills. People came over all the time - usually unannounced - and I spent most of the time being close to clueless about what was happening. It was the first time in my entire life that I really couldn't get by with English. I think that's a good thing - it's a big motivator for me to become fluent in Afrikaans. Needless to say, I was very excited to get back to my comfortable YWAM culture when Raymond's brother Thinus drove us home.

Easter was approaching a couple of weekends later, and Raymond asked me if I would like to come home with him again. I was hesitant. I was proud of myself for making it through just ONE weekend - but was I ready for another one? I wasn't sure. I told him I'd think about it. And I thought about it, and I decided that I would go, on the condition that we would spend half of the four day weekend in Uitenhage and the other half in Jeffreys Bay. He agreed, and off we went on Thursday afternoon. My first evening there was extremely awkward. We went to visit one of Raymond's friends, and as soon as they began speaking in Afrikaans, I zoned out. I thought, "well, it's clear I won't be a part of this conversation" and went into Lindsay-land. I felt insecure and constantly thought, "I don't fit in here." But before the end of the night, I came to an important realization - I wasn't supposed to fit in. I was immersed in a completely different culture and language. I realized that I was experiencing the phenomenon known as "culture-shock." Once I realized that, I relaxed a little. I accepted the fact that I was different, and tried to learn as much about their culture as I could while I was there. I began paying attention to the conversations I didn't understand, trying to pick up even one or two Afrikaans words or phrases. I made more of an effort to practice the few phrases I knew. As soon as this happened, I had a completely different attitude and a completely different experience. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Raymond's family and friends, experiencing their interesting Easter traditions - they spend most of the day preparing and eating a delicacy known as "picklefish," a meal they don't eat at any other time of the year. I'm not even joking when I say that I ate picklefish four times on Good Friday - always accompanied by rooibos tea and delicious homemade hot cross buns that Raymond's mother made. Something else that baffles me about the coloured culture is how welcoming and hospitable the people are. Friends drop in all the time, and they are always included in the happenings of the household. I was always amazed at how many times people would bring me food or take my dishes away. I really did feel like an honoured guest.

I came away with a new appreciation for different cultures. I realized that even though I'd been in the country for two and a half months, I hadn't been immersed in the culture. The YWAM base is a mish-mash of people from all over the world, and as a result has its own unique features and traditions. I am very thankful to Raymond and his family for welcoming me into their home, and for teaching me how special and unique the South African culture really is.


My last night in Jbay with two of my favourite South Africans, Maylene and Raymond.