Culture Shock
About the Author
Ben spends most of his time working with underprivileged kids in Tijuana, Mexico, encouraging them to continue their education. He's an unofficial member of Iglesia Bautista Monte Horeb, which runs the elementary school, Centro Pedagógico Didaque.
Many people go into culture shock as they step foot into Mexico. But do Mexicans experience culture shock in other Latin American countries?
Lorena was born and raised in Mexico; but now in her late twenties, she’s just moved to the States. She and her husband, Francisco, are attending a mostly all-white church. The congregation meets in a nice building in an upper-middle-class neighborhood.
Earlier this year their church organized a mission trip to Ecuador. Lorena and Francisco signed up and attended the pre-trip meetings. Culture shock and language barriers were discussed—of which, Lorena assumed, No problem—we’re Mexican and not only speak the language, but are accustomed to third-world living.
However, down in Ecuador, Lorena quickly found herself enroute to meet an indigenous Christian who did not speak Spanish. The man was part of a tribe in the jungle where only the native dialect is spoken. Upon entering the man’s hut, she and the other team members were immediately served lunch. Out of a pot, heated by a “campfire,” came a thick stew consisting of a chicken and potato variant. All in the group sat down and ate, albeit reluctantly, the meal that had obviously been prepared just for them. None of the elders ate, nor the little kids that sat quietly beside on the dirt.
When finished, the cook took their plates and, without hesitation, handed them over to the little kids who, without hesitation, dug right in. Dug right into what? The gristle around the bones and left over broth at the bottom!
These youngsters were eating their unwanted scraps. Not one local gave a reason or disclaimer—nor looked embarrassed. The content kids ate what was left as if they’d pulled a peanut butter and jelly sandwich right out of a ziploc bag.
Lorena felt sick—but what could she say? Anything would have been inappropriate. She was clearly in culture shock. And although she was used to Mexican poverty, this was unexpected and uncomfortable.
Culture shock (Random House Webster’s College Dictionary):
A state of bewilderment and distress experienced by an individual who is exposed to a new, strange, or foreign cultural.