One of the ways I prepare for a cross-cultural experience is to remind myself of the worldview that I have. I am an American, and as such I have values and beliefs that seem odd to the rest of the world. I need to be aware of them (many are subconscious) so that I do not inadvertently judge the people who I will be meeting.
I’ve written before about the need for Christians to nonconform freely, especially when it comes to simple living. If you’d like, take a look at these 13 American values and come back here to comment on whether you agree that they are held by most Americans.
Like many of you, I’ve been reading about the Compassion bloggers. I have no idea what kind of orientation they have received, but I will be reading their posts with interest to see how their American worldview comes through in their posts.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll share more about the concepts that I am refreshing for myself and also sharing with the church I am working with to prepare for our trip to Uganda. I just received confirmation that I WILL have access to a modem in-country, so hopefully it will work with my laptop and I’ll be able to blog from Kabale. Yay!
What kinds of things would you be interested in reading about?
Re: Thirteen values. Reminds me of a line from poet Robert Burns – “…would some Power the giftie gie us to see ourselves as others see us.” We are mostly busy attending to those values Dr. Kohls outlines, but the chance to step back and see ourselves as those from another culture might is certainly valuable once in a while. Although the list would certainly seem to “damn with faint praise”!
All the more reason to commend you for packing a close consideration of our American way of life along with the rest of your luggage and remembering ours is not the universal way(much as we might think it “should” be) and could, in fact, be easily misunderstood in cross-cultural exchange. Too bad, in my own estimation, that mindfulness is not an especially prioritized tenet of The American Way. Bless you all the more for taking it on your trip…
Oh, man. This is an area you and I could sit for hours and hours (and maybe days) and talk about. I’m looking forward to hearing about your trip, and also your point of view on the Compassion blogger mission trips.
Some interesting generalizations, but all 13 ‘values’ are what has allowed us to become a great country. I hesitate to use the word great because it sounds so jingoistic but use it I will. I will partially agree with #13. Worldwide most people will become more materialistic when they have the means to do so.