Last week we learned about Cross-Cultural Perspectives and Communication. What culture do you come from or identify with? Are you a ‘universalist’ or ‘particularist’? Polychronic or monochronic? Do you communicate ‘directly’ or ‘indirectly’? How do you change your style to communicate to a different culture more effectively? Needless to say, we are being challenged and the final exam is cumulative over a lifetime! =)
Besides the mental challenges, being immersed in a new culture comes with some physical challenges. Some of us…well almost all 70 of us have been a little sick in one form or another. A lot of us have gotten traveler’s diarrhea, gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhea), runny noses, cough and fever. Abigail has had diarrhea for the last 4 days and Big Dale got sick last night after a home visit and dinner with a local Kenyan family. Think about us as you talk with the Father today!
This week we leave to go back to Nairobi and on Saturday Aug 11th we will be on the islands! We will have a little more orienting to do then do a one week home stay with a family from the local culture before we move into our house at the end of the month. We look forward to finally settling down soon!
Washing hands before eating
Princess Abigail watching the “talent show” as people volunteered to share their talents on our last Friday!
Dale and Mark sharing brain teasers at the “talent show”
Very cool stuff you all are learning! Sounds so interesting. I would love to learn alongside you all too:P
The boys are looking so TALL! Grace you look great! Hope all the sickness goes away soon. We’re thinking of you always.
What interesting and important coursework you’re studying! I hope you can share what you’ve learned with us some time. I’m sorry to hear that you’re all taking turns getting sick. I hope your physical, mental and emotional healths are fully restored and at full capacity soon. We love and miss you! Thanking of you and yarping for you often.
Love, Mary emo
Nous sommes heureux de vous lire une fois de plus! Nous sommes content de savoir que votre apprentissage se déroule bien et que ca semble très intéressant. Vous aurez le loisir de pouvoir appliquer bientôt tout ce que vous apprenez en théorie. J’espère que votre voyage se déroulera bien avec les enfants. Nous prions que votre santé se rétablisse aussi bien pour Abigail que pour Dale et le reste de la famille… J’espère que votre voyage pourra se faire sans perdre de baggage et que vous ne serez pas trop fatigué.
Bonne semaine et que Dieu vous garde