Culture, is it really that shocking?

A member of our team - Rachel - wrote this piece for her local newspaper.

Culture, is it really that shocking? By Rachel Garner

According to the Oxford Dictionary, culture shock is “the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone when they are suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes”. So naturally when you are sending a group of 25+ teenagers to a completely different continent (Africa), with a significantly disturbing history (the Rwandan genocide of 1994), culture shock  is an issue that’s going to get flagged up. Both ICS and Tearfund continually mentioned culture shock during orientation weeks in both the UK and in Rwanda, and to the best of their ability prepared us for it. They highlighted possible behaviours that we could find distressing, offensive or just down-right weird.

One of our first weeks of placement - visiting the beneficiaries

However, I think that no amount of preparation is going to ready you for the reality of a different culture and that culture shock affects everybody in different ways. We were even given examples of In Country Volunteers (ICVs) who experienced culture shock within their own country. So given that we are a mixed team of UK and Rwandan volunteers I thought a good way to explore culture shock would be to talk to members of my team about their experiences; how they feel it has affected their time here; and also what advice they would give to other people going to different countries susceptible to experience a similar sort of culture shock..

From the team interviews, it is clear that we have all experienced some form of culture shock

“I felt overcome by everything that was different and felt like I had just been thrown into a completely new world” (Beth)

But what is fantastic is that, as a unit, we have been able to turn this into something positive and something to grow from.  One of my team mates described culture shock as

“realising that you are definitely an outsider in a situation” (Chinwe).

This can be particularly hard to move on from, but when you work together as a team, it is possible.

Members of the team working together at Kimihurura Farming Cooperative

Despite facing some challenges because

“culture shock influences team dynamics through what is considered rude in different cultures” (Beth)

which would sometimes leave one half of the team feeling as though they had been disrespected through a lack of understanding. Overall the differences in culture have had a really positive impact on the members of our team.

Learning from one another - different cultural skills

“It has affected us positively, you really get to know how other people live, and you adapt and become flexible because of the changing of environment” (David).

Culture shock has given us the opportunity to learn about ourselves and others, developing our patience, empathy, respect and understanding. Culture shock has even led to some of our most memorable moments as a team because

“it makes the team happy learning something new about another culture” (Sam)

and allows us to become more of unit as we create new friendships built on accepting one another for who we are.

Team Kigali, minus Beth who was doing some office work!!

So what would we say to other people who are at risk of experiencing culture shock? How can they turn it into a positive experience? My friend Henry said

“If you are truly a team, culture shock won’t be a problem.” (Henry)

meaning that no matter what happens, if you are able to work things out as a team, and find common ground, then you can’t really go wrong! But sometimes this needs helping out with a few top tips! The common theme throughout the interviews was to be open minded; be ready to find new experiences; be prepared to both ask and answer questions. I love the way Claire summed this up

            “to be flexible, patient and try to learn” (Claire).

At the same time it’s important to remember that…

“… if where you were was exactly like home then you might as well have stayed at home” (Beth).

Exactly! We went out to Rwanda to try make a difference and if it were no different to the UK, and if we didn’t find ourselves a little “shocked” at times by the culture, then we may as well have stayed at home. And I’m so glad we didn’t!

Mission Out Reach - Sunday 3rd August

Last Sunday on the 3rd of August we were invited by the AEE staff members to join them at a church in the GASABO district for a form of joint service/conference. For this event we were lucky enough to be ask to contribute and help lead the Sunday school.

The story that we decided that we would tell the children was 'Joseph the Dreamer'. We gave the teachings to roughly sixty children aged between eight and twelve years old. The way in which we led that group was by giving a simplified version of the story complete with a set of actions and memory words in which we got the children to repeat and perform.

The children loved the actions and memory words and really seemed to engage with the leader of the teachings which was our team member Henry. They picked up the actions really quickly and were able to remember the key plot points of the story when asked.

Henry leading the children through the story of 'Joseph the Dreamer'.

The Story of 'Joseph the Dreamer':

There once was a young man named Joseph and his father was called Jacob. They lived together with Joseph's eleven brothers in the town of Canaan. Jacob gave his son Joseph a coat made of special colours, because of this Joseph's brothers became exceptionally jealous.

One day Joseph had a dream about bunches of grain that him and his brothers had picked, whereby his brother's bunches of grain all stood up and bowed down to his. He also had another dream about the sun, moon and stars where yet again his father and brothers bowed down to him. This infuriated his brothers even more.

A few days later Joseph went to go find his brothers in the field they were working in. His brothers had been plotting to kill him, however they sold Joseph to a group of travelers going to Egypt. To convince their father that Joseph had been killed they dipped his robe of many colours in animal blood and took it to him. This made Jacob incredibly upset and he wept for many days.

However the Lord had blessed Joseph, as Potiphar his master had put him in charge of everything that he owned in his house. However Potiphar's wife was not happy about this, and therefore lied to Potiphar in order to get Joseph thrown into jail.

Nevertheless the Lord remained with Joseph. Two of Pharaoh's workers were sent into jail with Joseph and each of them had a dream - they explained their dreams to Joseph. Joseph told one of the workers that he would be getting out of jail soon and to tell Pharaoh about him. But once the worker was let out of jail he forgot about Joseph and so Joseph spent a further two years bound.

After two years Pharaoh had a dream that no one in his kingdom could explain. The worker remembered Joseph and bought him to Pharaoh. Joseph explained to Pharaoh that it was God that helped him to understand dreams. He explained that Pharaoh's dream about seven fat cows and seven thin cows was actually a warning from God about seven plentiful years followed by seven years of famine. 

Pharaoh asked Joseph for advice, in response Joseph told him that God had already shown him what he had to do. God's advice was for Pharaoh to save food in the seven prosperous years so that they would have plenty in the seven years of famine. So that it what Pharaoh did.

Seven years passed and people from all around came to buy food, some of the people that came were Joseph's brothers. Although Joseph recognised them, they did not recognise him. Just as Joseph had originally dreamed all of his brothers bowed down to him.

Joseph arranged to have meetings with his brothers in which he revealed his true self and told his brothers not to be scared. Further he told them not to be worried or angry with themselves for selling him, as it was Gods plan for his life -  and through this he has managed to save many peoples lives.

Joseph's brothers and father all came to live with him in Egypt and they all had plenty to eat.

We are aware that this is quite a simplified version of the actual Bible story, but we wanted to talk to our audience in terms that they could understand and to keep their attention by not making it too complicated. 

Incorporating the actions into the story really grabbed the children's attention and after we had finished the Sunday school leaders asked if we would be able to teach them in how to create such actions and stories. It is amazing that they liked our ideas and we can't wait to see what they themselves do!

After we had shared the story and the messages from the story, we were treated to a singing and dancing performance from some of the children. 

Once Sunday school was over we played the classic game of 'Stuck in the Mud' which was so much fun, and so exciting to get to interact with the children - despite some of them not understanding that once you were caught you had to stand still!!

The event carried on throughout the whole day and moved venues from the local church to a field nearby. Here we were able to join in with some of the local/traditional dancing. Which was absolutely amazing, it was such a warm and welcoming environment and the sense of community spirit and bonding was so intense. The dancing was a one of experience and it was such a pleasure to be able to join in.

One of the choirs performing a dance.

Included in the event was singing from numerous choirs, and a sermon from our very own AEE staff member - NAMARA. It continued through a time of prayer and people coming to Christ for the first time by laying their lives before Jesus - which was such a beautiful event to witness. The AEE staff members informed us the next morning that through the event eighteen people had been bought to God which is fantastic and a real blessing to have been a part of.

Throughout the entire day the children were incredibly keen to play games and interact with us. One of the most favourite things that we did was pulling faces! The children found it hilarious and so did we!!

Everyone pulling their best faces!!!

It was a real blessing and privilege to had been invited to be a part of this celebration and we are incredibly grateful to the staff of AEE for asking us, and also the members of the church and the community for accepting us and making us feel so welcome. It was one of the best experiences we have had since being here (which is a tough call because we have had so many wonderful times!!). It is a day I am sure that none of us will forget for a very long time to come.

Possibly just humour me for a minute?

So this post is slightly different, one of the members of our team - Rachel - took a while and a moment to reflect on the time that she had spent here and how it has molded and changed the outlook she initially came with.

Possibly just humour me for a minute?

I’m no expert, I’m definitely not a life saver, I’ve not even graduated from University yet, but possibly just humour me for a minute?

Last Christmas, I was a term into the first year of my Law degree and honestly I was feeling rather hard done by. I’d gone into Law with this grandiose idea that Law was about justice and helping people; and, well, from the short time I’ve spent studying it, it appears to be a lot more convoluted and complicated than that. It’s not as simple as helping the little guys, and the heroes beating the villains. So I looked elsewhere – I mean I wanted to save the world right? Don’t we all?

Through my searches I stumbled across a government programme called ICS – International Citizenship Service – whereby teams of UK volunteers aged between 18 and 25 are sent overseas to work for ten weeks with NGOs (non-governmental organisations) in international development. “Wonderful!”! I thought to myself, “Sounds absolutely perfect – this is my chance to make a difference; I’m finally going to save the world.”

So I went through the application process: the online form; the interview; the dreaded wait; the acceptance (with God’s blessing and willing); and of course the fundraising; and then I was off. Only six months after I applied, I boarded a plane from Heathrow airport bound for Rwanda, not to come back for ten weeks. Jokily I bid farewell to my friends and family, with a wave and a “Just watch me! See what I’m going to do, the world will never be the same again”.

Before leaving for Heathrow airport with Mum and Dad.

And well, I suppose you could say I was right in some senses, the world is never going to be the same again. But it’s not the entire world that’s being changed – it’s my world. Coming out to Rwanda and working with Tearfund and their partners AEE (African Evangelistic Enterprise) has made me realise that this was never about what I could do. It was never about my knowledge, my experience, and my education.

This isn’t an ‘us’ and ‘them’ situation. It can be so easy to view what is going on here as a group of volunteers who will come to a foreign place, create a whirlwind – possibly not even improving things – and then leave, having not integrated themselves into the community. But that is as far away from the reality of what this is as is possible. The most important thing I have realised since being out here, is that it is about what we can learn as a combined unit. Not about forcing our knowledge, expertise, experiences, ideals and formulas. It’s coming into a new community and environment and through this I have just as much to learn from them - if not more - than I could ever offer back in repayment.

Leading a music lesson in a catch-up school.

Never in a million years could programmes like these have been so successful without them being a joint effort. There are so many things I never dreamed of learning and it’s only been four weeks; patience (definitely lots of patience!), understanding, empathy, and compassion to name just a few things.

It’s come as a realisation that this is about humbling myself, and being respectful of what has been set in place before me. The programmes and schemes that AEE have created are beyond amazing – they are sustainable, provide the community with dignity, and create relationships. I’m not here to compete with that – I’m here to enhance that. If that’s through utilising my English communication skills, my ability to write reports , or even just my general “have-a-go” attitude , then let’s make the most of it we possibly could.

I don’t need the glory of building a house. I no longer require the satisfaction of being able to look at an area and go “That’s where I made my impact, you can see my stamp in the sand” and I definitely don’t need to save the world single handedly.

We have so much to learn, time and time again over the four weeks I have spent here, I have marvelled at how far behind we are. We look at ourselves as a ‘developed nation’ because we have the right literacy statistics, the right percentage of our population is above the poverty line, and our economy is considered advanced. But there are so many places we fall down.

When was the last time you spoke to a stranger you met in the shop? When was the last time you invited your neighbour in for a cup of tea and a talk? When was the last time you joined together as a community to improve your area? I know these were things I never did on a regular basis. I’m not pointing a finger, I’m not saying nobody ever does these things, and I definitely don’t want to preach. All I’m saying is don’t you think England, the UK, would be so much better if we all took a step back from ourselves and looked around?

Being a community unit of all ages is so important, and so beneficial.

I’ve been astonished by the sense of community, friendliness and just complete openness of the environment I’ve entered. I’ve come here as a foreigner, and let’s be honest – with milky skin like mine and a burnt red nose I stick out like a sore thumb! Yet people still greet me, they still ask how I am, and they’re interested in what we have been up to.

I might have come out to Rwanda to single handedly save the world, I may have been naïve and  optimistically unreasonable but I genuinely believe WE will save the world. It’s started with my own personal world being completely and utterly shaken up – not only have I met some of the most fantastic people of my life, who encourage me in everything I do, but I’ve learnt that I am not important. In the grand scheme of things I’m just a 19 year old Law undergraduate who is going to spend ten weeks – one summer holiday – in a developing country.

Two of the many fabulous people I have met since coming out here - Chinwe and Beth!!

But when joined together with other young people, trained professional development workers, members of the local community, a strong support system back home, and a committed charity and programme – WE really will make a difference. The difference will be made out here in Rwanda and back home in the UK. Because, we do have so much to learn whether we like it or not, nobody and nowhere is perfect.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is this:  I’ve gone from being a rather frustrated undergraduate who felt she’d been promised a world that was fair and just – to a girl who knows what she has to do, what she has to learn, how to make a difference, not as an individual but as a team, a unit, a collective. And I think if maybe, just maybe we all took 15 minutes of our time to ask that person in the supermarket, or our neighbour round for a coffee, or spent one night a month in the local food bank; we really would change our world, starting from home and working outwards. Who knows what we could all achieve? 

Picture of the Day 04/08/2014

Today we visited a project supported by Compassion - we hope to be going there on a Monday and Wednesday after to interact with the pupils there!

Chinwe leading an ice breaker session - name, age, favourite animal/dance move and an interesting fact.

Picture of the Day 03/08/2014

We led a Sunday school class where we were teaching the children the story of 'Joseph The Dreamer' complete with a set of actions to help them remember the importance and significance of this Bible story.

Children from Sunday school performing the action for Joseph, from the Bible story 'Joseph The Dreamer'.

Picture of the Day 28/07/2014

Chinwe leading the team in our week nightly devotionals - she led us all on the many different ways that God loves us.

Members of the team praying before our devotional, held in the comfort of our very own living room!!

Picture of Day 26/07/2014

Saturday Morning on the 26th of July 2014 we partook in umunganda; a beautiful and inspiring community spirit and environment!!!

Joining together with members of the local community to help level out and construct a road - such an eye opening experience!

Picture of the Day 19/07/2014

So many new skills being learnt - first off of the list hand 'washing' clothes - think we need quite a bit more practice!!

Cultural Exchange - Three Brits attempting to learn how to hand wash clothes with the help of our wonderful Claire!!