There have been a handful of things that I’ve noticed overseas, and just being on the world race in general, that have surprised me. I’ve tried to assemble a list; so while this isn’t exhaustive, I hope you enjoy reading about the things that came to mind.
Africa is not as hot as Asia. I’m telling the truth. In India and Nepal, I didn’t stop sweating for over a couple hours a day. Thailand and Malaysia were sweat-dripping-down-my-face hot too. Cambodia and Vietnam were not an exception. We were expecting to get off the plane in Uganda and be miserably hot. Surprisingly it was much cooler. The nights are almost chilly. Yes, the days are hot (February was Kenya’s hottest month of the year), but it was nothing compared to Asia.
Roosters don’t only cock-a-doodle-doo once at sunrise. No. Not at all. They cock-a-doodle-doo all day long, usually starting around 4AM. You could be having a perfectly innocent conversation in hammocks in the yard and a rooster will strut up silently. When he’s as close as safely possible, he will let out a cock-a-doodle-doo that is so surprising, out of place, and loud that you might even jump. It makes me want to eat chicken.
Washing machines are not known worldwide. I’ve had the pleasure of using a washing machine only four out of the nine months I’ve been on the field. Two of them were sheer luck. Malaysia and Cambodia… they had bare necessities in every other area, but they did have a washing machine. I will never again take a washing machine for granted. Sure, not having a washing machine has it’s benefits. I’ve learned how to wash my clothes in a bucket, on a flat rock, in a sink, and under a hand pump, but it never feels fully clean afterwards. Oh, and driers overseas consist of a wire or line and the sunshine. We don’t even know how blessed we are in the U.S. with all of our gadgets and technology.
Everyone around the world wants what they don’t have. Ok, so this isn’t all that surprising. We always think the grass is going to be greener on the other side. But the one thing that I noticed – especially in Asia – is the desire to be white. There were so many creams and body washes that promised whiter skin. I know I used whitening toothpaste in America, but they use whitening everything. Even here in Africa, Mzungus (white people) are revered. I haven’t seen so many whitening creams, but I have heard many Africans say that Americans have easier lives because they’re white. I just find it interesting because in America, we all want to be tan. Some things, even on the opposite side of the world are always the same.
Boobs are not sexy in Africa. I’m not stating this as a jab at Africa, but rather, society doesn’t have the same views of what is sexy as American culture does. I can’t count how many times I’ve been preaching in the house of a woman who has a small child and she just started nursing her child in front of me. I imagined what would happen if a woman did that in America. It would not be okay. We would get all flustered and wouldn’t be able to make eye contact. That’s what has happened to me anyways. Here, it is just what they do. On the other hand, if I were to show my knees or shoulders, I would ruin my chances of evangelizing to that person. We were riding on the backs of bicycles last month and a bike driver asked a girl on my team, “Why do your women let your fat hang out?” She was obviously taken aback. After asking some questions, he explained that women in Africa don’t show their thighs. That’s what he had called “fat.” A couple of us were wearing shorts that day. Shorts are fine in America, but they are definitely not acceptable anywhere overseas for a missionary.
I’m sure there are more surprising truths that I’ve learned, and maybe I’ll think of them and write another blog. For now, though, I’m done. Thanks for reading!
