Reason 1: Bare feet.
This first reason isn't as much of a frustration as it is a curiosity. People don't always wear shoes. I brush it off half the time as "it's cultural" in my head, but I really don't get why you see people all the time walking around with no shoes on. It really confuses me. This is a developed nation, footwear is relatively inexpensive, you can avoid all sorts of nasty injuries and parasites just by wearing a pair of simple sandals on your feet. But to people here listen to reason? Not all of the time.
Reason 2: Assumptions.
This is a big one. People often times assume that you are on the same page as everyone, even though you may have just walked in through the door, know basically no-one, and understand about half of the funny kiwi-speak they are using (the accent). For example; I just got a call from my new boss, letting me know that my new co-workers are not okay with me changing around the way they do things. Fair enough, but the thing is no one told me anything about any particular way of doing anything. So I'm left feeling like a big American oaf who arrogantly thinks his way of doing things is the best. Here I go reinforcing negative stereotypes about my fellow countrymen abroad. Sorry guys!
Reason 3: ♪Getting to know... some people ♪
People here are, on the whole, hard to get to know. They are very friendly and cordial up-front, but there is this wall that you hit with a lot of people. Trying to cross over from "new guy" to "friend" is like trying to jump the grand canyon with a pogo-stick. Well maybe no that bad, but it's still pretty bad. I've been here maybe 4 months, and I have about 2 friends that I really see on at least a weekly basis, and half of them are non-nationals.
Ok, that's enough of me complaining. Onward to the ministry updates.
When I last left you guys I felt discouraged, disoriented, and disheartened about my mission here. I may have been listening to too much of The Cure, because these past few weeks I have actually been building relationships with international students. The very ministry focus of ISM! Go figure!
This has really encouraged me when I realize that am actually doing one or two things that are on task.
Alright everyone, that's a blog.
P.S.: To any Kiwi's reading this update, not all of those complaints are intended to be 100% serious. I really do love all of you guys.
Peace!
Tip for the day (from a fellow oaf)... you are international so the friendships that will probably go deepest are with other internationals. At least that's what I've found.
ReplyDeletep.s. - the bare feet will always seem weird to you! Embrace it!
p.s.s. - pop tarts and reeses peanut butter cups (interpret as you wish)
hi there. just found your blog through lakeside church. i follow jamie (of jamietheveryworstmissionary)... and she recently posted a link to the church. so i was glancing at the church website and looked at the people they sponsor and saw that you are in NZ. my husband and i are also americans living missionally in new zealand. we live in christchurch (noahandkate.com) and have been there since march 2010. what city are you in and what drew you to NZ?
ReplyDeletebarefeet~ yes.. very much island culture.
assumptions~ so true. we've learned that often kiwis will not be forthcoming with how they feel and you may find out after the fact. good luck with that. lol. yea, they dont like to stir the pot or raise any attention. we've been told they often beat around the bush and aren't very direct. we find this to be true. on all levels. professionally and at a heart level.
getting to know people~ yes, you are totally right. cordial... then the wall! we tell this to people all the time when we explain how it's hard to get to know people!
so good to stumble upon your blog.
let's keep in touch... as fellow missionaries in NZ...
ps. i just added you on FB. feel free to reject my request! but thought it would be great to be in touch! my husband is noah cremisino~ i'd give you our emails but don't like posting them ... b/c of spam =)
ReplyDelete