First Stage: Honeymoon or tourist stage
I think this lasted like 2 minutes. :) No, not really. I think that this stage actually lasted about 3 weeks for Shane and I and maybe a little longer for the kiddos. Some fun things about this stage:
1. There were times we were sort of bored
2. Every one we met had a clean slate
3. The kids favoite part was hanging out with so many friends
Second Stage: Irritation and anger stage
So this stage is where you feel overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by all of the differences in the culture. Apparently it is normal to get mad at the differences and feel like your home culture is superior.
I think we jump in and out of this stage regularly. It is just SO different.
1. One of our biggest challenges has been food. If you remember my earlier blog we seriously struggled with how to eat a balanced diet, how to eat food found in Haiti, and how to have food we enjoy. (Good news is in this department anyway, we have moved to the next stage).
2. Why is it so hard to develop unity at Grace?
3. Why is driving so dangerous in Haiti?
4. The kids would wonder why it is so difficult to be friends with children from another culture & from an orphanage.
Third stage: Adjustment & reintegration
This is the phase where you become more open and accepting. You begin to understand how the culture will react, you know how to do 'life' in a way that is acceptable, and you begin to be proactive.
We are toying with this phase. We are working on self care and putting up good boundaries. We live at our job, with our coworkers. Its a lot of togetherness. Don't get me wrong, I like togetherness...this is a lot. :) So we are communicating a lot with each other as a family and making sure that each persons needs are being taken care of. Some fun things about this stage:
1. I know where to go to get food that I can't buy at the local market! Yea!!
2. We are making friends with those in the community and feel safe driving home at night.
3. The kids would say, they are learning more and more Creole which is helping them communicate and avoid some friendship pitfalls.
Fourth Stage: Integration and assimilation stage
In this stage, you compare both cultures but you do so realistically. You feel comfortable and settled. You are just living a normal life.
Someday we will be here. I'll keep you posted when we get here.
Fifth Stage: Reverse or reentry stage
This stage is being excited about going home. Yet slowly realizing that things changed while you were gone.
Sixth Stage: Shocked about the differences
In this stage you realize that things are not better at your home country. You even begin to miss where you were.
So there you have it. We are working through the process. I know that one blessing has been that we are here for a two year commitment. This length of time has kept us from looking at our end date and instead keeping our eyes focused on the now. We are coming back to Minnesota Feb 10th-24th and that has got us missing our family even more. We are so excited to be able to visit them and refill.
I have been making a list of things that I want to remember about our first year in Haiti, before we get to the Fourth Stage of culture shock.
-Everyone shares what they have
-For Christmas they stay up late Christmas Eve and sometimes set off fireworks
-I bought a laundry basket for $250 goudes (about $5 American dollars). Before that we were using a black plastic bag. It's the small things that make a difference
-The reason the Haitian's use baby powder is that the sweat starts to hurt
-You can not flush #1 toilet paper or it will fill up your septic system.
-If your system gets filled, someone (who gets paid a lot of money) will go down and shovel out the stuff that is left (apparently they drink a lot before they go down...yuck).
-When you see someone for the first time of the day, it is required that you greet them. If you do not, they will think you are mad at them. They will probably ask you why you didn't say hello.
-While driving, it is considered 'ok' to pass someone as they are passing someone else.
-Glasses of water left unattended often have small bugs floating in them. The bugs need water too and it is the drought season.
-The kids play soccer on cement. This is an upgrade from rocky terrain.
-Taking a shower the American way is tricky because there is little water pressure. It's easier to do it the Haitian way, with a little bucket.
-It is important to tuck your sheets VERY tight so bugs don't crawl in there during the day. This also keeps the dust out of your bed.
-2 hours after cleaning the house we can write on the dresser because there is so much dust.
-Haitians almost never fall even though their ground is really rocky.
-All windows have bars, doors have locked gates and it is very important to make sure they are locked at night. (The police will probably not come if you call in case of an emergency)
-Church is held Mon-Fri from 5-6am, Wed 6-8pm, Sun 10am-12pm. Their worship is amazing.
-When there is a grass fire in the mountain no one is able to put it out.
So often when we drive or walk through the streets of Haiti I am overwhelmed by the love I feel for my Haitian brothers and sisters. I know this love is only a fraction of what God feels for the Haitians. I am so grateful we get to serve here.
(The information on culture shock was taken from expatcapetown.com blog. So good, thank you!)
That is very interesting on the different stages of culture shock. I love the updates! Hope you are all doing well!
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