Culture Shock part 1

I have had the great privilege of traveling to many different parts of the world. I would not consider myself a world traveler. However, I have had numerous experiences that have helped shape both my heart and my perception of all life around me.

Throughout all of these experiences, the greatest "culture shock" that I have ever gone through was coming back to America after I spent time in Ghana, West Africa. Granted, I have been "shocked" by many parts of the cultures I have visited. But when I returned from Africa, readjusting to life in America again was very difficult. I would find myself angry and broken quite often. However, this post isn't about that experience.

I wanted to share with you about the culture shock I have experienced within the States. I also have been able to travel to several different parts of the U.S. and have seen glimpses of the many cultures that comprise our country. The two experiences that rate the highest on my "culture shock" barometer have both occurred within the great state of Kentucky. When I was in high school, I participated in an ASP (Appalachian Service Project) in a very rural and poor area of Kentucky. The poverty there overwhelmed me as a high school student.



The second culture shock experience has been the past month and a half of my life, living here in Wilmore, Kentucky. Can you say WHITEVILLE? I realize that I have never lived in an inner-city environment, although I did spend much of my time while in Athens in the inner-city (I miss those kids soooo much). However, I have lived in the South and I am now realizing how much of a blessing it is to be surrounded by such diversity.

There is no diversity here in Wilmore. In Culture Shock part 2, I will share more with you about the different type of diversity here on campus, but this is a very white city. And this entire area of Kentucky is very homogeneous. This may not seem like a big deal to you, but it has been quite an adjustment for me. Some of the friends I have met here, especially those from the North, such as my roommate from Minnesota, say there is more diversity here than any place they have ever lived. I cannot imagine that. Do you recognize, value, and appreciate the diversity in your world? I encourage you to pay attention to it. Your world view will truly be enhanced by expanding it to understand and respect other culture's perspectives.

I am not trying to get on some political hot topic. I am simply making an observation of the strangeness of this culture to me. I am realizing more and more everyday the richness and benefit that comes from the varying degrees of diversity that have surrounded me throughout my life. I expect that the Lord has as much to teach me with the lack of diversity here as He has through other stages of my life, but I NEED SOME COLOR! The Lord made us all. We are ALL made in His image. And I want to be continuously and constantly reminded of that.

May you all be blessed by and be conscious of the richness and treasure that surround you in the diversity of your environments. (more to come in part 2)