SPLICE and snow...

So, our new program has begun. SPLICE (Spiritual, Personal, Lifestyles, Interpersonal, Cultural and Endurance/Enjoyment) is a program that addresses all these issues to help prepare me for Kenya. Today we talked about culture shock... it is inevitable! We watched this video of international students from Boston college tell about all the feelings and reactions they had when they left their home countries to come study in America... it was fun (and scary!!) to hear their reactions to adjusting to a new culture--all feelings that will probably soon be mine. My favorite was the student from Zaire who was explaining how Americans were straight-forward and sometimes blunt. He said, "In my country it is rude to say 'no', so if you invited me over to your house, I wouldn't tell you no, I would let you know I wasn't coming by not showing up!"  AHH! That is so foreign to me, but not wrong, just different. It will take time for me to understand Kenyan culture, but with the Lord's help it is possible!