It's funny to me how these two feelings of culture shock and cultural acceptance are delicately co-existing in our lives. Isn't culture shock supposed to decrease as cultural acceptance increases? And we've been here over 5 years. Shouldn't culture shock be a thing of my past by now?
Culture Shock: One day recently I was talking to students about our struggles in living in Costa Rica. Coincidentally, later that day I found myself in several situations that made me angry (ie. I had an episode of culture shock). Costa Ricans are nice people, but I just don't like the way that most of them drive, that's all! And the roads are generally terrible to top it off!
Cultural Acceptance: On the weekend, I spent a few hours downtown with a former student. While we wandered around, I felt so blessed for my easy life. We can get a cheap and tasty meal at a local café, or we can buy fresh fruit and vegetables for "pennies" at the local market. It's only about three hours to drive to a tropical beach, even during winter when many friends are battling below-zero temperatures and blizzards up north.
However, one experience of cultural acceptance really caught me off guard. We were attending an assembly at our girls' school to commemorate the Battle of Rivas of 1856. The villain in the battle was an American, William Walker, who invaded the country with plans to enslave the people. The Costa Ricans defeated him and his troops. My eyes unexpectedly filled with tears when the children did a skit that showed the courage of Juan Santamaria, the national hero who gave his life for Costa Rica. And, I teared up with the singing of the Costa Rica national anthem. Maybe it's because our Jayna was born here. I feel a connection to the country and am thankful for what it has given us.
So, everyday I am pulled in two directions concerning the culture that we are living in. I see God's blessings on this country and on our lives and ministry here, yet I sometimes yearn to be where I feel more at home (and where there is a Target). I don't know if that fragile balance will end one day. Right now, I do feel blessed to have a better understanding of the variety that God has created in His world. Different foods, customs, climates, languages - I really like having such a diverse life education - in spite of the potholes along the way.