A Glimpse of Another Culture
If I have learned anything over my study abroad experience, it’s that I don’t know very much about the world. But this past weekend, I had the opportunity to explore a culture I’ve never experienced before. In Marrakesh, Morocco, you better have a lot of patience as a driver and a lot of nerve as a pedestrian to cross the street.
On one of my adventures, I went with a group to visit the house of an Amazigh family in a small village. There, I learned the grandmother has the final say in this culture. Although she didn’t know any english, my guide lived in the next village over and explained to us the significance of their everyday life. She had cows and chickens in her front yard for milk and eggs. The house itself was made out of clay like material and gourds were hung from the ceiling for decoration. The tables were low to the ground with small stools or pillows for seats.
He then showed us her traditional dresses and, at her permission, she let the women in the group try them on. Every wardrobe is equipped with a dress with silver embroidery and a dress with gold embroidery. Women wear gold embroidered dresses only to weddings as guests. The silver embroidered dress is meant for all other special occasions. Then, she went around and tied a headscarf on our heads so that we were complete. I can’t even describe her smile. She was so happy to share the life she knew with all of us. She looked at each one of us like we were her daughters when she helped us get ready.
Once she was done helping us, she went back to the fire, where she was cooking Khobz (a type of bread) for us to eat. There wasn’t enough room around the table set up for all her guests, so she indicated for me to sit next to her. I was really hesitant at first, because I didn’t quite feel like it was my place to sit there with her, but she kept motioning for me to come over. I sat down and she held my hands while we learned about the tea that this region drinks. It’s a peppermint green tea, but they add many other plants for various reasons. People typically drink it in the mornings or after their siesta, but I saw it served at all times of day over my travels. In order to mix the tea properly, the people pour the tea from about a foot to two feet higher than their glass and pour it back into the pot a few times before serving. The first day I tried this, I got more tea on the table than in my glass, but by the last days here, I was doing much better.
Every once in a while, she would grab more sticks for the fire and I would try and help her. It just felt so nice to be with her. Whenever she was done moving the fire around, she would warm my hands with her own. And they were HOT. I don’t know if she has any feeling left in her fingers because I definitely couldn’t do what she does.
Then, it was time to eat. The bread was served with honey and olive oil from the region, as well as jam from queens. Queens is a fruit that we don’t have here in America. The Jam tasted like cinnamon apple butter, but it was red. When our guide found out we didn’t know what queens was, he went to the kitchen and grabbed some for us. They looked like fuzzy pear/apples.
This adventure was filled with a lot of other new experiences too. Walking up and down the endless markets in Marrakesh is a completely different vibe than the small villages. Their merchandise is beautiful! I bought a scarf and pair of pants myself. However, I do have to preface this. I, as a female traveler, would likely not come to the markets alone. It’s a bartering system here and some shopspeople are very pushy with purchases. Not only that, but when the markets close down and the tourists thin out, it can be dangerous to be caught alone.
Overall, Marrakesh was an eyeopening experience for me. I’ve never been to a country where Arabic was it’s first language. Then Tamazight. Then french. Then possibly english or german. The people live so differently than anything I’ve seen before. If you’re looking for more than foot transit, I would say that motorcycles/bikes were the kings of speedy travel here. For my stay, I had two riads to call home and both were lovely. The first one was actually a donkey stable up until 400 years ago. The second one was a little fancier, but it had the same layout. There was a tiny unheated pool in the center of the square and then rooms lined this tiny courtyard. Both times, they served breakfast on the roof and it was deliciously filling food for a small price.
I couldn’t be more thankful for this experience and everything I’ve learned about myself and about this culture through it. There are so many other places in this world I’ve yet to explore. I guess I’ll just have to wait to see where I end up next.
Blog 7 – Lifelong Learning
Hello, hello, hello…to my dear friends!
There are so many blessed things in life. To me, the greatest gifts in this world (behind the gift of faith, of course 🙂) are learning, knowledge, and education. No one can take the gift of knowledge away from you, for wisdom is gained over time and seeps into perception, vulnerability, and perspective. It ebbs and flows with the tide of life and morphs into a rock that grounds our morals, values, and underlying beliefs, leading us to be who we are and think the way we think. Thank you for spending your time with me today as I ponder some of the lessons that studying abroad has taught me! I hope that you can take a moment for yourself to see how your own knowledge, wisdom, and thoughts help you interact with the world!
One of my innermost and core beliefs lies in the idea that one’s attitude and mindset have deep psychological power over life’s constant curvature. Finding the beauty in each day can sometimes feel like a monumental task when the world around you seems to be disintegrating – and that is a valid feeling. However, no matter how challenging a season in life may seem, there is ALWAYS an abundance of things to be grateful for…even if the only things you can be grateful for is the oxygen you breathe and the eternal salvation you possess. Thoughtful reflection and gratitude can take adversity and mold it into lifelong wisdom!
Three things that I am grateful for:
- Coffee (as the weather is beginning to cool, coffee is the perfect way to warm up…I get SO giggly and excited when I get to have a yummy cup of coffee)
- Productivity (there have been many unproductive moments this semester, but I have lots of projects that are due soon, and I have been quite productive, which is so happy)
- Irish Immigration (Laura and I had our Immigration appointments in Dublin, and everything got sorted quickly! We now have our “Irish Residency Permits”, which feels pretty cool! 😎)
Moments and experiences. What are some of the times in your life that have been the most significant? Have there been moments or experiences that have totally changed the way you think? Have you ever had that passionate, excited feeling that bubbles through your body when someone inspirational is speaking? The truth is, whether we reflect on it or not, moments (both good and bad) shape us. There is no denying that our perception of the world comes from our lived experiences at home, in school, at work, and with every individual we encounter.
My study abroad experience has been monumental. I have done loads of things that I never thought were possible, and I am growing every day with the obstacles I face. Interestingly, I have a lot of spare time in which I reflect on my experiences, and I have come to learn many things about myself and the world around me, as well as solidify many of my preexisting notions. This blog is dedicated to just that – sharing my thoughts!
Thought #1 – Time with God Makes a Real Difference
Okay, so I know that you may be thinking, “Duh! Katie, of course spending time with God makes a difference, He’s God!” and you would be very correct. Over the course of my time in Ireland, I seem to have inadvertently done a variety of experiments on myself (which is so funsies because science is my favorite subject – there’s a little fun fact for you 😋), one of which has revolved around my time with God.
For the first part of the semester, I was doing really amazing – establishing a morning and evening devotion routine that kept me close to God. Then, in the middle of the semester, there was a week that was just downright rough. I was a mess, not managing my time well, tired, cranky, not getting things done that needed to be done, etc. And then it dawned on me. As I was writing in my daily prayer journal, I realized that I hadn’t done my morning devotion the entire week. I felt sad that I would have pushed God to the side like that, I felt guilty for not making the One who created me a priority, and I felt certain that my week fell apart because I did not spend time with God, like I should have. The next week, I made a conscious effort to do my morning devotions before anything else in the day, and I added a small afternoon devotion as well. Any thoughts on how my week went? If you said that I had the best week that I have had in Ireland, up until that point, then you would be right!
Maybe you have experienced something like this in your life, too. I am here to tell you that God forgives you for those sins. He loves you unconditionally because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross, and He wants to be a prominent part of your life! Be creative! Find ways to talk to Him throughout your day (prayer), read His Word, and meditate on how He positively impacts every aspect of your life! Let God work in you and joy will undoubtedly overflow!
Thought #2 – My Flaws of Perfectionism and Control
We all have flaws. Some flaws are things that we see in ourselves or in other people, and some flaws are things that only God really knows. I don’t know what your flaws might be, but I know that one of my biggest flaws is both a great blessing and a challenge…perfectionism.
I have always wanted to be the best that I can be and do the best that I can do in everything. From school work and dance to my future career and my relationships, I strive to be perfect. The problem is, I live in an imperfect world, and I am a sinful, imperfect person. Therefore, it is impossible for me to be perfect. Along with this pesky flaw of mine, I feel the need to have control over things because many times, I sinfully feel that if I do it, then it will be better than what someone else may come up with.
Allow me to give you the visual for my confession.
I just finished a group project in my Communications class. To preface, my group was a bit of a hot mess, and the reasons why I had to take leadership of the group were valid. However, I ended up doing about 92% of a project that had five people working on it…that is ridiculous. When I was working on our team reflection, I reflected on my flaws of perfectionism and control within the setting of this group project. I took control over this project because I didn’t trust my group members to put forth work that matched my standard of what “good work” looks like. There are particular reasons why I didn’t trust them, but that is still not an excuse for me. I hope that in the future, I am able to work past some of my flaws to give others the learning experience that will be most beneficial for them.
The first step in making any change is recognition. I have recognized an area where I can continue to grow, and I thank God for giving me opportunities to work through some of these areas of growth in Ireland. And maybe, just maybe, this recognition will give you confidence to reflect and recognize an area of potential growth in your own life! After all…no one is perfect! 😉
Thought #3 – You Reap What You Sow
There are two common ways of taking on something new. One is that there is an urge to accomplish a task, get it done, and move on. The other is the overwhelming desire to twist and squeeze every last ounce of thought, growth, and experience out of a task. Both ways are valid and useful for different parts of life. However, the path that is usually taken is dependent upon the intention and motivation that lurks in the deepest depths of one’s mind and heart.
When opportunities present themselves, we have the choice to decide how much of ourselves we are willing to devote to this new experience. Indubitably, you will reap what you sow. If you put reflection, hard work, and joy into what you are doing, you will receive the benefits of growth, accomplishment, and immense gratitude. If you put less effort into something, then you ought to expect your outcome to be less fruitful.
Coming to Ireland, I had it in my mind that I wanted to be here to begin a journey of taking care of myself again and to learn new things. I had no idea what was going to be in store for me, but God certainly knew the things that would be awaiting my arrival. When I was presented with numerous opportunities, I made the choice to welcome every one of them with open arms. Yes, that has made my semester pretty busy, but it has been powerfully rewarding. I have learned more about myself, dance, culture, mindfulness, personal care, food, sincerity, empathy, and the power of God than I could have ever imagined.
I say with gratitude and thanksgiving to God that I have undoubtedly squeezed every last ounce of thought, growth, and experience out of my time at the University of Limerick! I still have a few weeks left of finishing classes and a bit of travel, but I feel in my heart that I came to Ireland with a shapeless me and I will eventually leave Ireland with a sculpted new sense of self and perspective.
Thought #4 – Care, Spontaneity, and Dance
Priorities. We are all given 24 hours in a day, no more, no less. How we each decide to spend our 24 hours each day depends on our individual priorities. Now, priorities shift through the phases of life, but they do drive our thoughts and actions on a daily basis. Examining ourselves and our priorities is a healthy way to maintain a sense of balance in our hectic lives.
As much as I would like to admit that I have prioritized myself in the past, I most certainly have not. If you are reading this and happen to know me on a personal level, you would know that I put a ton of care into other people, my activities, my academics, and quite possibly everything that doesn’t have to do with my personal care. However, that is the silly-goofiest notion and not an option for anyone who wants to be healthy, for real. One of my main goals in coming to Ireland has been to care for myself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Through new habits, I am succeeding in caring for myself more. My new habits include: lots of devotions, prayer, pilates, dance, journaling, sleep, healthy food, and reading for pleasure! Guys!!! I actually get 8 hours of sleep each night! It’s incredible to not feel like death every day!! 😆
Due to the fact that I am caring for my personal well-being more, I have so much more energy to be adventurous and learn more about myself! One thing that has become apparent to me is how much I enjoy the most spontaneous adventures! I have always been a person who likes to plan everything out in advance, but some of my most fun memories of my time here include days where nothing was planned until the moment we decided to do something! I love a spontaneous adventure to a new coffee place or the random, “Oh, you know what we should do today? Shopping!!” moments! My all-time favorite spontaneous day in Ireland was when Laura and I went to the Aran Island of Inis Oir at the beginning of our trip. We got to the island and decided to rent bicycles for the day! We rode around the entire island, stopping where we wanted to stop, having lunch on a beach with the waves crashing up against the rocks by the lighthouse, and doing whatever brought us joy in the moment! God blesses us with incredible moments – we just have to take the time to ponder the special spontaneity that a moment can bring.
On a slightly more serious note, I would just like to say, I am finally happy. Now I know that you might have a lot of thoughts in your mind right now… “Uh, Katie, that doesn’t sound happy.” or “What? Aren’t you always happy? You seem like it!” But the reality is, I choose to find the joy in most moments, but that does not mean that I am genuinely my most happy self all the time. (If you know me well, you know when I am the most happy…)
To this point, in an enlightening conversation I had with my mom a few weeks ago, she made a comment about me seeming like I am really happy again. She pointed out that I haven’t been my “normal” happy Katie self in a really long time, and she is right. It dawned on me in that moment that it is true – I have not been happy the last few years, and I compared those memories to what is different now. Yes, you might be thinking that it is because I am having the time of my life in Ireland, but that is not the root of my happiness. It all comes down to one single fact about myself. Dance and Katie are a package deal. You can’t have one without the other.
I have not had dance as part of my everyday life for the duration of my time at MLC, and whether I realized it or not, it has made my college experience very difficult. My idea of who I was became shattered my sophomore year at MLC when I was diagnosed with a variety of hip and back issues that severely limited my ability to continue dancing. I felt lost, broken, and not happy. But my mom had a really good point – I have been genuinely happy here. Why? I am dancing again. I will never dance to the extent that I used to – my body can’t handle the force. But here, I have found ways to be active, dance, and move my body in ways that cause significantly less pain. You will never know how much that very thought means to me. It brings me to tears every time I think about it – in fact, I am crying right now as I write this to you. I have found the key to my earthly happiness – dance.
My eternal joy and motivation come from Jesus, and my earthly joy and motivation come from dancing for Jesus, and I would have it no other way. I am now certain that whatever my vocation may be, it undeniably has to involve dance in some way, shape, or form, for that is how I can best serve my Lord with joy.
Thought #5 – Win or Learn
Earlier in my “gratitude” section, I alluded to the idea that attitude and mindset have deep power over our thoughts and actions. You are how you think. If you think positively, then you are likely to be an optimistic, “glass half full”, kind of person. If you think negatively, then you will likely be the pessimist, “glass half empty”, kind of person. Which one are you? Which one do you think you are at this moment? Which one do other people perceive you to be? Which one do you strive to be?
A truth for you. People change. Now I know that is a “crazy” fun fact, but we all know it to be true. If someone wanted to be more positive, all it takes is to “flip the switch” and decide to live by one of my greatest mottos, “win or learn”.
There will undoubtedly be silly goofy situations that fling themselves before you all the time, but it is how you handle the situation that has the power to change the outcome. If you decide to live by this motto, then either the situation went really well and you can celebrate, or the situation went poorly and you are now graced with the opportunity to learn from those mistakes. That is how we grow – through making mistakes. Success isn’t measured by how little we fail, but rather how we overcome constant failure and adversity with resilience and grace in God.
I have made the choice to live by the idea of “win or learn” while being in Ireland, and I say with conviction that it has made my learning and growth to be abundant. There are always hard situations with cultural differences, communication styles, group projects, public transportation – you name it – but I either get to rejoice in succeeding or learn from my mistakes!
I will give you a quick, silly example! This past week, Laura and I went for our usual Friday morning shopping! Side note…everything went splendidly well with the buses this time! Aren’t you proud of our big win?!?! 😁 When we got to the store, we had our usual, already-made shopping list, which included a bottle of white wine. Just to be clear, we were using this wine to make chicken scampi – so don’t get any goofy ideas about what we do around here! 🙂 Anyway, I was checking out in the self-checkout when I scanned the wine, and it flashed for an employee to come over. I just figured that I was going to be carded…but NO. He looked at me and said, “Half ten.” That’s it! What the heck was that supposed to mean?! So I looked at him and said with a question mark at the end of my sentence, “Half ten?” And he said, “Yeah” as he reached for my bottle of white wine (which we spent a decent amount of time picking out so that we could get the perfect bottle of wine with the right hints of flavor to go with our beautiful dish – I guess it was a waste of our 10 precious minutes). For the record, I am not salty or anything… 😋 In the end, this meant that we couldn’t purchase alcohol before 10:30 am…which I thought was extremely silly goofy, considering how much people drink in this country!
Anyway, we could have been really sad about our tragedy with this beautiful bottle of wine, but instead we laughed about it and said, “Well, I guess we will have to come back another time!” So now we know (and you know for the next time you happen to be in Ireland purchasing alcohol before 10:30 in the morning) that we shan’t do this again! I promise we won’t try to buy our wine in the morning ever again…we learned!!!
Highlights from these past weeks include:
- UL Access Campus (I was able to observe a teacher on the UL Access Campus teaching English to Ukrainian refugees. I will be teaching them in a few weeks to go along with my TESOL class, and I am getting excited!)
- Dublin Day (Laura and I went to Dublin for our Immigration appointments, but we also had a delightful day of spontaneity)
- 1 Year Anniversary (Micah and I celebrated our 1 Year Anniversary, and I feel so thankful and blessed to have him in my life – thank you, Lord!)
- Cliffs of Moher (Laura and I went on a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher with our Worldstrides friends…and I got coffee…hehe)
- Video (I learned how to make a video for a project in one of my classes – I feel so techy 🤓)
- Pottery (I went to an event to make pottery, and I learned that I am HORRIBLE at it – but I laughed so hard at myself!)
Low-lights from these past weeks include:
- Motivation Slump
- Control
- Thanksgiving Blues
Learned Insights from the Low-lights:
- Do you ever wake up in the morning and you are wide awake, but everything in your brain and body tells you that you just can’t do anything for the day? Well, that seems to happen to me all the time…and let me tell you, it is quite frustrating. Feeling a lack of motivation is a real thing that I believe most people have or will experience at some point. But having a motivation slump doesn’t have to be the thing that takes over our day. It gives us a healthy opportunity to evaluate our day and remember where our motivation should really come from – Christ Jesus.
- This goes along with my thought #2, but I just always feel the need to be in control. I want to make sure that things are good and well thought through, but the reality is – that is ridiculous. I can’t control what God has already blessed and by forfeiting my want for control, I get to harness my need for surrender to God, and God alone. This is not bad. It is healthy and an absolute blessing.
- I don’t know if you have ever felt this way before, but I am feeling sad because my family will be together for Thanksgiving, and I will not be there. Now, I know that I chose this path for myself, but it is still hard to see the people I love in one place, together, on a special holiday when I can’t be there to celebrate too. It is a challenge because Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Ireland, and everyone is looking forward to Christmas at the moment, so I am battling my no-you-have-to-wait-until-after-Thanksgiving-to-put-up-Christmas-decorations conundrum. I guess this just gives me an opportunity to share my love for Thanksgiving with my friends here in Ireland!
Scripture that has been with me these past weeks:
- Psalm 23:4 – “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
- 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
- Luke 1:37 – “For no word from God will ever fail.”
Whew! It is always an incredible moment when you can look back and reflect on how experiences shape us and mold us to be who we are for a period of time, until another revolutionary circumstance strolls by and challenges us to rethink. You know the saying, “You learn something new every day”? Well, I believe that we should seek to learn at least one new thing every day. We are blessed with the opportunity to be encapsulated by lifelong learning – we have knowledge at our fingertips. All it takes is a little motivation, reflection, prayer…and just a little bit of pixie dust!
All my love,
Katie Gilkey
Talking to Londoners
This past weekend, I was in London and I had an enjoyable time sightseeing. I was also blessed to be able to attend the Wels mission there for worship. On top of that, while I was there, I had many conversations with a number of people, both strangers and friends.
Conversation 1:
To preface this conversation, I was talking to a few kids that I know who live in London. It is really neat to compare our school to theirs. For the most part, it is similar to ours in the lower grades; however, the older they get, the more different the school gets from how we know it. However, even from early on, schools have some subjects like manners, ethics, and even general religion. Most American schools don’t have classes like these, and public schools are usually completely secular. Then, as they approach their equivalent of freshman year of high school, they typically choose a broad focus, such as STEM or humanities, etc. That year and the next are challenging, but as they become what we would call juniors in high school, things start to slow down, and they can take fewer classes that are even more focused. Then, after that year and the next, it is time to go to university at the same age that we do here in the US. I really enjoyed hearing about and almost envied the system of being able to have so much focus on your interests in high school.
Conversation 2:
To preface this conversation, I was speaking with someone who has lived in the US and England. I was talking with them about some differences in government. Specifically, the topic of the head of state intrigued me. The head of state in America is usually a politician who is elected for a few years; however, in England, the head of state is the king, who is in that role for a lifetime. Many people in England like the king, and he explained the mass support because the king is someone whom the people look up to, and he sets a good example for them, while not making political decisions. He then said that, conversely, the President of the United States is not always loved because he is not as long in office and often has to make controversial political decisions.
Conversation 3
To preface this conversation, I was speaking very briefly to someone about my age, maybe a little older. They were telling me how expensive England is, especially after Brexit, and I was telling them how Berlin was middle of the road. I found it tricky because the Pound is already stronger than the Euro, but a meal in London was numerically more Pounds than it would be Euros in Berlin. So it was interesting to hear how someone living there felt about the economy.
I really enjoyed my weekend in London. It was nice to have talked to so many people about their feelings about England and London, and for me to be able to compare things there to my home in the States, but also to Berlin.
Blog #6 Handshakes and Hugs from South Africa
November 11, 2025
Hello everyone! This is the 3rd to last blog! My, how time flies. This is a slightly different kind of blog, as the assigned topic for this one was an interview. The assignment was to interview someone from a different culture and take note of the multitude of differences, similarities, and unique things about the other person’s culture. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Akira! We met at one of the meetings of the Christian Union Society (think of it as a club) and hit it off while chatting afterwards. Akira is currently studying early childhood education (just like me!) at Mary Immaculate College on the other side of Limerick. Even though she does not attend the University of Limerick, she still comes to campus for the Christian Union meetings every week.
What are five random facts about you?
- Akira is originally from South Africa. However, you would never know it, as she moved to Ireland three years ago. Many think she is from Ireland because of her accent. There are many accents and variations throughout Ireland, so she is often mistaken for being native to Ireland.
- She can fluently speak three languages. Growing up in South Africa, she spoke Afrikaans. She has since learned Gaelic and English. Akira is also currently learning a little bit of Romanian and hopes to learn Spanish as well.
- Akira loves to read. Her favorite book series is the Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan.
- She has five siblings that she loves to hang out with, three full siblings and two step-siblings.
- Akira did gymnastics growing up for 2-3 years.
What do you enjoy doing? Hobbies? Work? Personal time?
As shared earlier, Akira loves books. Specifically romance books. One of her favorites is “Better Than the Movies” by Lynn Painter. She loves singing and dancing around the house with a dramatic flair. Akira also has some theater experience. She currently works at an Italian-style pizza place owned by a couple from Romania. They are teaching her a little bit of Romanian, and she is helping their child learn Gaelic. Akira loves trying and experiencing many different kinds of foods… more on this later. She is also currently learning how to knit in her spare time.
What is something you wish other people knew about you?
Akira says sometimes she is quiet. Most of the time, she is just tired or thinking, even though most people think she might be mad when she doesn’t respond right away.
What was your childhood like? Where did you grow up? Who was in your home?
Akira was born in Durban, South Africa (see map). She lived with both parents until she was six years old, when they divorced. Her dad remarried, and she lived with her Dad, stepmom, and her two step-siblings. One of her favorite memories is going camping with her Dad, step-mom, and step-siblings, either in the mountains or by the beach. She recalled that they would often invite people to their campsite for a braai. Braais are the South African name for a barbecue. Think hamburgers, hot dogs, pasta salads, fruit salads, and chips. Akria later m
oved in with her mom. Soon after, she met her best friend, and they have remained good friends to this day, 10 years later.
What traditions or holidays are most important to you or your family? What’s your favorite holiday/time of the year?
Akira’s favorite holiday is Christmas. In South Africa, Christmas is in summer. No, it’s not in June or July. Which is what I originally thought after she told me. Christmas is still celebrated on December 25, but December is not a summer month. Ponder that for a moment. Akira and her family love going to the beach around Christmas, enjoying good food, and celebrating all together as a family, exchanging gifts, or playing games. Because her family loves having a braai, this might be the food they prepare for Christmas. Traditional Christmas food in South Africa may also include lamb, chicken, broccoli salad, pasta salad, potato salad, fruit salad, and various other types of salads.
What is a big holiday in your culture that not many others would know about?
Heritage Day is a significant celebration in South Africa. Akira compared it to the 4th of July. Because South Africa is such a multicultural country, it celebrates the diverse heritages of its people on Heritage Day. Everyone dresses up in their traditional cultural attire and prepares a cultural dish to bring in and share, either at work or in school. In some schools, activities may even be prepared for students to participate in.
How do people in your culture usually greet each other?
Akira says in Durban, where she grew up, people greet each other by saying “Howzit” (pronounced How’s it?), as in How is it going? Just like in America, responses are not too common, as most people have passed each other before an answer can be given. Or, most simply, extend their hand for a handshake to greet the other. But in church, Akira says that everyone hugs each other. I think we could say it’s the same in the States!
How do people in your culture view time or punctuality?
This is a somewhat broad answer. In America, I think we could agree that for most people, being on time is arriving just before, on, or just after the agreed-upon time. But yes, everyone has their own perceptions and practices. Akira told me that in South Africa, “on time” could literally mean arriving right at the agreed-upon time (e.g., 4 pm), or it could be anything up to an hour after. She said most would probably arrive at 20 past or 30 past the agreed-upon time (4:20 pm or 4:30 pm).
If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go and why?
After some thoughtful reflection, Akira decided on Spain. For three reasons: 1) To visit a good friend, 2) to try churros and dip them in chocolate, and 3) to learn Spanish.
What’s something your culture does really well that you wish others could experience? What is your favorite thing about your home culture?
Food. Yup. We talked way too long about food. And we were hungry after. Akira said, “Our food is the best food, but I guess everyone could say that.” 🙂 She continued on and told me that there are 12 official languages in South Africa, and that the people are extremely kind, with everyone enjoying chatting and visiting with each other.
The main similarities I noticed between our cultures are the significant role food plays in holidays and family gatherings, as well as a strong love for spending time with family, especially around the holidays. The main differences (and I think these are also the unique points) I observed were the seasons and holidays associated with them, as well as Heritage Day. Christmas is a winter holiday, yet it still falls in December. I can’t wrap my brain around that still. I love the idea of Heritage Day. I think sometimes we get too wrapped up in how we are similar and should be like everyone else that we lose sight of the unique things that make us, individually and as a people, who we are. We don’t take enough time to really notice why or how others are different from us in positive ways. I learned a great deal about Akira and South Africa. I really enjoyed my time visiting with her and getting to know her and her home culture better.
Life Lessons with Gert and Beate
For anybody who is thinking about traveling or studying abroad, just know that everywhere you go…you may stick out like a sore thumb. Just this past week, I traveled to London for the weekend and found that apparently, you walk up the stairs on the left side, but ride the escalator on the right. One simple mistake, and everyone else assumed I was an American.
So what is it about Americans that make us really stand out? I asked my host parents, Beate and Gert, what they think about the similarities and differences between America and Germany.
Beate traveled through the East Coast of America when she was young, much like I’m doing in Europe now. She loved America because the people were so warm and inviting. She felt like she could make friends with people quickly and learned how to water ski and rode in helicopters. To her, America really is a land of freedom.
For Gert, he loves to focus on industry and politics. He admires the drive that most Americans tend to have when it comes to earning what you have. Germany, he said, is currently facing political challenges related to immigration and the financial responsibility of this is being placed on citizens to support incoming families. He’s not too fond of it. He believes that an honest day’s work is the best way to have good food on the table and a family to go home to.
We also talked openly about stereotypes. I asked them if people really think of Americans as rich and loud. They laughed and admitted, yes. How we act in public, how openly we share opinions, and even the volume of our conversations make us stand out. But they also told me that people genuinely enjoy meeting Americans in social settings like pubs or dinners, where that energy becomes an asset.
Then we discussed German stereotypes. Germans are often seen as harsh or unfriendly, and my hosts couldn’t understand why. As someone who has graciously had three months of living here, I can tell you that they seem mean, but it’s not their intention. What I have found is that if you are doing something ‘wrong,’ a German will have no problem telling you that you are doing it wrong. Very bluntly. They are not being rude, it’s just their communication style. Once you understand this, it feels less intimidating and more commonplace.
Gert loves the movies and shows that come out of America. He thinks that Americans, like the Germans, have a lot of good companies and ideas. It is something to be proud of. America may excel at commercializing products, he says, but Germans have contributed more to the modern world than many people realize. He would like you to know that Germany has brought to you the first phone, first forms of human flight, the pacemaker, some good cars, and more.
Overall, I’ve learned that people are people and all people are different from one another. The culture that our neighbors have compared to us varies greatly. Yes, Germans drink a good amount of beer, their meals are hearty, and their accent is not inviting, but if you step into their world of peaceful S-bahn rides and waiting for the Ampelmann to turn green before you cross the street, you’ll realize all the beauty that they have in their way of life here. It is so structured. Everything is built for a reason and is designed for efficiency. They use less electricity because they are trying to make the world a better place. They care about their neighbors and have barbecues and life is merry when you look for the small moments.
What makes this experience especially meaningful is the history my host parents carry. Gert lived in East Berlin before the wall came down, and Beate lived in the West. What is history to me was their teenage and young adult years. They’ve seen governments transform and ideas shift in real time.
As we look toward our own uncertain future, I’m reminded first to look toward Christ. While worshiping with a small congregation in London last weekend, the sermon focus was that Jesus’ promises are stronger than our problems. I’ll also leave you with what Gert shard with me last week. “Every day, the sun rises and the sun sets. A new day begins. You don’t know what the government will decide or what life will become, but the sun will set. Whether the day was good or bad, a new one will come.”
Every day is a blessing. We just have to wait and see what God has in store.