Changing

Being in another culture for an extended amount of time is so eye opening. Not only have I learned a lot about how and why the Thai people live the way they do, but it has also shed light on someone of things about my own culture that I never noticed before. Many of the things I could say are "the right thing" to do are not necessarily biblical or even moral, but are beliefs I have adapted from being in the American culture so long.

I am getting to learn a lot about myself, questioning if that is my own personal belief or is that a cultural adaptation to America. And could this way about me change once I am soaked in a different way of life for a time? What is changeable? What is not? So some of things I believed in (and perhaps even prided myself for having that belief), may all change. At 33 years old, I am still getting to know myself and what makes me tick. I think traveling even a little is a great way to broaden someone's life perspective. Getting to live and function in another culture has been one of the more maturing processes I have ever endured as an adult. Mainly, because you have to become like a child all over again. It's wonderful to feel yourself grow and change especially once you thought you knew it all and had it all together.

Understanding more how big God must be if we are all made in His image yet are so different. Yet any country I have ever been to, you can still see how much the same.

Think someone ought to require a long term cross cultural experience for everyone, it's a pretty humbling experience...which is good.