I have been thinking quite a bit recently about cultural toxins. Until the last week or so this was an idea that I had never really thought about. As we are just 2 months from finishing our stint here in Mexico, you think about a lot of things. First, you try to remember the person you were when you first arrived. You think a lot about the changes that have taken place in you through the experience. You wonder how much you've changed and if that change is going to be drastically noticeable when this experience is over. You think about the things that have changed you. You think about how this is different then that and why simply a different set of circumstances can change a person.
This last statement is the one I have been mulling over the last day or two. Why should a different set of circumstances change a person. More specifically, why should another culture (country) change a person. I think their are several answers for that, but the idea that keeps popping into my head is cultural toxins. Every culture is full of them. Mexico has them, the US has them, and I dare venture to say that every country has their own toxins.
What I mean by cultural toxins as a Christian is external cultural norms, practices, pressures, expectations, and vodoo that pervade your life within a culture and come into conflict with Scripture. Now, I am not labeling everything in a culture a toxin, just the opposite some cultural practices can be elixirs for the soul (ex moving from a task oriented culture, US, to a people centered culture, Mexico,). These things actually help you recalculate proper perspectives. These things always come into alignment with the teaching of Christ to a believer. These things can drive out poison that has long built up in a life.
When I personally think of the changes I have undergone, I think of them as cultural toxins that have been driven out of my soul. Now as a believer the challenge to us always is to have the same mind and attitude as Christ, to reject the wickedness of the world, and to be a light of the truth. Regretfully, known to us or not, we often let cultural toxins invade our souls, dim our lights, and create their own set of standards on our life. Before we know it, we look like the culture around us and very little like Christ. This can and does happen in every culture. Remaining pure from the toxins can only be done through vigorous communion with God and fellowship with other beleivers. Some Christians do a better job cleansing the toxins and some give in to full on cultural poisoning. I don't know where I was when I left, but I realize now that I definitely had my share of toxic buildup!
Either way, for me, it has been nice to sweat out some of the toxins I acquired in the States (of course I often wonder what toxins I have acquired here, time will tell). Returning almost feels like a clean slate a new start. Of course with the excitement of the new start is the reminder that the old toxins will be there to greet me. That is the challenge of returning I look upon as a believer, knowing the challenges I face and trying to avoid "being corrupted by the world". The confidence that I carry (as does every believer), is that we have a willing advocate who dares travel with us.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
A Shared Culture
While Mexico and the States often times seem miles apart, we do share a culture. Yesterday, my first day with the kids by myself for the week, I decided to take them to the Zoo. The Zoo is always a great dad thing to do. Anyway, we were walking through the aquarium, we got to the clown fish and Joelle yells, "There's Nemo". As we walk away from the tank, after searching high and low for Dorie (We found her later in another tank), a little Mexican girl walks up to the clown fish and yells "Que esta, Nemo." At that moment, the world seemed rather small. I sat there and I thought about what our cultures did share; Hollywood and Madison Avenue.
While Mexico is very Mexico (I can't really explain and you can't really understand), we see traces of the United States everywhere. Literally, in Guadalajara it is hard at times to find a blank surface not covered with grafitti, but in many ways I feel the influence of what comes here from the United States is its own grafitti on this country. Yes, Nemo is cute and I guess every culture should get the opportunity to love the clown fish, but most of what comes here from Hollywood and Madison Avenue isn't quite so cute. For every Nemo, there is 100 American songs spewing trash, and 50 movies that I wouldn't watch myself, little lone encourage anyone else to watch. They did send Dr Pepper south (thank you), but along with it came every fast food monstrosity and Abercrombie and Fitch add that breaks the peacefulness of an otherwise totally unique culture. At times I see these movies, adds, and especially songs and I fined myself ashamed of the States. I realize that it isn't just this country that they transport their trash to, but every country. This I guess is inevitable as the world's economy morphs together, but it is quite sad as well.
You look at these things and realize that this country is not really better for a single one of these "imports"(I can't imagine any country is). Older Mexicans will tell you this to your face, while poetically extolling the virtues of a "Pre-States" Mexico they remember just 20 years ago. I wish I could have seen this country 20 years ago. I assume my chance to see any other country "Pre-US" is gone as well. That makes me sad. Because here all of the things you would be happy to leave behind in America come with you. And all the things good about the States that you would have loved to bring with you, are unknown to most.
As I sit here the idea of first impressions popped into my head. Coming from sales I know the importance of them. I then don't find it so hard to understand why much of the world holds there noses up at us or the Muslim world finds us truly repugnant. What I see here, a man sitting in another country, is not anything beautiful about the US. But literally, its trash, spewed across every billboard, popping up in my local market, and blaring out of every 18 year old car I walk by. That is the culture we share with Mexico.
While Mexico is very Mexico (I can't really explain and you can't really understand), we see traces of the United States everywhere. Literally, in Guadalajara it is hard at times to find a blank surface not covered with grafitti, but in many ways I feel the influence of what comes here from the United States is its own grafitti on this country. Yes, Nemo is cute and I guess every culture should get the opportunity to love the clown fish, but most of what comes here from Hollywood and Madison Avenue isn't quite so cute. For every Nemo, there is 100 American songs spewing trash, and 50 movies that I wouldn't watch myself, little lone encourage anyone else to watch. They did send Dr Pepper south (thank you), but along with it came every fast food monstrosity and Abercrombie and Fitch add that breaks the peacefulness of an otherwise totally unique culture. At times I see these movies, adds, and especially songs and I fined myself ashamed of the States. I realize that it isn't just this country that they transport their trash to, but every country. This I guess is inevitable as the world's economy morphs together, but it is quite sad as well.
You look at these things and realize that this country is not really better for a single one of these "imports"(I can't imagine any country is). Older Mexicans will tell you this to your face, while poetically extolling the virtues of a "Pre-States" Mexico they remember just 20 years ago. I wish I could have seen this country 20 years ago. I assume my chance to see any other country "Pre-US" is gone as well. That makes me sad. Because here all of the things you would be happy to leave behind in America come with you. And all the things good about the States that you would have loved to bring with you, are unknown to most.
As I sit here the idea of first impressions popped into my head. Coming from sales I know the importance of them. I then don't find it so hard to understand why much of the world holds there noses up at us or the Muslim world finds us truly repugnant. What I see here, a man sitting in another country, is not anything beautiful about the US. But literally, its trash, spewed across every billboard, popping up in my local market, and blaring out of every 18 year old car I walk by. That is the culture we share with Mexico.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Living Our Lives with Junior Highers
The good news is that the girls purse was found with the other camera. Everything was there, the blackberry, and two camera's. A miracle really. In fact, what we prayed for. Although the girl that lost it was quick to say in the moment, "It's Mexico, as soon as someone saw the camera and phone it will be gone." God answers prayers. A very good opportunity for them to see that! It was so good as well because last week was prayer week! They also were doing such a great job going up to people at the park and sharing Scripture verses. They were supposed to pass out a verse to 3 different people (attached with suckers, another teachers great idea). I had two girls in my group pass out 5, they then ran out and asked if they could just go up to people and talk to them about Jesus. There are some really special sixth graders that I learn all the time from! I'm so glad that story, and week, can now have a great ending!
Brian and I have not had the same blessing with our camera. We knew when coming to Mexico there was a huge likely hood that things might get stolen. I guess that our pictures and camera is something we are going to have to let go. Letting go is something God has been teaching us a lot this year! Today Brian got some disposable cameras for our campout for the kids.
Yes, that's right we are throwing a campout for the 6th grade. Preparing for this, I had to sit down and think of some crazy fun games and campfire songs we did at the camps where I worked. It was amazing after 10 years how much you forget! I had such a hard time thinking of things. After being given some great websites by others, http://www.thesource4ym.com/ and http://www.creativeyouthideas.com/blog/, some of the games on there jogged my memory a little bit. They gave me some good ideas for my classes as well!
We have a wet and messy time planned for the kids. We'll have around 22 out of the 38 students at our house tomorrow. Thankfully, we will also have some other teachers! I'm not sure how it going to go, but we are planning on having a great time. I'm glad I'm not doing it alone. Sad thing though, one of the 6th graders that was really looking forward to coming broke his knee this morning playing basketball before school! Concrete courts hurt when you fall on them and this time it did some damage too! OUCH!
I've often felt this year, "maybe these are just not the ages for me". You have to be a really special person to work with Junior Highers." While I do think that does help, (some people just have a natural talent and ability), if we left it to just these people there would be very few of involved. Investing in the lives of young people is extremely important, yet there seems to be so few people actually doing it. I haven't been involved with Junior highers except for a few babysitters and a couple nephews for 10 years! I have to tell you I absolutely hate being who I have to be as a teacher to maintain a somewhat controlled classroom environment. It's really not me. But I don't mind a small group of 2 to 3, or when you get the chane to have fun and joke with them in situations outside of school. Through this experience I can say I never want to teach in a school setting again, especially Junior High. But there are things that I would be open to because of it that I might not have thought of before. Although many of them act like they don't like you in the classroom, they seem to still desire adult relationships. (Maybe not all with me, but with someone) Sometimes I think they don't really want to have anything to do with their teacher, and then I'm surprised later.
Junior Highers do get a super bad rap. Yes, they are incredibly moody, manipulative, judgemental and talkative. One day they hate you and the next day they blow your mind by actually saying something nice. For instance, on Monday one of my 8th grade students was mad at me because I wrote his name on the board because he was asking for lead for his pencil. My opinion was yes, I might get it wrong sometimes, but talk to me after about it. Plus there are many times that they should have gotten written up when they weren't. So he was mad at me for this "injustice". Then the next day I came to my class to find there were no tables or chairs. I was told I needed to find another classroom, but there are no other classrooms. So I quickly changed my plans and we sat in a circle on the floor. One kid comments how "cheap" the school is. Then someone said how there teacher (me) was mean or something like that. I just agreed that I was mean and whatever they said about me. Then the one student that was mad at me Monday was sitting next to me. He said, "You don't REALLY think you are a bad teacher do you? Because I don't think that. I think you are a really good teacher." One minute your bad and the next minute your good. Despite how bipolar they can be and they can "make" me, I don't feel like many of them have to many good adults speaking into their lives. For the same excuses that I give others give as well, "I don't do Junior Highers. I don't have the time. I don't like that age. They make me uncomfortable. They are crazy and you have to be crazy to work with them." etc. I think as with anything we really need to push through those excusses. Good lesson for me when I think so often, I'm not meant to be with Junior Highers, they are not my "age group".
Brian and I have not had the same blessing with our camera. We knew when coming to Mexico there was a huge likely hood that things might get stolen. I guess that our pictures and camera is something we are going to have to let go. Letting go is something God has been teaching us a lot this year! Today Brian got some disposable cameras for our campout for the kids.
Yes, that's right we are throwing a campout for the 6th grade. Preparing for this, I had to sit down and think of some crazy fun games and campfire songs we did at the camps where I worked. It was amazing after 10 years how much you forget! I had such a hard time thinking of things. After being given some great websites by others, http://www.thesource4ym.com/ and http://www.creativeyouthideas.com/blog/, some of the games on there jogged my memory a little bit. They gave me some good ideas for my classes as well!
We have a wet and messy time planned for the kids. We'll have around 22 out of the 38 students at our house tomorrow. Thankfully, we will also have some other teachers! I'm not sure how it going to go, but we are planning on having a great time. I'm glad I'm not doing it alone. Sad thing though, one of the 6th graders that was really looking forward to coming broke his knee this morning playing basketball before school! Concrete courts hurt when you fall on them and this time it did some damage too! OUCH!
I've often felt this year, "maybe these are just not the ages for me". You have to be a really special person to work with Junior Highers." While I do think that does help, (some people just have a natural talent and ability), if we left it to just these people there would be very few of involved. Investing in the lives of young people is extremely important, yet there seems to be so few people actually doing it. I haven't been involved with Junior highers except for a few babysitters and a couple nephews for 10 years! I have to tell you I absolutely hate being who I have to be as a teacher to maintain a somewhat controlled classroom environment. It's really not me. But I don't mind a small group of 2 to 3, or when you get the chane to have fun and joke with them in situations outside of school. Through this experience I can say I never want to teach in a school setting again, especially Junior High. But there are things that I would be open to because of it that I might not have thought of before. Although many of them act like they don't like you in the classroom, they seem to still desire adult relationships. (Maybe not all with me, but with someone) Sometimes I think they don't really want to have anything to do with their teacher, and then I'm surprised later.
Junior Highers do get a super bad rap. Yes, they are incredibly moody, manipulative, judgemental and talkative. One day they hate you and the next day they blow your mind by actually saying something nice. For instance, on Monday one of my 8th grade students was mad at me because I wrote his name on the board because he was asking for lead for his pencil. My opinion was yes, I might get it wrong sometimes, but talk to me after about it. Plus there are many times that they should have gotten written up when they weren't. So he was mad at me for this "injustice". Then the next day I came to my class to find there were no tables or chairs. I was told I needed to find another classroom, but there are no other classrooms. So I quickly changed my plans and we sat in a circle on the floor. One kid comments how "cheap" the school is. Then someone said how there teacher (me) was mean or something like that. I just agreed that I was mean and whatever they said about me. Then the one student that was mad at me Monday was sitting next to me. He said, "You don't REALLY think you are a bad teacher do you? Because I don't think that. I think you are a really good teacher." One minute your bad and the next minute your good. Despite how bipolar they can be and they can "make" me, I don't feel like many of them have to many good adults speaking into their lives. For the same excuses that I give others give as well, "I don't do Junior Highers. I don't have the time. I don't like that age. They make me uncomfortable. They are crazy and you have to be crazy to work with them." etc. I think as with anything we really need to push through those excusses. Good lesson for me when I think so often, I'm not meant to be with Junior Highers, they are not my "age group".
Friday, April 1, 2011
A Frustrating End to a Fun Day
Today was filled with the usual April Fool's day jokes. Although in Mexico April Fool's day is not until December 29th (Obviously it's not called "April fools Day"), but their teachers are Americans. We were terible today! We got the dean of discipline to come in and tell the students the trip to the amusement park today was cancelled due to water issues. We got a student to pretend to forget something and take another student off the bus to go back and get it and then the bus left. I was the one that waited for the students and pretended to call the other teachers to tell them we were left. The two I was with came out with perfect timing as the bus drove away.
There was one that I thought was a joke from my husband. He told me he left both of our cameras at the boys basketball game. I thought for sure he was joking because I didn't even see the camera at the game. He never took it out to take pictures. And I know he didn't have it when I took Joelle to the restroom. He said that he asked someone to call. I thought sure. Good one. Then after school when the school secretary told me that she hasn't heard yet anything about our camera, I finally realized it truely wasn't a joke. I went home and searched for them, but never found them. Hopefully it will show up at lost in found or something. It had all our pictures from Mexico. We have uploaded some of them, but I never uploaded many to snapfish or the internet because it moves really slow here and it takes forever.
Then at the amusement park the kids were told it would be a good idea only to take in money for food and drink, nothing else. Their leaders would have bags if they needed to put their suckers in it. (They were passing out verse cards with suckers.) That did not happen. Most of the girls chose to bring in a bag. Then the girls were all wanting to go on rides and didn't want to carry their purses or waters. So I waited watching there stuff for several rides. They decided to go on the log ride and all gave me their stuff. I had 4 total bags and two jackets. I was sitting outside the ride and one random stranger asked me to hang on to their IPOD touch. (I must look trust worthy.) After the log ride they ran to the next ride because we only had thrity minutes left. I began to pass back their things as they were trying to run through the line. I called for the girls to get their stuff, but one girl was already in the front of the line for her next ride. Two different girls wanted me to go on a ride that was right next door to this ride. So I clipped one of the girls camera to the other girls bag and gave it to her friend. I told her to give this to her friend that ran to the front. When the rides where done the bag was no where to be found. Frustrating. I think that the one girl that lost her bag kind of felt like it was my fault. We searched. It had only been maybe 5 minutes since we realized it was gone and I think someone already stole it. So frustrating.
This is so typical. I had a busy, but good week. It was prayer week and it went really well. Yesterday was such an amazing day. I had thought it was so great to go into my weekend like this. We were only going on a field trip today so I figured it would be pretty easy, then the weekend! Now it's hard to move past this feeling of frustration. It's amazing how 5 minutes can make a huge negative impact on your day.
There was one that I thought was a joke from my husband. He told me he left both of our cameras at the boys basketball game. I thought for sure he was joking because I didn't even see the camera at the game. He never took it out to take pictures. And I know he didn't have it when I took Joelle to the restroom. He said that he asked someone to call. I thought sure. Good one. Then after school when the school secretary told me that she hasn't heard yet anything about our camera, I finally realized it truely wasn't a joke. I went home and searched for them, but never found them. Hopefully it will show up at lost in found or something. It had all our pictures from Mexico. We have uploaded some of them, but I never uploaded many to snapfish or the internet because it moves really slow here and it takes forever.
Then at the amusement park the kids were told it would be a good idea only to take in money for food and drink, nothing else. Their leaders would have bags if they needed to put their suckers in it. (They were passing out verse cards with suckers.) That did not happen. Most of the girls chose to bring in a bag. Then the girls were all wanting to go on rides and didn't want to carry their purses or waters. So I waited watching there stuff for several rides. They decided to go on the log ride and all gave me their stuff. I had 4 total bags and two jackets. I was sitting outside the ride and one random stranger asked me to hang on to their IPOD touch. (I must look trust worthy.) After the log ride they ran to the next ride because we only had thrity minutes left. I began to pass back their things as they were trying to run through the line. I called for the girls to get their stuff, but one girl was already in the front of the line for her next ride. Two different girls wanted me to go on a ride that was right next door to this ride. So I clipped one of the girls camera to the other girls bag and gave it to her friend. I told her to give this to her friend that ran to the front. When the rides where done the bag was no where to be found. Frustrating. I think that the one girl that lost her bag kind of felt like it was my fault. We searched. It had only been maybe 5 minutes since we realized it was gone and I think someone already stole it. So frustrating.
This is so typical. I had a busy, but good week. It was prayer week and it went really well. Yesterday was such an amazing day. I had thought it was so great to go into my weekend like this. We were only going on a field trip today so I figured it would be pretty easy, then the weekend! Now it's hard to move past this feeling of frustration. It's amazing how 5 minutes can make a huge negative impact on your day.
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