After a week of feeling both physically sick and homesick, this city is finally beginning to feel a bit more “normal.” Although you can familiarize yourself beforehand on the numerous stages of culture shock, nothing really prepares you for actually experiencing the emotional ups and downs involved. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the different stages of culture shock, the entire process is supposed to take place in 4 or 5 stages. The first stage is often called, “The Honeymoon Phase.” Usually entering the country in some state of euphoria, you are able to view the new cultural differences as a new and exciting adventure. This stage is often short lived and you then move into phase two, “The Negotiation Phase.” At this point, the cultural differences become very apparent and you often become moody, impatient, frustrated and even angry as you try to adapt to the new culture. [This is the stage that I’ve been experiencing this past week]. But finally you are able to move into the third stage, “The Adjustment Phase,” where you begin to develop a sense of direction and the new culture starts to become more normal. Thankfully, at this point, I feel like I am now beginning to enter into this adjustment phase. To walk you through this process on a more personal level, let me use the example of my shifting attitude towards the whole means of transportation here: the “auto.”
Week 1:
“How fun! We get to ride around on these little rickshaws with a moped-sized engine to anywhere in the city that we want to go! Sure, their driving can sometimes be a bit scary and the continuous honking a bit annoying, but it’s so energizing to be able to negotiate a price!” [Perfectly illustrated by my first blog post]
Week 2:
[The reasonable (& fair) equation for determining the price of an auto: 1st Kilometer = 14 rupees + 6 rupees per additional kilometer]
Prices I paid:
Auto to work: (<1K) = 30 rupees
Auto home from dinner: (4K) = 150 rupees
Auto to the grocery store: (1.5 K) = 80 rupees
Auto to the mall: (3K) = 100 rupees
In addition, if any of these trips are at night, add 50 rupees. If it is raining out, double the normal price. And heaven forbid you actually want to be dropped off on the correct side of the street (so you don’t have to risk your life braving the traffic), 20 extra rupees. Overall attitude: “Negotiating is pointless, I have white skin. I hate autos.”
Week 3: “Perspective…if I don’t gain some quickly, I’m going to lose my mind. Autos are a necessary part of life and like it or not, I’m going to have to get used to them. Yes, they can be frustrating, and I will be charged extra as an American, but I can’t change that. Most of the drivers are very poor…some live in the slums, some even sleep in their autos. Even though I hate being ripped off, I can and must set aside my pride because the fact is that I can afford the extra 50 rupees, especially when they need it much more than I do. New strategy: approach each driver with a smile…it will transform the entire encounter.”
This is just one small example of the emotional roller coaster I’ve been experiencing the past week and a half, which is why I’ve been a little reluctant to blog. There are certain aspects here that are just really hard to get used to…such as the daily power outages and the lack of clean air. It’s only when these “luxuries” are taken away from you that you truly realize how much you take for granted on a daily basis.
Even though it’s been a tough week, there have also been some really huge blessings as well. First off, we finally found a place to live! Thank you for all of your prayers. I think that God used the entire housing situation as lesson one in South Asia on learning to depend more on Him. Last week, I finally came to the point where I realized that it was ridiculous for me to claim that I trusted God regarding the work of IJM, but not trust him regarding the logistics of my own life. Within hours of being more at peace with the housing situation, the doors opened for us to move in to an apartment that is safe, close to the office and reasonably priced. The apartment is less than a 10 minute walk from the IJM office and is located above a really nice Hindu family. We moved in on Thursday night and the only downside of the place is that my room faces a nearby temple so every morning I am abruptly awaken at 4:30 a.m. to a 10-minute serenade of religious chanting. It’s almost impressive that the man is able to project his voice well enough that it seems he is on my balcony with a megaphone. I think some earplugs might be my next purchase.
Things at work have picked up for me as well! My number one job is to find another legal advocate for the office. The process entails reviewing numerous resumes and making the initial phone interviews for potential candidates. If I find the person to be qualified for the position, I then arrange to bring them into the office and set up interviews with several of the advocates, as well as the legal director. This process is a little overwhelming because I feel far from qualified to determine who is suitable for the position but I think this might be lesson two in learning to depend more on the Lord.
I cannot believe that I have already been here for 3 weeks. The time has already flown by. It has been so encouraging to skype with friends at home and to receive so many emails and facebook posts, thank you SO much! Please feel free to email me or add me on skype: Kyleigh.Jung and I will do my best to respond quickly :)
Also, for those of you who haven’t checked out the recent CNN videos on IJM’s recent bonded labor rescue, they are definitely worth your time. The first one includes actual footage of the raid on the brick kiln. The second focuses on what life is like for the victims after they have been rescued and the last one is an interview with IJM founder, Gary Haugen, on the Indian government's role in the anti-slavery movement . If you have some time, please check them out!
http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2011/06/28/kapur.cfp.india.brick.kiln.cnn.html
http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/29/whats-next-for-rescued-slaves/
http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/29/governments-role-in-anti-slavery-effort/
Week 1:
“How fun! We get to ride around on these little rickshaws with a moped-sized engine to anywhere in the city that we want to go! Sure, their driving can sometimes be a bit scary and the continuous honking a bit annoying, but it’s so energizing to be able to negotiate a price!” [Perfectly illustrated by my first blog post]
Week 2:
[The reasonable (& fair) equation for determining the price of an auto: 1st Kilometer = 14 rupees + 6 rupees per additional kilometer]
Prices I paid:
Auto to work: (<1K) = 30 rupees
Auto home from dinner: (4K) = 150 rupees
Auto to the grocery store: (1.5 K) = 80 rupees
Auto to the mall: (3K) = 100 rupees
In addition, if any of these trips are at night, add 50 rupees. If it is raining out, double the normal price. And heaven forbid you actually want to be dropped off on the correct side of the street (so you don’t have to risk your life braving the traffic), 20 extra rupees. Overall attitude: “Negotiating is pointless, I have white skin. I hate autos.”
Week 3: “Perspective…if I don’t gain some quickly, I’m going to lose my mind. Autos are a necessary part of life and like it or not, I’m going to have to get used to them. Yes, they can be frustrating, and I will be charged extra as an American, but I can’t change that. Most of the drivers are very poor…some live in the slums, some even sleep in their autos. Even though I hate being ripped off, I can and must set aside my pride because the fact is that I can afford the extra 50 rupees, especially when they need it much more than I do. New strategy: approach each driver with a smile…it will transform the entire encounter.”
This is just one small example of the emotional roller coaster I’ve been experiencing the past week and a half, which is why I’ve been a little reluctant to blog. There are certain aspects here that are just really hard to get used to…such as the daily power outages and the lack of clean air. It’s only when these “luxuries” are taken away from you that you truly realize how much you take for granted on a daily basis.
Even though it’s been a tough week, there have also been some really huge blessings as well. First off, we finally found a place to live! Thank you for all of your prayers. I think that God used the entire housing situation as lesson one in South Asia on learning to depend more on Him. Last week, I finally came to the point where I realized that it was ridiculous for me to claim that I trusted God regarding the work of IJM, but not trust him regarding the logistics of my own life. Within hours of being more at peace with the housing situation, the doors opened for us to move in to an apartment that is safe, close to the office and reasonably priced. The apartment is less than a 10 minute walk from the IJM office and is located above a really nice Hindu family. We moved in on Thursday night and the only downside of the place is that my room faces a nearby temple so every morning I am abruptly awaken at 4:30 a.m. to a 10-minute serenade of religious chanting. It’s almost impressive that the man is able to project his voice well enough that it seems he is on my balcony with a megaphone. I think some earplugs might be my next purchase.
Things at work have picked up for me as well! My number one job is to find another legal advocate for the office. The process entails reviewing numerous resumes and making the initial phone interviews for potential candidates. If I find the person to be qualified for the position, I then arrange to bring them into the office and set up interviews with several of the advocates, as well as the legal director. This process is a little overwhelming because I feel far from qualified to determine who is suitable for the position but I think this might be lesson two in learning to depend more on the Lord.
I cannot believe that I have already been here for 3 weeks. The time has already flown by. It has been so encouraging to skype with friends at home and to receive so many emails and facebook posts, thank you SO much! Please feel free to email me or add me on skype: Kyleigh.Jung and I will do my best to respond quickly :)
Also, for those of you who haven’t checked out the recent CNN videos on IJM’s recent bonded labor rescue, they are definitely worth your time. The first one includes actual footage of the raid on the brick kiln. The second focuses on what life is like for the victims after they have been rescued and the last one is an interview with IJM founder, Gary Haugen, on the Indian government's role in the anti-slavery movement . If you have some time, please check them out!
http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2011/06/28/kapur.cfp.india.brick.kiln.cnn.html
http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/29/whats-next-for-rescued-slaves/
http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/29/governments-role-in-anti-slavery-effort/
As much as you hate writing this blog, you are an excellent writer! It is awesome to hear how much God is working through you and around you. Your unrelenting passion for the people of South Asia is a testament to how we should show God's love to others. You already have made an impact on the area around you, whether or not you know it. I can't wait to hear more crazy stories of your adventures! Next up is an elephant ride, obviously.
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