General Tips for Crossing Cultures Effectively

• As you encounter differences in culture and behavior between American culture and the host culture, remind yourself that one way is not the “right” way to live and the other way is “wrong.” Most of these differences are simply that — just differences.
• In most cultures, greetings are of paramount importance. Even in the U.S., we prefer a strong handshake and polite, clearly spoken greeting to mumbling or a limp wrist. Learn the common greetings in your host culture and use them with everyone you meet. Practice on your supervisor or team members if you are uncomfortable with the foreign words or actions. For example, in Tanzania, when a young person addresses an elderly person, it is correct to touch the elderly person’s hand to your forehead and say, “shikamo” which translates, “I am not worthy to kiss your feet.” This is a sign of respect for age and wisdom and will bring much good will toward the American student who shows this respect. These actions and words are unfamiliar to Americans, so practice will make the greeting more comfortable.
• Be aware of the volume of your voice when you travel overseas. Often Americans are viewed as loud and brutish because of our tendency toward boisterous conversation. Also, if someone from the local culture does not understand something you say, talking louder will not help. In Indonesia, girls talk softly and stand very close to other females when speaking (this is not the same in male-female interaction). In Taiwan, however, most restaurants are very noisy with loud conversations taking place at most tables. Take your cues from the local people for the appropriate volume of speech and laughter.
• Privacy is more valued in western cultures than in non-western ones. In East Africa, 20 Kenyans can fit on a church pew that would hold only 12 - 15 Americans because of the American sense of personal space that does not exist in East Africa. Be prepared for you personal space and privacy to be invaded in other cultures.
• “Hurry up and wait” is a typical experience overseas. Be prepared to be on time for all events, but be prepared to wait for the events to begin. Most non-Western cultures are more people-oriented and event-oriented than task oriented. That means that a meeting won’t start on time if all of the participants have not arrived because the presence of the people is more important than the time the meeting begins or ends. If you are a task-oriented person (i.e. you like to get the job done and don’t “need” to spend time socializing before you finish the job), you will want to practice enjoying events and people and leave your watch at home.
• Men holding hands while walking down the street in non-Western cultures is simply a statement of friendship, not of sexual orientation. Men often hold hands with male friends in public as do women with female friends. If you find a local person of your sex wanting to hold your hand in public, consider the action a giant compliment — you have been accepted as a friend. However, men and women usually do not display affection to each other publicly, whether by holding hands or otherwise. These social rules protecting cross-gender interaction are of utmost importance and should be respected by guests.
• For women visiting a male-dominated society, you are not there to impose your cultural and societal freedoms on the women of that culture; you are there to bring them spiritual freedom in Christ. Your experience will be most effective and beneficial to you and the local people if you live in accordance with their modes of behavior for women that do not compromise the gospel. This perspective may seem like a giant compromise to respecting the value of women, but your purpose is to show women of the local culture their worth to God, not to crusade for their social independence.
• The United States has a very young culture that is becoming more and more casual. Most other cultures (except Australia and Israel) are older and they, in general, have more social rules to govern ally types of behavior. I call these high-maintenance cultures because everything matters in these cultures. Ask your field personnel to describe some of the more common cultural norms that you will encounter and do your best to act according to the norm. For example, who you know in a high-maintenance society is of great importance. I meeting new people for ministry, if you can gain an introduction into the community from a community leader, you are more likely to be welcomed because the villagers will know how you fit into their context. You are friend of the chief, so you are acceptable in their society. That is one reason speaking with a village chief or elder in African and Asian communities is critical before trying to minister in a new village. You ministry will be more acceptable if the people know how you fit into their context by who in the village you know.
• “There is something in the mindset of the American that says being comfortable is of higher importance than dressing appropriately” says cross-cultural educator Sarah Lanier in her book Foreign to Familiar. As you pack, be sure to take some nice clothes as well as work/play clothes and remember that modesty is always the best policy. Otherwise, says Lanier, “a too-casual manner of dress says, ‘I don't respect you or your protocol and I express how casually I take it by not bothering to dress appropriately.’” If you find yourself without appropriate clothes for a situation, borrow some from your host or go to the market and buy something appropriate. You will be purchasing a souvenir at the same time.
• On the field, you will be out of control of your life. You will not be able to go where you want to go when you want to go; you will not be able to eat the food you like at every meal; you (probably) will not be able to communicate fluently with the local people. Be prepared to give up control of your time, your freedom and your “rights” in order to minister effectively.
• If you like to have a plan and live by the plan, teach yourself to be flexible and to embrace change. Your plans on the field will change several times and being in control of the situation is not a realistic desire. You will feel less frustrated and out-of-control if you recognize your need to know the plan and act according to the plan and teach yourself that change and flexibility can be good.
• Find more information about living cross-culturally in Sarah Lanier's book, Foreign to Familiar.