Adjusting

On the field for a little over a month.  In the training that we received before we came to this country we were told that we would go through stages where things were great, things not so great, things would be normal, and so forth. Well, “things are-a-changin” as we adjust to our new home.

I can deal with many things that are different from what I am use to. I can go without many things. However, I have found my one hang-up here.
- Being cheated because I am a foreigner.

I know that these people work hard for very little. They deserve more, but there is a culturally acceptable fee for products and for services that are no problem for everyone… but the foreigner.

So what brought all on, you ask? Well, every day we take local transportation (Rickshaws & CNGs) to and from our destinations. Everyday we have to bargain the price (let me say that this is no problem. It is just a way of life and acceptable) and in many cases there are no problems. However, last night one of those times came when several of the CNG-wallas were asking for an exorbitant price for getting my family home. Finally, I negotiated the price to what I felt I could deal with and then we headed for home.

Once we arrived the CNG-walla changed the price and took an extra 10 taka when he gave me change. This should not have affected me, but tonight it did. I told him with what little language I could that what he did was not good and that I was not happy.

There were several men in our parking garage sitting around and they wanted to know what the problem was and I just told them what I had experienced and that I was not happy.

One man who spoke some english asked how much the CNG-walla took and I told him. That is when it hit me. I was letting the principle of not wanting to be cheated anger me over 10 Taka.......12 cents.

Just Another Week in a Thing We Call Life

The past two months had been hectic. We gave birth to our first child in another culture. For 3 weeks straight we had family fly over to visit. We had to run all over 2 countries to get the proper paperwork  so our child could get her passport, birth certificate, social security card, visas, etc... All while we were/are trying to learn a language that we are still struggling with after being here for 8 months. You would think that it couldn't get any more stressful. But no. Then came the bad week.

 Here's what happened.
1) While breast feeding our newborn, my wife developed a breast abscess. It was roughly the size of a large plum so she had to go see the doctor. The first doctor said that my wife is a first time mom and overreacting and that nothing was wrong. After we finally explained to her, through the use of a translator, how bad it was (pain, massive knot, etc...), she decided to send us to get an ultrasound. Across town we went to another doctor. He said, "It's an abscess. Go back to the other doctor and get antibiotics." So back across town we went to see the first doctor.  She gives us antibiotics and hemorrhoid cream. HEMORRHOID CREAM!!! IT'S AN ABSCESS IN THE BREAST!! Well after a few days of nothing getting better we decided to go to the hospital.  My wife was there for a week, taking antibiotics, being punctured in hopes that it would drain, and then ultimately having surgery.
2) (still in the same week) A cyst that I had 6 years ago on my lower back, that had started flaring up once we moved here, had gotten worse and was starting to flare up again. I noticed it while visiting my wife in the hospital. So I spoke with a surgeon there and I have to have surgery in December.
3) (still in the same week) After visiting my wife in the hospital and seeing my cyst rear its ugly head again, I developed a bad sore throat and was sick the whole week.
4) (still in the same week) One night, after coming home from visiting my wife in the hospital, seeing my cyst rear its ugly head again, being sick with a bad sore throat, I noticed a large 1 foot by 1 foot corner of our wall wet and covered with mold. We had a bad leak in our bathroom, under the tub, and it was coming through to our living room wall. Seriously! what kind of week is this...

It is just another week of life which we got to enjoy in another culture. Even here we depend on God's strength and grace to get us through these kinds of weeks.

Here's How It Works

Mondays- The Amazing. What people have seen God do.
Wednesdays- The Raw. The real-life struggles of a Cross-Cultural Servant.
Fridays- The Funny. The humorous side in living cross-culturally.