Source: OM International, April 28, 2014
When “Fernanda” and “Claudia” left their home countries for the Near East, they expected cultural challenges. While Latino culture is warm, lively and expressive, Arab culture seemed harsh, repressive, and strict to them. To their great surprise, however, they found that when they were with Arab women, it felt like they were with Latinos.
“The streets feel like a man’s world. I don’t know my place in that world,” Claudia, from Panama, said. Simple things like public transportation or getting groceries have been challenging for her and fellow worker Fernanda, from Brazil, who added, “It feels like we have to ignore men, and that feels so rude!
But as challenging as cross-gender interactions have been, the two have found great comfort and cultural similarities with Arab women. “Outside the house,” Fernanda said, “we can’t [act like] Latinos, but inside the house, with Arab ladies, we can.” Even some aspects of Arab culture that others on their team found challenging, Fernanda and Claudia found comforting.
One afternoon they were visiting a neighbor family and the mother of the family kept asking personal questions: “How much do you pay for rent? How much money do you make?” Instead of feeling offended, Fernanda laughed at these questions, thinking, “She sounds just like my grandma!”
They have also adjusted easily to Arab hospitality. When they go to a friend’s house, they are served rounds of drinks, sweets, and food. This is what they would expect at home. They have also found a similar emphasis on the importance of family.
For all of these similarities there is one extremely important difference. Claudia says, “These people have never had the opportunity to hear the gospel.” Fernanda adds, “Back home, we hear [Scripture] everywhere. It’s on TV, the radio in the churches. It is totally different here.”
ยป Read full story as well as another recent article, Far from the Green, Green Grass of Home, which explores desirable or necessary characteristics for those who wish to serve in this part of the world.