When one moves to another country the newness of the environment doesn't always settle well. I think culture shock alarms not only our brain, but our physical body as well. Over the past few weeks I have discovered many things my delicate little stomach doesn't approve of. I'm always up for something new (expect for if I've already tried it and dislike the taste of it already…) it's just too bad that my belly doesn't share the same opinion. Food was the least of my problems when I first got here to Korea, I was so surprised how modern it was and how much it's changed since I left. I had to get this electronic key chain that I had to load with money for it to become my bus/subway ticket. All I would have to do is scan it through scanner thing and it pays for my ride just like that! I found it cool at first, but having the deficiency in various electronic items I couldn't figure out how to load money in through their computer machine. It took me a while to get it but now I can do it in my sleep! One major problem I had being an experienced Egyptian half sidewalk/street walker was the fact that there are stop lights with cross walks here! I couldn't just run for my life across the road hoping the next taxi won't run me over like it did back home. I actually had to wait! Like wait till the red light turns to green THEN cross over. I've had several experiences where I was pretty much oblivious to everything and anything (just like I was back in Egypt cuz apparently no matter what you do there you get harassed) that I crossed to the other side of the road only to realize that it was on a red light! No wonder no one was walking with me! That's still something I have to get used to, hopefully it won't take that long though cuz I might end up in the hospital a few times before I end my freshman year of college. Jet lag wasn't helpful either, since I'm a morning person I generally wake up at 6 am no matter what time zone I'm in; so moving half way across the world just totally messed up my sleeping habits. And I was constantly exhausted the first week I came. Constant fatigue plagued over me as I tried to find classrooms, listen to introductory speeches and so on and so forth. I'm sure for all of you who have moved at least once in your life to a foreign country experienced what I am talking about. After about a two weeks starting college I began to notice how I felt so alone in such a grown up world. I didn't think I could get use to all this. It was defiantly hard getting used to the pace of living alone not really knowing anyone, going places by myself, no one to talk to for most of the time. Everything was sinking in the fact that I was in a new culture and all alone with no family or friends I could just stop by and hang out with. It was very difficult for me, especially when it came to my spiritual life and I didn't exactly have that support I used to get from my family, youth group leaders, friends, or MSC parents. I was starting to head downhill fast in my Spiritual walk. Since I couldn't really "express myself" like I used to back home I began to wonder and question God about His plans and why He brought me here to begin with. I started rethinking a lot about God's promises for me. If He really promises to not harm me but to give me a hope and a future why do I feel all this pain and depression? Thoughts like those circulated in my mind as my head and my heart fought over the issue regularly. I ended up talking to a good friend about this issue and he described my situation so perfectly that it helped me see what I was going through clearly. He said that "our bodies get sick when we are in a new place cuz it's not used to the sickness there, same spiritually." And I knew that all the newness will ware off soon enough and that God's promises always comes true not one has failed like it says in Joshua 23:14. So even though the culture shock might make my stomach ache from the new food or get lost in the subway station on my way to somewhere or even get attacked by the enemy constantly for moving here and obeying God. There's one thing I know for sure, is that God will help me get over the newness of things and He will always be there to guide me and protect me each step of the way. So I really don't need to be afraid about my future, cuz I know He's not there to harm me, but to give me wonderful blessings beyond my comprehension as long as I delight myself in Him. :)
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Moving Makes Me Sick!
When one moves to another country the newness of the environment doesn't always settle well. I think culture shock alarms not only our brain, but our physical body as well. Over the past few weeks I have discovered many things my delicate little stomach doesn't approve of. I'm always up for something new (expect for if I've already tried it and dislike the taste of it already…) it's just too bad that my belly doesn't share the same opinion. Food was the least of my problems when I first got here to Korea, I was so surprised how modern it was and how much it's changed since I left. I had to get this electronic key chain that I had to load with money for it to become my bus/subway ticket. All I would have to do is scan it through scanner thing and it pays for my ride just like that! I found it cool at first, but having the deficiency in various electronic items I couldn't figure out how to load money in through their computer machine. It took me a while to get it but now I can do it in my sleep! One major problem I had being an experienced Egyptian half sidewalk/street walker was the fact that there are stop lights with cross walks here! I couldn't just run for my life across the road hoping the next taxi won't run me over like it did back home. I actually had to wait! Like wait till the red light turns to green THEN cross over. I've had several experiences where I was pretty much oblivious to everything and anything (just like I was back in Egypt cuz apparently no matter what you do there you get harassed) that I crossed to the other side of the road only to realize that it was on a red light! No wonder no one was walking with me! That's still something I have to get used to, hopefully it won't take that long though cuz I might end up in the hospital a few times before I end my freshman year of college. Jet lag wasn't helpful either, since I'm a morning person I generally wake up at 6 am no matter what time zone I'm in; so moving half way across the world just totally messed up my sleeping habits. And I was constantly exhausted the first week I came. Constant fatigue plagued over me as I tried to find classrooms, listen to introductory speeches and so on and so forth. I'm sure for all of you who have moved at least once in your life to a foreign country experienced what I am talking about. After about a two weeks starting college I began to notice how I felt so alone in such a grown up world. I didn't think I could get use to all this. It was defiantly hard getting used to the pace of living alone not really knowing anyone, going places by myself, no one to talk to for most of the time. Everything was sinking in the fact that I was in a new culture and all alone with no family or friends I could just stop by and hang out with. It was very difficult for me, especially when it came to my spiritual life and I didn't exactly have that support I used to get from my family, youth group leaders, friends, or MSC parents. I was starting to head downhill fast in my Spiritual walk. Since I couldn't really "express myself" like I used to back home I began to wonder and question God about His plans and why He brought me here to begin with. I started rethinking a lot about God's promises for me. If He really promises to not harm me but to give me a hope and a future why do I feel all this pain and depression? Thoughts like those circulated in my mind as my head and my heart fought over the issue regularly. I ended up talking to a good friend about this issue and he described my situation so perfectly that it helped me see what I was going through clearly. He said that "our bodies get sick when we are in a new place cuz it's not used to the sickness there, same spiritually." And I knew that all the newness will ware off soon enough and that God's promises always comes true not one has failed like it says in Joshua 23:14. So even though the culture shock might make my stomach ache from the new food or get lost in the subway station on my way to somewhere or even get attacked by the enemy constantly for moving here and obeying God. There's one thing I know for sure, is that God will help me get over the newness of things and He will always be there to guide me and protect me each step of the way. So I really don't need to be afraid about my future, cuz I know He's not there to harm me, but to give me wonderful blessings beyond my comprehension as long as I delight myself in Him. :)
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