You can't just learn a language. One needs to also learn the culture in order for the language to make sense. Here's an example. In America a child usually starts school at around age 5 and goes to Kindergarten. We take pictures and buy a new backpack. School life has begun. In Germany a child starts school in first grade. A huge hoopla ensues regarding the child having reached the magic age of becoming a schulkind. Anything before first grade is NOT SCHOOL. It's Kindergarten. This is for "babies". Children aged infant to age 5 or 6. In Kindergarten they are cared for and they play creatively to enhance their development.
In my mixed up mind I forget that my Benjamin ( aged 5 and in Kindergarten) is NOT a school boy here. So the other day a nice Mom says to me (auf deutsch) "SO when does BEN go to school?" I smartly answer back ( auf deutsch) " AROUND 8 AM".......and the response on her confused face tells me I didn't answer right. OOoooohhhh when does he become a SCHULKIND? " Not till next year"....
And it takes time to fit into a new (different) culture. As soon as the plane touches down and one enters their new land there will be immediate changes. Foods, drinks, fashions, ways of life, discipline, education. Travelling to different lands and testing out these different ways of life is very adventureous and interesting! Settling down into a different culture can be a little more difficult. When a family starts making their routine and traditions it's more of an upheaval to suddenly drop in somewhere new where the old routines and traditions don't work out as well anymore. One's identity starts getting confused. I am thankful for the adventure the Lord has given me and my family. However, I'm beginning to be hugely envious of people who fit in at "THEIR PLACE". Their town, their friends, their traditions, their foods and ways of life.......a continous pattern and cycle of life which feels comfortable and makes sense. I suppose that's why we miss Malawi so much. Living there both Stefan and I missed different cultural aspects from our own perspective lands........however in Malawi we started our family life and our own traditions. They worked and made sense and we felt comfortable. For a year now we've moved around among different places and our routines haven't worked out as well and we've missed our traditions and ways of life. The kids seem to be doing remarkably well considering the upheaval. I myself feel a need to figure out who we ARE and what it is we DO. To be certain we know this: We are children of God and we are in this world but not of it. Heaven is our Home. That knowledge gives me joy! And a desire to make a temporary home wherever it is we currently are in this world.
