Saturday, June 17, 2006
L.A. Times article

A Wok With Jesus: Saving Souls in Chinese Kitchens

:: redeemed4hisglory @ 5:17 PM :: (0) comments


  Wednesday, June 14, 2006
cross-cultural understanding from 12.12.05

At the teachers' meeting last Friday, the middle school principal, who is an Anglo male, was saying that he would never understand some aspects of the school's culture. Now, for those of you who don't know, the school's culture is largely, though not entirely, influenced by Chinese culture because it was opened to minister to Chinese students struggling in the public schools because of discrimination, economic disadvantages, etc. Anyway, at one point he said that he did not and would not understand the idea of shame, which is somewhat of a controlling factor in how Asians interact with each other, see themselves, etc. Shortly after he said that a couple teachers walked in (late) and started to take seats toward the back; his preference was for them to sit closer, and he said so quite directly to one teacher in particular who happened to be the closest of those walking in. He didn't intend to be offensive or, as for as I can tell, mean, but the look on that one teacher's face told quite a different story; he obviously didn't understand the idea of shame. Some of the other teachers picked it up because there was whispering "Speaking of shame..." but I guess he didn't hear or make sense of what they were saying because he didn't address their comments.

That raises questions in my mind: how important is it for a person to understand how those to and with whom he/she ministers? Considering how difficult understanding a culture that is not one's own is for most people, I think merely trying to understand counts for something, but can a person ever be justified in saying "I'll never understand this (aspect of culture)" if that person has tried and, in fact, can't understand? If that is the case, should that person stay in that culture? I'm not saying I think the principal should leave; he seems to fit there better than I do. It's an interesting situation, though, because my thinking that he should stay creates a tension and challenges the importance I've given cross-cultural communication.

:: redeemed4hisglory @ 9:55 PM :: (0) comments