culture shocked
I’m in America, sitting in the Atlanta airport, on the Internet. Wireless. Weird. And I’m about to say goodbye to the United States again. I think I was ready to do that a few days ago, but I’m glad I got to connect with so many friends and family. I just wish I could have seen everyone I wanted to.
But then I would have been here much longer than a week.
Several people asked me over the course of my seven days here if I was feeling any culture shock yet. Most of the time I said, “Nope. Not really.� I think I’m pretty good at flipping a mental switch when I go from America to Europe and vice verse.
But then I went to a place called San Antonia Taco, Company, in Nashville, TN with some friends.
Tons of people. Talking. Loud. Southern American voice over the intercom. Loud. Tex-mex food. Greasy food. Americans everywhere with not a drop of European blood to be seen.
I think I actually got a little dizzy. That’s when I realized culture shock was setting in.
Yesterday I realized just how worn out I had gotten. Physically. Mentally. Over the past week I’ve seen old friends and new friends. I’ve driven through large cities, inner cities, hill country, and farmland. I’ve also had much more food than I normally eat. I’m just glad I’m getting on a plane soon to go back to Holland. And then on to Israel.
I guess my culture shock is only just starting.
On Sunday I did get to see something I didn’t expect that made my day. I went to a church with my friends to hear Don Miller speak, and before the service the church performed two baptisms. The church is called the People’s Church and is huge, which is quite a culture shock in itself. But even if Don Miller hadn’t been such a good speaker I would have been glad to go to the service.
The People’s Church is a Baptist church, and the second baptism that day was an elderly guy who had two people baptizing him.
A Baptist pastor.
And a priest.
Very cool.
Deana