The honeymoon is over!

So for those of you that are unaware of the process of "Cultural Adjustment", allow me to explain:

The Honeymoon Stage: characterized by a sense of anticipation, exhilaration, and excitement. This is an exciting time as you are fascinated with your new surroundings. Although you may not fully understand your surroundings at this time, you are eager to fit in. When misunderstandings increase, you are likely to experience the second state of cultural adjustment.

The Hostility Stage (I think this needs a different name): feelings of frustration, anger, anxiety, and sometimes depression. The initial excitement gives way to frustration with the college bureaucracy, the weariness of communicating in English every day, and in some cases, physical discomfort or other problems. Although not fully aware of it, you probably react to these stressors by rejecting and displaying hostility toward the new environment. Many academic problems begin during this stage. The hostility stage can be a difficult and painful stage.

The Humor Stage: begin to relax in your new surroundings and begin to laugh at minor mistakes and misunderstandings which would have caused you major headaches in the hostility stage. By now, you have made some friends and adjusted to the complexity of the system you are participating in.

The Home Stage: comes when you have retained the allegiance to your home culture, but also "feel at home" in your newly acquired one. You may now have successfully adjusted to the norms and standards of the new environment, and should be commended for the ability to live successfully in two cultures.


Now, I would not say I am "Hostile" (although my brothers may have said differently in my younger years) , but I am definitely past the honeymoon stage! I was speaking with a vary amazing woman the other day (you know who you are) and we were talking about in the world, not matter where you are at, after the excitement of the honeymoon stage is over, real life sets in. It ends up being the same stuff, different day. My "Amazing Friend" then summed it up quite nicely...

"No matter where in the world you are at, every single day it still boils down to one thing... that satan and God are battling it out for your soul."

So, it then comes down to what "WE" choose daily. Who we choose to follow and what our motivations for doing so. There have been days where I chose to follow the weariness that I was feeling. There have been days when I chose to be frustrated with all the Latin men that shout out rude comments as I walk down the street. BUT, there are also days when I chose to be excited to go to work and I have chosen to enjoy all the little things that I learn every day.

And it doesn´t have to be moving to another country that triggers this culteral adjustment. It could be taking a new job, moving to a new city in the same state or even just a vacation. As my friend Sandy Bell used to say (maybe she still does), "Stay in the process!" Because, it is all part of the process.

So, there is this weeks insight into the thoughts of Beth. Now onto the other things that I have been up to.

This last week I just back from Matagalpa with a group of Dentists and hygenists from Portland, Oregon. Over 4 1/2 days we say 78 patients and did 398 procedures. From a general cleaning, to fouride treatment to extractions, amalgums and composits... I deifinately learned a lot of new words in Spanish!

Photo 1:
They were definately a goofy group! That is the dentist in the chair.


Photo 2:
Giving a shot and getting ready for an extraction... yikes!


Photo 3:
We ate a pill that you chew that shows how much plaque is left after brushing. Elizabeth, how did mine turn out?


Photo 4:
Some kids that had treatments that day. They are seriously SO tough!


Photo 5:
And a picture from the landbank...for those of you whom have ever wondered how a pinnaple grows, here you go!

So, that is pretty much it for now. Please still keep it in your prayers about a supporting church. I have two churches that I am looking into as my supporting church. Pray for guidance as I and these churches make this decision.

Bendiciones,
Beth Ann