Tips for adapting to new cultures:

Living in a foreign culture is like playing a game you have never played before and for which the rules haven't been explained very well. The challenge is to enjoy the game without missing too many plays and learning the rules and developing skills as you go along.-L. Robert Kohls

Volunteers are an important part of our ministry in Nalerigu. We have seen volunteers thrive, survive, and barely make it out alive. The volunteers who thrive have learned how to adapt to new cultures. Below are several tips for adapting to a new culture.

• Pray through it. Remember that your struggles are not always cultural but also spiritual. Ephesians 6:2, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm."
• Know the host country. The more you understand about your host country, region, mission organization, people group, etc., the more prepared you will be for the cultural challenges you will face.
• Get involved. This take effort, but get to know the nationals: your co-workers, housekeeper, shopkeepers, etc. Express interest in what they do and how they live. They are often as interested in where you have come from and your culture as you are in theirs.
• Attempt to view the situation from the perspective of your hosts. Put yourself in their shoes and attempt to understand and find a logical explanation and the values behind what you see in the culture.
• Find a missionary who is sensitive to the struggles you are facing and talk openly about your feelings.
• Journal. This is a great way to express your thoughts and track your feelings and experiences throughout your cross-cultural journey.
• Laugh. Don't take yourself too seriously. In culture shock the old adage is true, "laughter is the best medicine," but don't do it at the expense of the country and people you are there to serve. The challenges you will face generally produce enough good material and memories to keep you laughing for a while.
• You own culture can provide encouragement, but do this with caution because it can become habitual. E-mail, instant messaging, Skype, and cell phones are all great advances in communication, but they can also become a barrier for you in making deep and lasting relationships.
• Have faith in yourself, in the essential goodwill of your hosts, and in the positive outcome of the experience. As you spend more and more time in a country, cross-cultural adaptation has a way of slowly sneaking up on you. Remember, you will learn something from this experience.

It is my prayer that you would implement these tips on your next short-term trip and thrive in the culture you are visiting.