Anong Bago? (What's New?)

Research:  It's definitely progressing.  The day after I wrote my "I'm so emotional" post, my translator informed me that she could not translate for me anymore.  My reaction?  Huge sigh of relief!  Not that she was a poor translator, I just couldn't seem to communicate my research goals to her and we didn't appear to see eye to eye on her role as my translator (she's also my house-sister, so that made things sensitive and complicated).  Instead of being worried, I had an overwhelming sense of peace.  I thought, "Alright that makes things easier!  I'll just pray for a new translator with these specific characteristics."  Four hours later, I had a new translator!  Praise God!  She and I hit it off right away.  She has a heart for ministry and a mind for development.  She's also had experience in the barangays, but is not officially associated with the church (less bias).  We're also the same age even though she's two years out of college!  (They start college at age 16 here; there's no middle school).  She has a type A personality, takes things seriously, and is very meticulous!  I think she works harder than I do!  And that makes it all the easier for me to trust her.  In the last three days we've covered two out of the six barangays with 15 household semi-structured interviews from each.  The best part was that we didn't rush these interviews at all...they just flowed one to the next.  Efficient and effective?  Oh how I pray it is so.  Yesterday we took a day off to catch up on compiling notes and paper work---yeah...still working on that one.  Monday we're going to meet to consolidate our notes.  Tuesday I have an engagement with my host family and Wednesday we'll resume interviewing.  If we keep working at this pace we'll be able to triangulate our data!

Video Log 5.28.2010:

Culture Shock:
I think I always thought that the more times you went through the process of culture shock the less shocked you'd be next time.  Not true!  We're biologically programed for regularity and cycles and patterns, etc.  You will go through culture shock no matter how many times you've been through it before, but your external circumstances (if you're traveling with a team, if you have a pre-established understanding of cultural norms, if you have pre-established relationships with people) make a difference in how you manage yourself as you face shock (and maybe how long you're in shock).  -- I'm feeling much more confident and comfortable this week, legitimizing similarities and differences and interacting with the youth at the church.  "Just be yourself," Dr. Mask advised me before I left Covenant, "no more, no less.  They'll love you!"  With all your encouragement backing me up, I tried to relax a bit this week...life is better when I'm not panicking.  I should try it more often.  Thanks friends!