Missionary service is the only way to truly prove your dedication to Jesus Christ. Or so I mistakenly thought—and upon which I built two decades of my life. To not be overseas was to be living in rebellion against prayers prayed and commitments made. To not be overseas meant ignoring a calling, …
Coming home again.
Coming home? Fondly called the RE-ENTRY PROCESS, reverse culture shock is a formidable minefield. The unsuspecting could definitely be caught off guard. When our family returned from our five years abroad, there was a simple exit-interview with one of the personnel directors at mission headquarters …
Are there ethics that should apply to our writing?
A school teacher has an ethical approach to her teaching. We could call it her PHILOSOPHY of teaching. Written or not, she acts out her philosophy over and over again, the EVIDENCE found in the MOMENTS that make up a school day. As a teacher myself, I respect the individual and his or her right to …
Color–Culturally loaded?
< Physically speaking, color may affect mood as interior and industrial designers have proven. Take for example the hotel that I recently stayed. The huge lobby was decorated in muted orange, clay, and silver. The wall sconces shed soft light on the surroundings, the waterfall added the gentle …
TWO WORLDVIEWS AT ODDS: How to handle conflict PART 2
Are you interested in repairing or building a relationship from someone very different from yourself? First of all, it is important to UNDERSTAND where your co-worker or neighbor is “coming from.” We often use this cliché... to understand where he comes from. However, Dr. Chad Rose has taught …
Two Worldviews at Odds: how to handle conflict
In the workplace, I was having trouble communicating with a fellow worker. We were always at odds with each other, so when I saw that Chad Rose, PhD was our speaker on the day set aside for professional development, I anticipated an interactive and truly helpful hour. I had heard him speak before …
Not in Kansas Anymore–New world traveler finds a way to feel at home!
You know it’s the car ride home when you hear these lyrics. In all seriousness, we have a playlist on our phones titled “Car Ride Home”! It’s full of bluegrass songs from the Franz Family. We recently discovered it’s the only music that soothes our son on the car ride home. I’m amazed but not …
TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT a FOOTBALL Match
This story is about the Mizzou vs Missouri State football match. As an international student, I enjoyed the match last Saturday with another colleague. We bought tickets online, so we just printed out the permit to show the guard. Before that we struggled for parking along with thousands of people …
Eclipse: Chinese Artist-Slash-Architect Wins 1st Place wth Columbia Art League
This summer I took a studio course on house design at Missouri University. There were only 14 students enrolled in it. As a university professor myself, I always have taught 30 in one class. So, this was really a small group. Maybe these students paid more expensive tuition. All humor aside, the …
Culture Shock
Today I find myself struggling to find the encouragement to study Romanian and to pursue relationships with those whom God has called me to work. I speak a different language, grew up in a different culture, and have lived a far different life from Romanians and Roma. Although I have been critical …