Hands off MY food!

A few days ago, I ran back to my cabin to make my lunch.  I sliced some beautiful green apples and arranged some sweet juicy strawberries on a plate.  I cut into an orange, a perfect orange, that I had to climb a tree like Tarzan to obtain.  I pulled out all the stops-- even allowing myself a spoonful of peanut butter for the apple and the more expensive kiwi that I bought myself as a treat. Imagine everything you have ever dreamed about as far as the juiciest, tastiest, most delectable fruit.  That was my plate for lunch. My mouth is watering just thinking about all of that crazy deliciousness as I write this post right now.

I gathered up that plate of heaven and walked over to the school so I could eat with the other teachers for lunch.  I sat down and before I knew what was happening, a variety of hands started rushing to the plate.  No inquiries for permission, just hums of satisfaction as the teachers chewed those delicious fruits.  MY delicious fruit.   

"Que rico!" "Soooo tasty!"

My heart sank as it looked at the remnants of the once overflowing plate.  Soon, blood started to boil, and I used my fork to STAB into the last slivers of kiwi (I don't think anyone noticed the ogreish disgruntled attitude) Questions of manners flooded my brain - Did they not know that was MY lunch?  How rude!

Later that night, after my blood returned to its normal temperature, I was hanging out with some boys from youth group.  As we talked and laughed together, two boys opened their personal sized chip bags (the ones that have maybe 10 chips inside).  And you want to know what they did? They walked around the room to the other 3 of us and offered us a snack.  And at their action, cultural values smacked me in the face.  Ouch!

I remembered how the fruit event had led to confusion and frustration.  It had caused  judgement and a lack of understanding towards those hungry teachers.  I was quick to label them as thieves of my scrumptious food and my minutes of delight.  Their approach to food was DIFFERENT than mine.   Back home, we ask politely or assume something is someone else's until they offer (unless we are trying to steal our siblings french fries) -- but that's our food custom.  Here in Ecuador, you bring something to a group, you share.  Automatically.  Your plate is not yours.  Talk about having one of my sweet cultural customs stripped from my hands.  

Now, with my eyes opened a little wider, I am able to see this Ecuadorian value and their custom.  My individualistic (and often selfish) American self can learn a great deal from Ecuador.  This cultural difference - offering what I have to my community, even if it is a bag  of 10 chips or the most delicious of fruit, is kinda awesome. It discourages my selfishness and I need that.  

I need that a lot. 

Here's to learning more things about/from other cultures!

-kc

Have you ever had a cultural hiccup?