Culture Clash

America is full of different cultures, and therefore worldviews. I suppose this may be why we are so postmoderistic and tolerant. I have been dealing with two completely worldviews: one during the week and one on Sundays.

Most of students are Asian of some sort. Asians are known for being success-driven, and this is most often seen in their view of education. Parents push their child to achieve the best education they can at great sacrifice to themselves and their child. A parent will do whatever they can to help their child succeed academically. Most Asians are in after-school tutoring. They will also bribe the teachers with gifts and compliments.Therefore, as a child you please your family by doing well in school. To receive a poor grade is to let down and disappoint your family. I often see a heavy pressure students put on themselves to accomplish, and a deep sadness or keen embarrassment due to a low score on an assignment.

While it is honestly nice to have hard-working students in the classroom, there are a few problems that present themselves. One of these is compulsive lying. Even if you have the evidence to prove the truth, the students will bold-face lie to protect themself; they call it "saving face." Every human lies; God's Word makes that clear. However, it is more of an issue with the Asian. It is to the point that I expect them to lie then they are confronted. I am trying to find ways to work around this problem. I have set the expectation of truth in the classroom, but it is as though I am going against their entire way of life when I ask why they didn't study for their test and expect an honest answer.

The second biggest cultural difference is in the Micronesians. The Lord has also given me the opportunity to work with the Micronesian Senior and Junior high Sunday School. I would summarize the driving force behind the Island culture as pleasure. They are content with a very simple lifestyle, and I have not seen strong evidence of materialism. They would rather work just enough to survive and buy alcohol... or maybe just buy alcohol.

The Micronesian culture is also mactriarchal, so the women are the "responsible ones" in the families. There is also a lot of molestation in the homes. The marriage process of the Chammaros (Guam natives) and most of the other Islands is to simply talk to the familes and then start living together. No vows, no ceremony. The girls coming into the SS class have such a skewed view of marriage and family, not it is hard to teach them about God as our Heavenly Father and the Love of Christ for the Church. We talk about things in Sunday School that I NEVER heard about in church. The lady in charge of the class is incredible and I am learning so much from her.