Tim, the two guys from our church, and I started our 4-week seminary program this morning. For Tim and I at least, it was flooded with "you've-got-to-be-kidding-me" moments. We're entering a whole new cultural field here-- school. How do students interact? When do people talk? How do you take notes, pass out papers, ask questions, go to the bathroom? It's complicated.

I found myself filled with judgments both about the teachers and the other students. "It's not right or wrong; it's just different" seems so hard to believe today. Everything seemed so inefficient to me, so chaotic. Surely there are 14 better ways to form groups. Why does that guy insist on giving his 2 cents times 20? Is anyone else here as baffled as I am?

The most amusing part is that no, probably no one else is baffled at all. I'm assuming that to them, these systems and procedures make sense and work. I just don't have the right glasses on to see what they're seeing.

I'll be interested to see how this month goes. The other guys from our church are a little overwhelmed I think, but we're going to all get together after our siesta to work on our homework. Then Tim, Dad and I are going to check out a new area of Lima (Barranco) for dinner.

1 Comment

1. The Listros on February 2, 2009 at 8:10 PM

   Wow,
   What great, albeit frustrating, position you guys are in. Those two guys are very blessed to have the two of you encouraging them to do this. It must be comforting for them to have two people there with them that they trust. I truly wish our Spanish was at a level that would allow us to invest in others here in the same why.
   Will you be done in time for the field conference in Pucallpa in March? We hope to see you there.
   Thanks for the updates and your willingness to suffer for the gospel.
   Did you get a new toilet seat yet? Did you find anything else broken after we left? I hope not. If so we’ll settle up in Pucallpa.
   We will be praying,
   Christian