How Well Do You Adapt, Flex, and Adjust to Other Cultures?
“Flex!” the team leader said loudly. My friend, Tim, led many short-term mission trips. Flex is his favorite word. When we received teams he was leading, we noticed this word used often. Learning how to be flexible, being willing to adapt, and able to adjust, are attitudes and skills that lead to fruitful cross-cultural work.
Adjusting to other ways of thinking and doing is not easy. Most anyone can make adjustments for a few weeks on a short-term trip. Adapting to another culture, in the long-term, takes great determination.
Are you willing to lay down your own ways, paradigms, and worldview to interact in meaningful ways with those you desire to reach? This will determine the depth of your missional impact. It is a lot more than being willing to eat strange food, though that is important. This has to do with developing cultural humility and a welcoming spirit. It demands we repent of pride, and let go of our desire to be in control. These are not easy, but they shape and mold us into Christ-likeness.
Visiting a Cambodian Worker
My trainee had been in Cambodia for six months. In his training, we had taught about adapting to culture and its importance. At first, it was fun and exciting to live in a new land. That soon wore off. Now, he missed home, especially his own food.
Being from the land of spices, many of the things that might bother a Westerner were not difficult for him. What was hard was the food. “Why would that be a struggle?” I wondered. Rice and flavorful sauces…they seemed similar to me! Not to him.
When I arrived, he was struggling deeply. As I probed, he blurted out his issue. “I can’t understand why they have to put sugar in their curry. That is not the right way to make curry!”
We have a tendency to think our own ways of cooking, eating, thinking, relating…basically of doing everything, are the right ways. Until you get beyond this, it’s very hard to adjust.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
Romans 12:3 NIV.
7 Areas You Need to Adjust and Adapt
- Food
This is one of the easiest in many ways, though as in the example of my Indian friend, it can become challenging over time. Not only must you be willing to try new foods, you must take the next step and learn to cook them. Let their commonly eaten food become what you frequently eat as well. Food is a huge bridge into the hearts of the people you want to reach.
- Clothing
We each have our own distinctive styles of clothing we prefer. Adapting to another completely different way of dressing is difficult. For a man who has never worn a piece of cloth wrapped around their waste, it feels strange. Wearing national clothing, even when those around you have westernized, shows love for the culture of those you want to reach. It communicates…I like you and your people!
- Language
Even learning a few phrases of another language opens hearts. When you speak well and fluently, you are much more likely to be accepted as an insider. This takes great effort and time. I recommend learning language in a style that builds long-term relationships. Language learning can truly be ministry!
- Speed and Time
I admit. This can be a hard one for me. Getting things done quickly, and ticked off my list is my definite personality preference. Much flexibility has been required of me in this area.
It is easy to get angry when things don’t happen quickly and our goals are not met. Whether it is waiting in a long and crowded line, the inefficiency of the way things are being done (in your perspective), you will need to adjust. It goes the other way as well. Perhaps you are now working in a Western nation where speed and efficiency are highly valued by those around you.
Another factor to observe is what it means to be “on time.” For a person from Switzerland, or the Netherlands, on time means five minutes early. In some cultures, you can be several hours late and its still considered “on time.”
We must be willing to let go of our preferences and adopt the patterns of the people we are working among. In Thailand, where I’ve lived for a few years now, there is nothing more distasteful to them then a pushy, agitated person who is in a hurry. Your witness can be destroyed in a few moments due to your inability to be flexible as it relates to time.
- Authority Structures
If you come from a nation where democratic processes are in place, you will naturally prefer that style. Those from hierarchical cultures naturally are more comfortable when there is an older leader who takes charge. “Why do they keep asking me what I want to do? They are the leader!” the local team members might think.
Learning to adapt to the authority structure of the culture you work among will save a lot of stress. Recognize the differences, and let go of your judgments about them. They are not right or wrong, just different.
- Decision Making Processes
How decisions are made is a very cultural thing. In some cultures, the oldest person present makes the final decision. Other cultures are communal. Nothing is decided until there is complete consensus. Don’t assume that the way your culture makes decisions is the best way for the context you are in. Observe the way things get decided among your people and flow with it. You’ll accomplish much more this way then if you try to impose a culturally different process.
- What Is Considered Valuable
This is another key worldview issue. What you considered most valuable may not be what they think is important. Adjust and adapt. Value and esteem what they value, and not only will they like and trust you, but it will be fruitful as well.
Here’s an example. Some cultures have a high value for education. Telling Chinese or Korean parents that education shouldn’t matter to them is not going to be fruitful. Instead, why not show value to it by offering tuition to their children as a way to build relationships? Instead of resisting a cultural norm, you can flow with it and use it for the Kingdom.
4 Quick Tips For Adapting, Flexibility and Cross-Cultural Adjustment
- Know why you are adapting. It is a love offering of service to Christ.
- Repent of cultural pride. We all have it. Ask God to use the “rub” to change you into His image.
- Ask God for help. You can’t do this alone. He is ready to enable you!
- Lean into the wisdom of local partners. Friends from within the culture you serve will encourage and help you to be flexible and adaptable in your new context.
It’s Not a One-Time Thing
While I wish I could tell you that after a few years you will be fine, I can’t. Willingness to be flexible, adapt and adjust in new cultures is life-long if we desire to be a missional person. It keeps us leaning on God and walking in humility, continually asking for His help.
What is your greatest struggle with cross-cultural adaptation?
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