Making Friends…Cultural Lessons

On Sunday we went to church with the missionaries here who have helped us get situated here. It is beautiful to worship with brothers and sisters from around the world. It may be in a different culture, a different language, a different style, but it is by the SAME SPIRIT!! Of course in true latin style, we were there about 9:20 for a 9:15 service and only the pastor was there before us. Others steadily came in about 9:30. The service lasted till 20 after 11 or so…the pastor was in no hurry to end by a certain time. He preached until he had communicated his message

At the church we met a Panamanian couple who are students here at the seminary. In fact, they are both in the class that I am teaching! We invited them over last night to play Phase 10. They are about our age…well, really, they are Mere’s age…I am ooooollllddddeeeerrrr

They speak some English and we had a fun time.

Cultural Lesson (Reminder) #1: Punctuality is not a priority in this culture.

Cultural Lesson #2: (note: we are not sure we have learned the lesson, so we will probably “learn” this one again) Communication was not clear in our invitation, and Danny & Cindy (Panamanian couple) thought we were coming to their apartment on campus, and we thought they were coming to ours. The time was set at 7, so we thought this would be after dinner. (we need to ask what time the dinner hour usually is) They brought dinner…but maybe because they would be hosting they were providing dinner? If this is the case, since we thought we were hosting, should we have provided dinner? Or, was it just a kind gesture of having some food for us? We don’t know, but it was gooooood! They bought some barbecue chicken and spicy chicken from Pollo Campero…better than KFC, but basically the same thing. They also fried plantain…mmmmm, me likes! Luke did too as he kept reaching for more off of our plates. Well, we will have to figure out the food/dinner/hosting thing because we are planning to play Uno sometime soon!

Luke is learning all sorts of things here in Guatemala…some that his parents aren’t sure they are that excited about: