trip preparation

Orientation Meetings

Unless otherwise arranged all orientation meetings will be held at our meeting venue, The Lighthouse Church, in Vancouver, Washington.

Address:

7808 NE 94th Ave., Vancouver, Washington.

If you are participating with a team from another location discuss orientation matters with your team leader or pastor.

Orientation meetings answers a lot of questions. You are provided with cultural information, linguistic helps, you will watch videos produced by Guineans about Guinea-Bissau, you may even be fortunate enough to practice eating with your hands. The orientation meetings are a lot of fun, and give you a better understanding about what kind of expectations are reasonable for a cross cultural experience.

What to Expect

What you should know about going to a developing country.

You don't know best. You're not from there. Before you think they are backwards, take a little bit of time to humbly evaluate why they do things. Most short term missionaries and guests come off the plane and within two days are saying "These people really need a..." or "They really should consider doing...." and most offensively, "Somebody should teach these people to... the way we do."

Don't make commitments. If you suggest you will return, nationals will accept that as a promise not as a well intended idea. If you are (and you will be) touched by a situation, don't say you are even considering helping unless you are prepared there and then to promise to do whatever you say. If you want to help, keep it to yourself until you are able to do something. The importance of this principle cannot be overstated. Just as they expect you to keep your word, you can hold others their word.

Ask your hosts how they would do something before you dictate how it should be done. Often a guest, especially a physician or missionary will suggest how they want something done. Your hosts will do as you say, but because you don't understand the culture, their deference to your request will make it difficult for them to get the task done. In reporting and other things it is good to give an outline of what you want, but always ask them, "Is this how you would do this, or is there a better way?" Often they will have one and it will work more efficiently.

Relationship over Schedule. Guineans are far more interested in relationship than they are schedule. It isn't laziness, or lack of respect for the schedule on the whole. Sometimes it is. But generally it is that the most important thing isn't what is done, it is rather the experience shared. Don't stress if things move slowly, or don't happen at all. When you're with someone and the schedule is off, relax and enjoy the people you are with. Many Africans on the whole have the ability to go into a sort of dormant mode when things aren't happening. They don't talk, they don't look around, they sit silently in the heat whether it be a broken down transport, or at the port, or in an office, or on your front porch. They are not waiting for the event to happen, they figure it will happen at the right time and until then there is no reason to push or expend energy.

Humor is always good. Many jokes lend themselves to plays on language, a twist often lost in translation. So rather than jokes, stories are best. Self defacing humor is also good because it shows the listener that you are not conceited.

Why people don't smile. In most places in Africa, colonials considered themselves better than the Africans. Today, it is almost assumed that if you are white you think you are more important than them. They begin the relationship with that assumption. They often will not look you in the eye (unless they are an aggressive male). They will not smile because that assumes friendship. So as a guest you can put others at ease by smiling, playing, greeting enthusiastically. Call them "friend."

Honor the elderly. Do your best to honor older people by letting them sit in your place, and bowing your head for a moment when you greet them. Refer to older men as sir, great man, and older women as mother or Mrs. When a person you don't know scowls at you it's not because they don't like you, it is because they don't want to assume familiarity without your permission. So smile at them first and they will smile back.

Honor officials. When dealing with a low level official, remember no matter how low on the scale they are, if you're dealing with them they are important to you. You need to let them know that. If you do they will be honored and often will help you more than if you threaten or stress. If you need to get something done and they don't respond to respect, you can request to speak with their superior. In the end, you will be well advised to let them know how valuable and crucial their role is.

Verbal greetings and good byes. These are a foundational part of their culture. There are so many ways to say hello. You will be able to learn greetings in the vocabulary tools.

When to give gifts. Guineans expect gifts when you arrive and they respond with gifts before you leave. Often short term missionaries give gifts after they know all their needs have been met, meaning that they want to give out of the left overs. This is an afterthought and isn't in accord with the way they show love. Remember, give your gifts when you arrive.

Be careful how you give to person who has served you, after the fact. If you want to bless someone after they have served you, for example a cook or a houseman, it is appropriate to give them a token. You can give cash as a gift, but be sure it is not an exorbitant amount. If you do give a gift of cash you must make it absolutely clear that your offer is NOT payment for services. This would deeply insult them. If they have cared for you it is because they appreciate you. Offering cash for this service may seem "fair" to you but is a slap in the face of their generosity. So you can give cash if you say, "This is not a payment, I just wanted to do something special for you but I don't have any more ..." Please accept this as a way of saying thank you." and give them a big hug!

Personal greetings and visits. This also should be done early in the trip, especially the first or second day if at all possible. The honored national will feel you really care about them if you make the effort to see them when you arrive. If on the other hand you do not see them when you arrive, and you happen upon them in the market and they know you've been in town for a while they will be upset if they are close to you because you are not respecting your friendship with them.

Who are these people on the front porch? When you are gearing up to leave Guineans whom you impacted on your trip will come and sit with you. They may say nothing. They may spend time just sitting without an interpreter. They do this out of respect and love. It isn't because they have nothing else to do. Often they will bring gifts, simple, sometimes unfinished. But they will bring something, plan on bringing it home! If you're really lucky you'll have something that won't fit in your suitcase.

Use your right hand. If eating communally, eat ONLY with your right hand.

A handshake when your hand is dirty? Don't give them your hand, give them your forearm. They will do the same out of care for your hygiene. If you've just washed, give them your forearm. There is no foul or disrespect in this.

Official and nonofficial meetings. Often official meetings are filled with protocol. They virtually always begin by official introductions even if everyone there knows all of the others. Time will still be given to acknowledge those present. While it may seem foolish to a rogue American to have such conventions, it is a deeply rooted element of their culture. Often official meetings seal the intentions. Until it is discussed in an official meeting it isn't considered done. Business is almost impossible during and official meeting. So, often the plans are made informally during unofficial meetings, and then official meetings are a way of establishing the plans.

"That's a good question." This phrase doesn't mean you are insightful. If you hear it, it means you've asked a question that they don't want to answer because it exposes a weakness. This doesn't mean you shouldn't ask, it means they have to trust you to tell you the answer.

Offering water to visitors. Always offer water. If a friend has arrived it is always best to share your food with them.

Eating food offered to you. Offending people is never our goal, but if your team leader has given you specific guidelines you should adhere to them. If they have not, fresh veggies should not be eaten unless the person serving you assures you they have been cleansed sufficiently. Any deep fried food, or hot food is fine. Do not eat cold shellfish even if they have been cooked. Do not eat in the market, cold or hot. The market has been the epicenter of Cholera epidemics because of lack of clean washing water and the common practice of shaking and holding hands.