Cultural Research Makes Your Team More Effective
Cultural research is a vital part of your pre-field training. Even if your team plans detailed and meaningful activities, a lack of cultural understanding and sensitivity can severely diminish your team’s impact. In our training seminars, we explain what it means to be cross-cultural and detail how to incorporate cultural research into your team training. If you feel intimidated by the thought of cultural research, you shouldn’t! Just keep it simple and fun. Here are four ideas to help your team gather information so the whole team is well-prepared and armed with the cultural understanding necessary to maximize the eternal impact of your mission.
Libraries & Bookstores
In addition to online research, visit your local library to check out books about your host country. Alternatively, have each team member spend time in the travel section of a local book shop, making notes on the region. In the next team meeting, have everyone share what they learned about the religious, social, political, economic, and historical background of your host country. Take it a step further by breaking your team into smaller groups and having them put together a creative presentation to educate the rest of the team.
Festivals & Events
Search online for local festivals, events, or cultural centers that are focused on the people of your host country, and make plans with your team to attend together. Take photos and mental notes on cultural differences you observe. Strike up conversations with those in attendance, sharing with them about your upcoming trip and inviting input on how your team can best prepare to adapt to the host environment prior to your trip.
Cuisine & Mealtime
As a team, eat the host country’s food. Go to a restaurant or have a meal catered for one of your meetings. There is great value in preparing your team members for culinary differences before they arrive in country. This practical preparation can reveal potential struggles for team members while teaching them how to gracefully, and in a Christlike manner, accept food that falls outside of their normal culinary tastes.
Another option is to have team members research common recipes of the host country, each selecting a dish to prepare. The team can visit an international market or grocery store to purchase ingredients and then cook a meal together. To simplify, each member could prepare and bring a dish to a potluck dinner. Try to incorporate the appropriate eating utensils (or lack thereof) and customs of your host country as you dine together.
Church & Spirituality
Search online for a nearby church whose congregation is composed primarily of natives of your host country. Invite one or two of their leaders to an upcoming team meeting. Your own church may be a great resource for this, as are college campus ministries that work with exchange students. Prepare some questions in advance for your guests to help your team better understand the host country and culture. Make this time interactive and informal so that your guests feel at ease.
The purpose of cultural research is not to become experts; it’s to become students. Education and understanding are keys to alleviating anxiety and apprehension while growing curiosity and courage in your team members. Cultural research will help you and your team better appreciate and respect your host culture. As servants of Christ, we want to be bridge builders that preserve and assist the already-existing ministry in the host country. When the entire team has this mindset, it helps to lessen the effects of cultural differences and increase team members’ compassion as they serve.