Written by a Cafe 1040 Student
The transition has been exciting and challenging in so many ways. The first week, we spent some time as tourists, getting acclimated to the time change, while also seeing some of the beauty here in South Asia. After the first week, we got settled in basetown, which I have begun to call home. Through many aimless walks, conversations with locals, and advice from our mentors, we've started to get a grasp on some basic knowledge of our city that includes: navigating the streets of our neighborhood, learning how to cross insane intersections, and shopping each day for fresh fruits and vegetables on the local market street. After about 2 weeks in basetown, we had the opportunity to do a homestay in a large community of Muslims for four days during Ramadan. It was an amazing and humbling experience that has pushed me to grow in spiritual discipline and understanding how to engage in a culture, despite language barriers and cultural differences. I also have embraced a deep gratitude for having the ability to know God and carry a deep and personal relationship with the Father so intimately. This gratitude has brought fresh joy and has pushed me to share more of my heart and experiences that I have with God to the people that I encounter daily. Learning how to engage in the culture here and make adjustments has been different in understanding little things like bartering, the standard time here (which tends to work in my favor) where everyone runs just a little bit late. After our homestay, I was looking forward to getting back into the routine that our home in basetown offers for the next couple months. Getting passed the total freshness of a new culture, it has been sweet to slow down and get settled in routine.
