photo: CC0 Public Domain / FAQ graphic: Martha G. Brady
This truth is one thing I learned well during my time in Jamaica. It is an important and basic truth. They did many things differently from what I was used to in the US. Not everything was done in the most efficient way for sure. But efficienciency was not always the best policy there.
For example, there was a man who used to fill potholes manually. He came with a wheelbarrow filled with whatever it was, his pick and and shovel. He dug around the pothole and filled them with his shovel and pick. As Americans, we look at that man and laugh, knowing our machines can do a much better job.
Throughout the culture, my American mind was tempted to think, This doesn't make any sense! Share on XIn some ways, that is true, but the way he does his job gives him work and the respect that comes from having it. It feeds his family.
They used the big machinery to make big highways, but the potholes were filled by men like this on the little roads that filled most of the countryside.
Throughout the culture, there were many instances of thinking, that my American mind was tempted to think, “This doesn’t make any sense!” Until my friend and neighbor Walford Thompson would talk to me and help me see the other perspective.
I had a great mentor to answer my questions
As you know from reading this post, I ask lots of questions. It was no different then! Most of the time, I learned I could safely ask them of my friend and neighbor Walford. He and his family, wife Jen and four children lived next door to us in our first apartment on campus at Jamaica Bible College (JBC). The entrance to their house and their porch was outside the window to our bedroom/study for our first 1 1/2 years.
We knew what was happening with them most of the time and if they had the time, they knew much of what we were doing. I think Jen was way too busy to be concerned however!
Walford traveled a lot. Jamaica was much easier to get in and out of than their native St. Vincent. He worked for an organization called Men in Action back then. (now Ministries in Action). He often preached on the weekends in churches around Jamaica when he was home.
Eventually, they did move to Miami where we lived for a few years. Our kids went to the same school. It was fun to cross paths with them in a new place.
But Walford taught me much about the culture of the Caribbean and what it means to be black in particular. After knowing him and living in Jamaica, I never talked to blacks differently than anyone else. For some, it was offensive. But most, particularly younger, educated ones I worked with, found it to be fine. We could talk about books we read, movies we saw and any topic and it was fine!
But Walford taught me much about the culture of the Caribbean and what it means to be black in particular. Share on XThis was Walford’s favorite quote to me. The way he said it was, “Different is neither inferior nor superior.” To quote it best, you need to use the more British sounding way of saying neither! He and Jen are now retired in their beloved St. Vincent. Their children all live in the U.S. On the outside chance he is reading this, I say, “Thanks Walford for all you taught me!”
This was Walford's favorite quote to me. The way he said it was, Different is neither inferior nor superior. Share on XRon and I still quote it to each other laughingly and with love. It is the one quote that has held us in good stead over years of ministry. It may not be a Biblical quote, but it is a Biblical concept.
Ah, those Jamaican pothole! We blew a tire in one of them, and an old man at a roadside tire shack revulcanized our tire on the rental we had. Crazy stuff–but it taught me that making do was a good thing–something to honor and appreciate.
haha:) from what i hear, the potholes are way worse now than they were then, anita. we never blew tires out on them. but they had some cool ways of making do for sure! none of the wasteful stuff i see in the US…especially these days…with so many items that can’t be fixed! crazy! i’ve even seen kids who throw away pennies, even smaller change, away on the ground b/c they can’t be bothered putting it in their pockets or purses! that is nuts!
I try to stay curious about the differences I perceive. Sometimes my curiosity is met with answers and I see in a different way.
i agree gabriele:) my background was such that i wasn’t as open about differences until i moved to Jamaica and learned this important truth! Ron reinforced it. he was much more like that. it really opened up my world!
How much better would our world be if everyone lived in the true belief that different wasn’t superior nor inferior! It’s a great quote, Walford!
he drilled that one into my head for sure:) it was a great foundation for the rest of our ministry. so many things came up that we realized weren’t issues of truth, but simply preference. there wasn’t a better or worse. it was just different and needed to be accepted.
Hey Martha! I’m just popping over from http://www.blessesdbutstressed.com. I linked up after you, so I was surprised that you “just happened” to be posting on your life in Jamaica–such a nice (divine?) coincidence since my series is about my experience of reverse culture shock after returning from spending five years in China!
Loved what you had to say about having a mentor in the culture–that is SO important. And there really is no other better way to learn to respect the differences of others than living in another culture, is there? Thanks so much for writing and sharing your heart! Blessings as you persevere in writing this month! Leslie
thanks for stopping by leslie:) i like the title of you blog:) it’s memorable. i always like names like that. i’m so glad you came by. i’ll have to follow your posts…if i can ever get caught up. we’re traveling a little too much this month! blessings girl:)