tspies- Blog 3

In my life I have had the great fortune of experiencing a variety of different ethnicities and cultures. I have not simply learned about them, but I have been able to live and interact with them as well. A few years ago, I traveled to Juarez, Mexico on mission, and was actually able to live in a Spanish community. Though each family there has a unique family diversity, the Juarez culture is uniform throughout. (i.e If a teenage boy is in any way talking to a teenage girl outside the family, they are dating.) In many homes the value of family is central: interdependence; however, in the families where the children are in gangs, the family is extremely independent. "One must be careful to assume anything."On another mission to the Dominican Republic, I was also very surprised by what I experienced. The ideas you envision before the trip completely change. In the DR, the people have formed such a different way of life (farming coco and raising chickens), however, each family you live with is different. Also, in a trip to China all I saw was American "Merry Christmas" I guess the saying goes.."To each his own" or "Anything goes" A person must appreciate the differences/cultures of others; this what really gives the world spice and character.