My wife and I were flying from Houston to Amarillo, Texas. Being so determined to finish up writing the story of three eggs (THREE EGGS-BIRDS SHOWS APPRECIATION ), I opted to look for the spacious sit in the aircraft. Mary was ahead. She located a row with an extra sit for me. But I spotted out a row with three empty sits, three rows before Mary. “There is a sit for you here darling.” She called me three times but I ignored her because I needed to finish up the story before arriving in Amarillo. I knew Mary wanted to visit with me as we fly, but I decide to sit where there were three seats all by myself so that I can work on my story. This was emergency exit row. The flight attendant went through her regular chorus about the emergence exit. Looking at him with a sense of humor I asked: “but how do you open the door?” “Can you read?” he asked. Before answering his question he posed the second question. “Do you speak English?” Poquito (which means little in Spanish). He then shouted to me: “Move away from there?” “I am just joking, I am a doctor.” I responded. “Even if you are the president move away from there!” he shouted angrily. I then had to move quickly before he summoned the air marshal who would come to arrest a terrorist. I moved and sat comfortably with my darling. Now the story of three eggs had to wait until we arrive at Canyon.
The most aggravating question for those in Diaspora is: “Do you speak English?’ I have had these questions three times. The first time I was in Barbados. I had just finished leading the worship which included baptism and preaching. After the service I had to great the people of God. One lady asked me as we were shacking hand: “Dr. Githiga, do you speak English?” Some years later I shared the episode with a friend of mine who was a British. Surprisingly, he told me that he was asked the same question in one of the Island in West Indies. His answer was: “We manufactured the language.”
The three questions have a profound meaning for anyone who is eager to give to and draw from all nations. The question is about intercultural experience and intercultural communication the question is basically expressing his universe of meaning. For him, English language is the only one version spoken in his parish. More often than not, the New Yorkers and residents of other cosmopolitan cities may not ask this question. I have a blessing of living in three University Towns. I have never heard this question asked.
Those people who have traveled in many countries know that there are as many versions of English language as they are nations or tribes. The other continental language I speak is Swahili. I have also learned that each country has its own version of Swahili…
If you are called to minister in another country, you need to bear with the people of your missionary field. Also bear in mind that you will be misunderstood. Also know that a familiar word may mean totally different to the people of different culture. A story is told of a young woman who was a missionary in Kenya. It took her a long time to gather a group of five girls. This lady opened her first meeting with a prayer and then concluded with “Amen.” The word amen in the language of these girls meant: “I am going to eat you.” By the time the young lady open her eyes, all the girls had fled for their safety.
Thus as you try to reach out and communicate with persons of different culture bear in mind that even the familiar words do not mean the same. For an American the word dog means a pet which is like the member of the family, for an African it may mean a watchman who should not be let in the house.
Intercultural communication requires that you listen hard, looking at facial expression and delay your judgment. Do not try to get it by the first phrase or sentence. Where you do not understand, ask: what is that supposed to mean? The more you listen and stay with the people who speak a different version the more you will be attuned to their language
When we started ministering to the African Americans who had no college education at Sewanee Tennessee, we had problem of communication. I bought black lexicon to learn their language. It doesn’t help much. But when we started “each on teach one” Bible study which met in their homes every week. Mary and I started being attuned to Black dialect. Within one year we had conquered the problem. In the first few weeks they had problem pronouncing my name. One lady took us to a black church and introduced me. “I know he is an African. I know he comes from Kenya. But I cannot figure out his name. But the more we ministered with them the more we loved them and the more they became a part of us. When we were leaving for Kenya, the leading lady asked: “Where shall we get another you?”
Coming back ten years later, I was so surprised that now they were remembering all names. So, we have to listen to the people who are different from us with patience and love. And eventually, the Spirit will facilitate the communication.
Let us now get the meaning of “even if you are president move!” There is profound message for all travelers. As a traveler, you need to bear in mind that after 9-11 all travelers became suspect. Traveling in the airplane is not a joke. Flight attendant have right to tease; but the passengers don’t have this right.
The best words which need to come from your mouth are “Yes Sir.” Yes sir.” if you do not need what is being served, just say. “No. Thank you.”
However, do realize that even with best mannerism, you are not free from humiliation. I shared the above episode with a passenger who sat with me. He said “I had a worse experience than that. I work with Oil Company and travel every week. At one occasion it so happened that I had touched a gun powder when parking. The scanner at the security detected the residue of the gun powder in my hands, I was searched and interrogated. Then they had to call my wife to find out whether my story and her story is the same.” All this is done for the security of the passengers. Nevertheless, these experiences should not deter us from traveling. We should trust God’s protection. Pray before you start the journey. Trust in God. Trust his word particularly Psalm 121 which concludes: “The Lord will keep you from all harm- He will watch over your life; The Lord will watch over your coming and going now and forevermore.”
By Dr. John G Githiga:Author of Initiation and Pastoral Psychology and contributor Diasporamessenger.com
Patriarch, All Nations Christian Church Intercultural
