ADVENTURE
Jerry and Maxine Share Eritrean Saga
Jerry
Adapting to pedestrian traffic
Cultural Contentment
“Make peace with the culture” is good advice for anyone who wants to enjoy living and ministering cross culturally. The Apostle Paul said it well in Philippians 4:11, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”
Maxine and I arrived in Eritrea with previous cross cultural experience in four African countries. Yet we encountered cultural tensions and had to make peace with our new set of circumstances.
We found Eritrean culture to be delightful: the food, the music and the independent spirit of the people. Living in the capital of Asmara at 7,300 feet altitude provided great climate, and the city was clean with a very low crime rate. What a great place to live!
However, it was in Eritrea where I had my most difficult struggle with cultural adaptation. The Eritrean pedestrians would cross a busy street at any location, expecting the traffic to stop for them. They looked straight ahead and fearlessly walked to the other side. Their attitude was, “The driver of the vehicle must stop for me. My safety is his responsibility.”
For two years, I tried to teach the pedestrians that stepping in front of fast moving traffic was not a good idea. Approaching the jaywalkers, I would come to a screeching halt only a few feet from them or stop about three feet away and honk my horn. They never even flinched!
Then, I discovered the secret. Make eye contact with the driver and that gives the right-a-way to the pedestrian. One day I tried it. It worked! That day I added an Eritrean cultural value to my lifestyle and found it to be a useful tool when walking the streets of Asmara.
Making peace with the pedestrians alleviated some tension and made life in Eritrea much more enjoyable. I had learned to be content with my circumstances by choosing to adapt.