I can definitely show you pictures of the children if you are with me. I am allowed to make posters, handouts, etc. for local distribution. We can post an occasional family photo, including the host children, which doesn't single them out or refer to their country. Let me know if you want to see these awesome kids!
We learned about their culture in our training. Here are some of the things we learned. Most of it is already what we do with our kids -
They cannot have cell phones here.
They cannot see Rated R movies or TV.Their video game time should be limited and age appropriate.
They are not allowed to change their appearance drastically, while here. That means no shaved/dyed hair or piercings.
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| designer jeans at Russian market |
Materialism is huge in Eastern Europe and they might desire brand names or expensive things. We are encouraged not to give in to that. If they obtain expensive things here, they might be a target with other orphans back in Eastern Europe.
Those five things would slide into our lives, perfectly. The first three are already rules here, and the last one... I don't even think my kids would know what a name brand is... unless you count Minecraft.
Then there are these cultural differences in which we need to prepare:
Pornography is a rampant problem in Europe. We need to monitor all their computer activity. We are to block their access to Facebook. By the way, they have Facebook in that country ... although it's called something different. (I can't mention the name, because it's country specific.) We should be present with them whenever they are on our computers. There are many reasons why they shouldn't use computers, but a big one is that it protects the kids from others back home who can influence them negatively. That makes a whole lot of sense. Another host mom mentioned that her host daughter would get really upset when she spoke with other kids back home. It took a while to calm her down. These kids will be calling their house parents each week, as well as a chaperone from their country.
Then there are the bathroom cultural differences. Thankfully, I've been on mission teams in many countries that don't have toilets or toilet paper. Ray has spent 3 1/2 years in Kosovo, Bosnia and Iraq, so he has seen/used some interesting bathrooms. It's our little boys who might not understand how a person doesn't know how to use a first-world toilet. They're not accustomed to bathing or changing their clothes daily.
Baths are a luxury.
We have to demonstrate how to use wash cloths and an overhead shower. We have to show them how to use a shower or bath. They do not have hot water where they are from, so we need to make sure they don't get burned.
Toilet paper is uncommon in some orphanages. We have to teach them that toilet paper goes into the toilet. We have to explain exactly what goes into the toilet.
Our host daughter might "blossom" upon coming to America, because her body will finally be getting nutrient rich food. She might not speak up, so I am to be on the lookout for that happening.
As you can see, there are a number of things we need to know/do for these cultural differences. Have I mentioned that we don't speak their language and they don't speak English? {prayers, please}
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28
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