Culture Tips and Tricks - Number One

Culture differences sure can pull some tricks on you if you are not prepared.  My years of living in Nigeria, West Africa taught me that you best be quick to notice and ready to adjust to cultural differences.  Here are some examples of what I mean:

I taught at a school for men who planned to become ministers.  Sometimes they would use their middle finger to point at something.  If we were looking at a book or paper they had written they would use the middle finger to point at a word or phrase.  At first, I would cringe each time they did this but eventually I got used to it and I admit I began to do it as well and still do (cultural habits are hard to break).  I once tried to explain to a class that in my country to point with one's middle finger was very offensive.  Now being offensive in Nigeria is a big deal.  I remember one lady was able to get out of a traffic citation simply by telling the officer, “You have offended me.  You did not greet me first.” Simply because he did not give the proper “Good Morning” she was able to drive away without a ticket.  But I digress (I do that a lot although I don't mean to but if something is interesting it needs to be explained).  When I tried to explain to the class why it was offensive I found that it was difficult to explain without using words that would be offensive, so I finally just gave up.  It didn't matter anyway to them and why make them hesitate to do what was natural in their culture?

I was reminded last night while we were eating fish of another cultural difference.  Once I traveled with a student to his home village.  (I did this a lot and have lots of stories to share so stay tuned).  It was the custom in this village, since it was close to the ocean, to serve fish, so after church services we were invited to a gentleman's house for a meal of fish and soup (Nigerian soup is a thick and tasty blend of greens, okra and other ingredients including red pepper that is hotter than Hades).  I like fish and I like Nigerian food but when the host told me that it was their custom to honor the guest by giving him the best part of the fish – the head, I tried to explain my way out of it.  I said it was an honor to eat at his home and interestingly enough in my country we don't typically eat the head.   We prefer the flesh of the fish.  I had him convinced but then the student arrived from the kitchen with a bowl with the fish head in it.  No need to try to get out of it – I ate it.  Well,  not all of it but I did the best I could.  It was actually quite tasty but I won't be ordering it the next time I see it on a menu.  But that is a difference in culture.  The things we throw away are considered by others to be the best part of the animal (or fish).

Here's another one I learned.  In Nigeria, if someone extends their hand to shake, no matter what you are holding in your right hand, even if it weighs fifty pounds, you must shift it to your left hand and shake with your right.  I think what goes through their mind is, “There's no telling where that left hand has been because I know where mine has been and I am not going to touch it.”  The only exception to this is when a man shakes your hand and you are walking in the same direction and instead of letting go of your hand he shifts and continues to hold your hand as you walk.  This really gave me the heeby-jeebies but it is a common thing – one that I never got used to.

Lastly, there is an interesting phenomenon in Nigeria that occurs once a year for a couple of months. Its called Harmattan.  The winds blow hard on the Sahara Desert and stir up the dust for miles.  Then it blows down to Nigeria and goes up your nose.  There were times in class I could hardly speak (no air conditioner) because my throat was caked in mud.  Often a student would get up from his seat, walk to the window (which had no glass) and just honk his nose right out on to the ground outside.  I thought, “Now that is so gross” until someone pointed out to me that my blowing my nose into a piece of cloth and putting it into my back pocket was more gross.  Truth hurts.  Sometimes one's culture just doesn't make sense and no I didn't start walking to the window and blowing it all outside.  I just held it until I could get back home and went in my backyard where there was an eight foot wall and no one could see me.  It was quite liberating.  I don't suggest you try it though, just stick to your own culture and put it in your pocket.

Comments

[Kim Sa]

Hi there Lowell!

This is quite an educating and yet amusing entry, and boy can I relate to these Nigerian men! I came from Vietnam at 13 and had a lot to adapt to at first. My first days at school I was pointing at everything with my middle finger. Eventually a friend was nice enough to point it out to me. How horrifying is that! 13 years later, I have pretty much evolved into an American, but my mother still points with the middle finger! *lol*

[Lowell]

A belated welcome to the USA! Isn't that funny that such a little thing like which finger to point with can be such a big deal? Glad you learned better.
I just recently watched two different shows about Vietnam. One was about these old guys traveling through the country on motorcycles, the other was about some teenagers who traveled there to visit churches. Its a beautiful country but I understand why you left. I wish you the best here in the good ole USA.