If you are at all like me you've heard this phrase uttered haphazardly by any number of people from a number of different backgrounds. And every time you have heard it you cringed a little bit. Not because it's necessarily wrong, but that usually the context that you encounter it in is a bit wrong. People use this phrase to mean they need to "fight" for more money, or a new car, house, toy, etc. Whatever it is it's usually bigger and better and less of a need than the one that came before it. And often times this phrase is used in the same context as "I deserve it." Another phrase just as annoying to me. But I digress before I stand on this soap box for a few sentences too long.
I found myself feeling and even saying these things in the last month as I struggled with the system here in the DR. I discovered some latent US citizen "I deserve better" philosophies in me, and I didn't like it! Now I might have a decent argument, from a US point of view, but when your living in a different country that attitude doesn't impress anyone. And that point of view doesn't count for anything.
So as some of you know I spent a little under a month without power while I waited, and fought with the power company. In my opinion it came down to this. They wanted extra money, and I am a gringo who has extra money, so they did what they always do to gringos and made me wait until I payed the "debt" that the last owners/renters left on the account. Most gringos have the money, and are not patient, so they pay the bill and get their power connected within the week. I am not you ordinary gringo. I don't have much extra money, and what extra I do have is going towards seeing my girlfriend that lives in a different country. I'm not going to pay someone elses debt. So I waited. In spite of my daily visits to the power company so did they. After I had waited long enough for them to realize that I wasn't going to pay the process was surprisingly quick and efficient. But no amount of "fighting" would have changed what they know to be true. This experience fed into the next.
Since I had electricity finally I went to setup my internet account. From what I heard this was an americanized business. They worked quickly and efficiently because they wanted your money. So I was expecting that, which was part pf my downfall. (note to self...never expect what you would expect from the states) When I ran into the first problem my frustration that had built up over the struggle with the power company overflowed. I fought for what was not yet mine and I think that is why I had such a problem. It took every bit of 3 weeks to get my internet hooked up. And in my opinion it was because of my attitude in the beginning. Once I calmed down and explained myself and didn't place blame but instead said that I could have misunderstood and this all could be my fault the internet was installed in one day with great customer service. If I was nice and understanding when the first hiccup was experienced maybe there wouldn't have been hiccups 2, 3, and 4. Something that I am continually learning about this culture is that it is more about relationships and respect than I am used to. Saying, "Hello!" and "How are you?" and then waiting for an answer goes a long way. Actually taking the time to be sincere about small talk (which is definitely not my strong suit) is priceless.
So I guess my point is that I live in a different culture and I am still (after 6 months) just getting to know it. There are big differences between this culture and the culture that I am from. Most of what I notice in myself that stands in contrast to this culture I don't like. Hopefully God can help me become more of who I need to be to minister to this culture and less of what hinders that ministry.
