J- and I and the kids are in Colorado for five weeks participating in several intercultural programs. The first three weeks is a program on intercultural and interpersonal skills to better help us adjust abroad and the second is a program for language learning skills that lasts two weeks. We are staying on campus in two rooms that are adjoined (similar to hotel rooms) and the kids are learning similar things to the adults in their classes. We are here with over 41 adults and over 20 kids who will soon be traveling all over the world.
On one of the first days here we learned about the importance of recognizing that when you step into a new culture there is often a paradox (or pair of ducks). In the kids and adult seminars they explained that there is a “yeah duck” and a “yuck duck” meaning that an experience can elicit in us feelings of joy and frustration at the same time. This paradoxical feeling is a natural part of cultural acquisition (and life). We loved the simplicity of this concept and the way it empowers our kids to understand and express their emotions.
When we pray with the kids before bed each night the girls insist on sharing their yeah and yuck ducks of the day with us…one day after a field trip R- exclaimed, “Mom the WHOLE day was yeah duck!”.
Conflict resolution, adversity, intercultural adjustment, solitude, stress management and cultural norms are just a few of the seminars we have had the privilege to learn from. We are thinking a “pair of ducks” just might make our limited packing list 🙂
A good lesson for us all since we as believers will often find ourselves in uncomfortable or unpopular situations—we all have a “pair of ducks” that we can give to the Lord in prayer, knowing that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Looking forward to hearing of your “yeah” and “yuck” duck days.