Its the little things...

When you move to a country with a completely different culture from the one you're used to, initially there is a shock, where the differences seem overwhelming. Then you start to notice some things about your new culture that, even when they're annoying, kind of make you smile because they're just so, well, foreign...

Muslim countries with freedom of speech and religion are particularly interesting. On Friday morning, I left my Christian church service, which took place in an unmarked villa, to hear Arabic prayer being broadcast over the loudspeaker of the large mosque next door. Talk about something that's not likely to occur in the States!

Then a few nights ago I was driving home, listening to the ONLY English radio station. On this station, you can never be sure if you are going to get Frank Sinatra, British techno-pop, bad country western, or Pantera. Imagine my excitement when I heard that the next song was going to be Bohemian Rhapsody, one of my favorites! Imagine my disappointment when it was interrupted during the first verse by the sunset call to prayer.

I'm an easy-going person, and I had studied enough about the culture here that I was prepared for the big things, but every once in awhile (like when Queen gets ruined), you just have to laugh and remind yourself that its the little things that make a culture worth learning.