Cultural Plunge in African Church Essay

On my way to the university I always passed by this church dish. I heard reverberations and burbleing tho I had never thought to a greater extent than of the place. When the Multicultural Class lecturer depute the paper, the place immediately came to mind. I k new(a) it belonged to Africans because I frequently saw nearly African wo custody standing outside greeting and talk to for each one different. They were non African- American because they did non speak to each opposite in English. At first I was apprehensive. I wondered whether I should envision the church. I do not populate any Africans nor I do any African friends. creation have preconceived ideas of life other cultures, which may not necessarily be true. Not point research and an assailable minded approach prep bes one for the misunderstandings and surprises that come out in cross- cultural experiences (Puffer, 2004, p. 3) I hump Africa has a lot of problems with hunger and wars. I know Africa is not as real as the rest of the world. Africans do not fit the Chinese model of smasher because of their dark skin and their bigger bodies. hotshot Saturday, I was unspoilt relaxing at a park nearby and pertinacious to enter that church.I was nervous because I re anyy stood out. I did not motivation to stand out from e actuallybody else. Everybody would know thither was stranger in the place and look. I reached the door, and then I turned back. I was not very comfortable. That next aurora around nine oclock I finally gathered the braveness and went into the church. Ushers at the door accept me in and gave me a program. It was a large angle theatre dormitory with a illuminated podium. The choir was leading the congregation in song. on that point were more or less a speed of light worshippers that day.The noise was deafening, loud music from the speakers, shouting, singing, clapping, praying, talk in tongues, saltation, jumping. App bently I came in the middle of praise and wor ship. I began spy the Africans in that church service. It was one of the legion(predicate) charismatic churches in the city. I make contact at the church when I decided to enter for the evening service. They sing in both English Swahili (the soul I was standing next to gracefully offered this tidbit. ) All around me black men and women brocaded their voices and sang.The white faces were few and farthermost between. on that point were absolutely no other Chinese in that church hall other than me. At first, I just stood transfixed in one spot. I wondered what was going on. I was overwhelmed because of the noise and the actions. with child(p) men and women jumping up and atomic reactor crying and shouting some raised their transcends in praise. It took time to array to the din. I am not very religious and even if I were I certainly would not make all that noise about it. I had never been to black church before. The congregation seemed to know all the lyrics to the song.I assu med that is because they met on a regular basis and sang them in each service. The nation seemed to be happy and decl ard their pleasance all the time. There was a unremitting repetition of name Jesus. They members of the church greeted each other warmly and vigorously, some agitate hands, others hugged each other. The choir was dressed in African designs and sang in Swahili. In my view the Africans view religion as a communal event and even though they are in a foreign land they want to stockpile onto their culture. To them, dancing and shouting is celebrating life.Compared to my own Chinese community, which is very reserved at times, this pompousness of exuberance would be frowned upon. The congregants (volunteered my neighbor again) were primarily from East Africa. At the outset I did not feel as relaxed as them. I just looked around me. Everybody was dancing and shouting. I was still. My neighbor poked me in cost increase. She held my hand and started swaying with it. At first I did not respond. consequently she patted my arm in encouragement and I started bobbing and swaying with her. Her face lit up.We danced unneurotic and jumped in unison until the praise seance was over. The next item on the docket was a worship session, which was more obtuse than the praise session. I preferred this to the last mentioned because it was more in tune with my personality. I watched as the Holy Spirit took affirm over the congregants. I did not sincerely understand it. The songs were very slow unless emotional, There was weeping and praying in tongues. Then the preacher said his sermon, which was interpreted into Swahili member for word. I had been in a church before but curiously some of what he said was common sense.There was some religious jargon in the sermon but it did not matter. It was athletics to be amidst joyous and expressive people. subsequently after the service Joyce the lady who was session next to me invited me to a church event. There was a lot of African nutrition and drinks. It was almost a party pettishness as they updated each other on their week. Joyce introduced me to her friends. I was surprised that in louvre hours I had meet more Africans than I had met in my entire life. After the event, she invited me ago. This is a routine every Sunday. They go for the service and afterwards feast together as one family.Among the cultural patterns I witnessed was a shared communion. First, they worked, worshipped and ate collectively. Secondly, they unplowed their language and dressing even though they were in a western country. Third, they were more animated than the Chinese in equipment casualty of body movement, speech. I was biased about Africa. According to Joyce, Africa does have problems but not everyone is dying of hungry or conflicts. The countries are developing rapidly and democracy is pickings root. Africans may not fit the Chinese definition of beauty but are beautiful in their self-expression.I lear nt habari yako which is Swahili for how are you and mzuri sana which translates to I am very ok. I also made new friends that day and I am welcome to attend that church any Sunday. By the end of the service I had a new bounce in my step. I did have misconceptions and I was unsure of whether to enter that church. In fact, I did it just to double-dyed(a) an assignment for my Multicultural Class. Nevertheless, I am glad I went to the church because I have gained much more than I anticipated. Reference Puffer, S. (2004). International management insights from assembly and practice. New York M. E Sharpe Inc.