Everyday challenges
Food challenges
You are a mission worker in Guinea and you see this fruit on a tree? Can you pick it and eat it right away?
NO! Ackee fruit is very poisonous if it is not cooked correctly.
If you were a mission worker in China and you saw these berries in the woods, could you pick them and eat them?
YES! Sea-buckthorn berries are a great source of vitamin C!
Pretend you are a mission worker in India. If you saw these mushrooms could you pick and cook them to eat?
YES! The Common Puffball mushroom is very nutritious and tastes delicious fried.
If you were a mission worker in South America and saw this root vegetable, would you pick it and eat it right away?
NO! Cassava contains poison called cyanide and it can be very deadly if you do not cook it properly.
Cultural challenges
Say you were living in China and went to somebody’s house for dinner but you were too full to finish. Is it alright to leave food on your plate?
YES! In China it is not considered rude to leave food on your plate. However, in countries like the United States it is considered rude if you do not finish your meal.
If you were working in Afghanistan and you saw a man and a woman shaking hands, would you think that was normal?
NO! In Afghanistan, men and women do not shake hands when they meet each other. They also do not look at each other in the eyes upon meeting.
Pretend you are a mission worker in Brazil and you saw someone do this symbol to you. Do you think this is a good gesture to make?
NO! In Brazil this symbol is very insulting and rude! However, in some countries it means ‘OK’. Hand gestures mean different things in different countries!
If you were Tunisia and you saw women wearing a headdress, would you think they are wearing it because they have to or because they want to?
They want to! Many people believe that men force women to wear a headdress. However, most women wear the headdress because it is traditional to their culture and they want to stay true to their tradition.
Sound challenges
Joy! This sound is called an ululation and many people in African and Middle Eastern Cultures use this sound to express feelings of happiness.
A wedding! In South Asian and Middle Eastern cultures the newly married couple drives down the street with a parade of cars following them. The cars toot loudly and constantly to let everyone in the streets know there has just been a wedding. It is a symbol of luck for the newlywed couple.
A call to war! War drums are used in some African countries to tell all the people that fighting has started. However, drums are not only used as war drums, but are also used in festivals and celebrations!