Often times, when we think about another country, we erroneously lump everyone in that country into "one culture". It is a somewhat innocent action, as, most likely, that country operates within different "cultural norms" than our own. For example, we may think of language or food or religion when thinking of a people group from a specific country.
However, we need also consider the many smaller cultures that exist within a country - no matter how small it may be!
For example, in Guatemala, there is a macroculture that exists where you may identify the people who live there as Spanish speaking and may imagine their physical features to be a certain way and you could have a basic understanding of their customs and traditions. But, within the large scale "Guatemalan" culture, there are many, many, many microcultures - there are over 22 languages, each with various dialects. There are different styles of clothing and houses; different customs and traditions. To say that one person from Guatemala is like any other is the same as saying an individual from New England has the same cultural makeup as an individual from Baton Rouge.
Whenever a group travels to work with us in Guatemala, one of our first challenges towards them is to consider the cultural shocks that will occur. Not just the "macro" of USA to Guatemala - but, from leaving their town, their state, their region of the USA and entering another country. From there, considering their experience in a foreign metropolis then traveling to a more rural area and within that area, exploring smaller communities whose inhabitants have no basis of understanding for the other cultures off of their mountain.
The expanding and narrowing funnel in which to consider all of these different cultures can be overwhelming, and a lot to process. Yet, it is also a beautiful marvel to consider how all of these differences weave together to make one, large, colorful tapestry.
