Between Iraq And A Hard Place

Hannah and Colleen share their experiences of the roles and rules around what it means to be a man or a woman (or boy or girl) in Kurdish culture. Expectations and limitations for both men and women are a bit different than our experiences in the United States and anyone thinking to visit would do well to know what they might be getting into. www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq hannah@servantgroup.org

Hannah and Colleen explore the difficult and sometimes humorous world of social media in Iraq. If you've never had a new Facebook friend go through all ten years of your photos and comments and like or comment on every single one, you should check this out! If you have... join us anyway to see your social media posts in a new light. www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq hannah@servantgroup.org

Colleen and Hannah talk about how the idea of cleanliness has some interesting cultural rules and expectations in Northern Iraq that make people mop their patios daily but throw trash in the street. What is clean and what is not? How important is being clean? How did we adapt our lives and practices to their cultural standards and did we fight against it? Learn more at servantgroup.org and send questions to hannah@servantgroup.org!

Hannah and Colleen talk about the beautiful extravagance of Kurdish hospitality and walk you through what it's like to go on a visit to a Kurdish or Middle Eastern home. Hospitality is a key cultural value and is both generous and overwhelming in Northern Iraq and sometimes even when we visit our Middle Eastern friends in the U.S.! Learn more at servantgroup.org and send questions to hannah@servantgroup.org!

Hannah and Colleen talk about how Kurdish people respond to different kinds of crisis. Some big, some small, some medical, and some military -- the Kurds have seen it all and we have gained some perspective from them. www.ServantGroup.org/Iraq

In the US we're pretty used to using our credit cards to pay for things and we're adding all sorts of new electronic payment methods. But in Northern Iraq, nearly everything is still done in cash. Hannah and Colleen discuss a few of the multitude of reasons for this, but more about the effect it has on every day life and how everyone navigates multiple currencies!

Hannah and Colleen chat about several key terms in Kurdish language and culture: sherma, aiba, and haram. All have meanings that connect to honor, shame, and what is allowable and what is forbidden. Cultural expectations and norms are part of what can be a challenge for a westerner. This podcast explores their shades of meaning and how we perceived them as we lived in the region.

Hannah and Colleen interview Robin, who (with her husband, Dave) took her two kids to live in Iraq. What did this do to her kids? Her family and their relationships? Listen to us ask her all about her stories and adventures from when she and her family lived in Iraq. Learn more at www.ServantGroup.org or ask questions by emailing Hannah at hannah@servantgroup.org.

Hannah and Colleen chat about the various steps to the ever changing process of getting residency in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq. This isn't the nuts and bolts, just the experiences from our perspective of foreign bureaucracy and how to walk through it. We are so grateful for our Kurdish friends who made it possible for us to navigate and made sure the government received all the correct paperwork. Ask questions or contact us at Hannah@servantgroup.org! Learn more over at ServantGroup.org.

Hannah and Colleen talk about the blessings and challenges of living on support and what that is. How do we deal with fear, trust, and other people's perceptions? How do we thrive in community as part of the body of Christ and what is the holy handshake? This episode is a personal look at many years of living through the provision and care of God through the generosity of others. Ask questions or contact us at Hannah@servantgroup.org! Learn more over at ServantGroup.org.

Hannah and Colleen bemoan their grey hairs but also wish they'd had some more of them while living in Iraq. They discuss the pros and cons of being younger or older while living abroad, and how you don't have to be one or the other to serve with us in Iraq! Ask questions or contact us at Hannah@servantgroup.org! Learn more over at ServantGroup.org.

In this episode of our podcast, Between Iraq and a Hard Place, Hannah and Colleen tell the stories of how they told their parents that they were applying to go with Servant Group International to go to Iraq. They also have some advice for how to tell (or maybe more accurately, how NOT to tell) your parents that you want to live overseas. We've counseled numerous people through this sticky process and definitely don't recommend telling your parents like a baby gender reveal.

Hannah and Colleen just got back from a wedding, and it's June! So they chat about their various wedding experiences in Northern Iraq, complete with fireworks, cars, photographs, and loud music! Check out some video footage of a wedding: https://youtu.be/PZfB_AXBMzI?t=1153 To learn more check us out at www.ServantGroup.org! Ask questions by emailing us at Hannah@servantgroup.org.

Hannah interviews our director, John, and his wife, Mary, about how they became parents while living in Iraq and what it was like raising their family there. Living in Iraq has unique challenges for parents. Want to join us? We're always looking for more adventurous families to join our teams in Iraq, Greece, and Nashville! Check out our website for more info! www.ServantGroup.org

Hannah and Colleen share all about the six things you can start doing NOW to get prepared for living overseas. Some of these may seem a bit obvious, others may seem like too much work, but each of these skills we found immensely helpful in our life abroad.

Hannah and our Director, John, recently took a trip to Iraq to visit our teams there and to meet up with old friends. So we asked Hannah about the food, the weather, how things are on the ground in North Iraq, and lots more! If you have questions you would like to ask send them to hannah@servantgroup.org. To learn more, check out our website at www.ServantGroup.org.

Part two on re-entry! Did you know it supposedly takes as long as you lived in the foreign culture to readjust back to your home culture? And even then, you are permanently changed. There is no simple "There and Back Again". Hannah and Colleen continue their conversation on how to adjust well and also give some tips on how to help your friends who may be going through re-entry! Also, find this post on April 9, 2019 on FB and comment to get yourself an awesome sticker! =D Submit questions or comments to hannah@servantgroup.org or on FB, Instagram, or Twitter. Find out more on the Servant Group International Website: www.ServantGroup.org.

Re-entry is the evil cousin of culture shock and because it isn't talked about as much, often catches people by surprise. In this episode, Hannah and Colleen share about their own experiences in "coming home" to the United States and the struggles of re-entry. Submit questions or comments to hannah@servantgroup.org or on FB, Instagram, or Twitter. Find out more on the Servant Group International Website: www.ServantGroup.org.

So now that you know all about what culture shock is (see part 1!) now it's time to learn how we responded to it and what are ways to cope and come through. If you have questions or comments please send them to us at hannah@servantgroup.org. Or check us out at www.ServantGroup.org or search for Servant Group International on the main social media platforms. =D

Culture shock is a bit of misnomer, but we're jumping in and using it to help everyone understand what they or their friends go through when living in a foreign culture for an extended period of time. Obviously not everyone follows the same path or has exactly the same reactions, but these are things we've experienced and are reported as common. Learn more on our website: www.ServantGroup.org Ask questions or give feedback to hannah@servantgroup.org Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest as well! @servantgroupinternationl or @servantgroupint