Ever since the Great Office Shift on the first day of lectures this semester, our office has become the de facto vestry for our chapel services, especially since the wardrobe that holds the vestments remained in our office (which had been the Chaplaincy office).
Often, I come to my office to find my desk covered with detrius of various services and students. The bookshelf next to my desk holds quite a few books and things I need for my job, but also holds a few things for our services as well.
Last night, I was looking for a book I had left in the office that I wanted to use at home. It wasn’t where I left it. I reacted like an American: “My book’s been stolen!” A student standing nearby quickly reacted like an African: “It’s been borrowed.” I pointed out that there’s a fine line that separates the two. And I found the book; I have no idea why anyone would have moved it, unless they looked at it then just returned it to a different place.
This reminded me of the different world views: as an American, I’m very individual-centered, whereas the African is very community-centered. I was thinking of me, and that the book I wanted was gone; the African view is that someone is using it, which benefits the community.
I can usually style up and take on the African view, except when I’m caught off-guard. Then my American roots show, rather glaringly.
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