Laura and I just got back from a great trip to Taiwan, where we lived from early 1996 to December 2010. It was both profitable for ministry as well as personally fulfilling. While I had last been there in November, it had been four years since Laura's last visit.
We were able to re-invest in relationships and invest in new relationships as well. Along the way, we were able to re-experience the mountains where we fell in love with biking, eat again many foods that have gone from strange to cherished (and a few not so much!), and even do some medical tourism. Laura got successful cataract surgery on her right eye. She not only has relief from encroaching blindness, but also just passed her driver's license exam without glasses for the first time ever.
The city of Taichung, where we lived 15 years, is bigger and fancier than ever. Unfortunately, the pollution was also worse than we've ever experienced it. Thank you for partnering with us in this ministry and these adventures.
I find myself reflecting again on our respective identities as we re-encountered Taiwan. Laura and I formed deep relationships there. Certainly Taiwan became part of us both, and we a marginal part of Taiwan. Over those 15 years we changed. Some of our changes were adjustments--we didn't change inside, but we adjusted the way we coped with different everyday realities. Others were adaptations--we conformed ourselves to that world, even to the extent that when we returned to the US we no longer fit here as well as we once did. There were also some re-orientations--we began to interpret that world differently as we encountered not just appearances, but underlying realities that were not as they first appeared. And perhaps there were some transformations--ways we fundamentally grew and changed through what we experienced, including the radical interdependence of families, clans, and communities, the profound earthshaking and world altering earthquake of 9/21/99, the urban density of the concrete canyons, and so much more. Ultimately we can't sort out how Taiwan has shaped us just as we also can't clearly identify the shaping influences of our US residence and acculturation.
It is life lived in context that acculturates us, and for us, Taiwan will always be part of that. In her doctoral research, our daughter Sarah (Forcey) tried to get at this cultural participation by looking at practical things. For instance, how do we use transportation? On this one trip, we rode scooters, drove a car, used two MRTs, high-speed rail, Taichung city buses, taxis, and uber. We do exactly one of these things in Colorado and that is not the same.
Or how about food? Many of our pictures from the trip were of food we eat there but not here. We got this food from grocery stores, markets, 7-11s, open air store fronts, restaurants of many kinds, and a food fair, all differing from the options here in Colorado. These directly observable differences are coupled with underlying differences that are even more significant.
One friend and researcher likes to talk about this as joining a community not originally our own, first by connecting with one person, then with some groups, and slowly developing an authentic and increasing participation in the community we are joining. I find this a helpful model of becoming part of a community, which is itself a unique instance and expression of language and culture.
We are embraced and included by people, groups, and community both here in Colorado and also in Taiwan, as well as other places, and for that we are very grateful. This participation defines and transforms our lives! What communities and cultures enrich your life? Are you frustrated by them, grateful for them, both, or something else altogether?
Happy Mother's Day, mothers,
Happy Birthday, Laura (and the rest of you May people!), and
Congratulations, Robby, on your Taekwando black belt ;-)
Here's to more authentic participation, meaningful conversation, and mutual relationship, in all our complex identities and affiliations.
Steve and Laura
Steve and Laura Spinella
US: 1930 Springcrest Rd, CO Springs 80920
mail: 9685 Otero Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Steve cell 719.355.4809, Laura cell 832.755.4261
<spinella@alumni.rice.edu> <lauraspinella@gmail.com>
<spinella@alumni.rice.edu> <lauraspinella@gmail.com>
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