On Monday evening at the Bible study, I invited people to recall, if they could, examples in their own experience of encountering cultural differences that had caused shock, bewilderment or upset.  As a flippant example, I noted that on the Tube in London no-one speaks to anyone (such conversations as do take place tend to be in very hushed tones) and how shock and confusion can be engendered when some unsuspecting tourist tries to start a conversation.  I noted, too, that in a self-service cafe, we would never think of going and sitting at a table where other people were already sat, and how shocking and confusing it would be if someone did (I have known it happen very occasionally in very busy, small cafes, usually leading to everyone wolfing down their food and leaving!).

We didn't have too much success, but one person shared an example she had experienced whereby a Japanese person arrived for a meeting with her bearing a beautifully wrapped gift.  She duly opened the parcel and expressed her thanks, then noticed a look of utter horror on the face of the giver... it transpired that in Japanese culture the norm was to acknowledge receipt of the gift with a bow, and then set it aside to open later in private.  The communal aspect of gift opening that (most) Brits enjoy is not after all universal.

Yesterday I had lunch with a German student who has been worshipping with us for the last few months whilst she has been on an exchange programme.  She has been staying with an oriental family who have a very strict 'shoes off' policy and provide a large pair of slippers for guests to wear.  This she had found bewildering when she arrived, since most Germans like most Brits, wear shoes indoors.  As we chatted she asked me if I could help her understand a text message she had received from a friend of hers, which said "sorry hun...."  What, she asked did 'hun' mean?  AH, I said, it is the way some people writ 'honey' in short when they are using it as friendly term... then I froze... calling a German 'hun'.... She told me she had googled the word and discovered the (correct, phew) description of a hun as a nomadic warrior people... but how easily she could have heard it as a derogatory allusion to her nationality...

The story of Jesus' encounter with a woman at Jacob's Well is so familiar we no longer grasp the impact of what was going on.  Perhpas these little encounters with cultures that confuse us, our won ability to inadvertently cause offence or hurt, help remind us that there are always lessons to learn about cultural boundaries...

"Hey hun, can you give me a drink of water...."

"Who are you calling a Hun?  We don't talk to you lot, never mind share mugs..."