Is this culture shock?

Those of you who know me well know that McDonald's is pretty much the last fast food restaurant I would go to....I'm just not a big fan. So Thursday night I had a McDonald's cheeseburger (group peer pressure) and it was DELICIOUS!!! Why? - I don't know. Am I craving beef? And American culture? Perhaps it's a (minor) sign of culture shock?

Culture shock...people will tell you that culture shock is a process of fun-fight-flight-fit (or something like that). The fight and flight stages consist of being angry at the way things are done in the culture you live in, etc. If someone were to ask me if I am experiencing culture shock, I would say no. Probably partially because of pride, but moreso because I'm not angry. However, I realized/admitted over the weekend that I am experiencing culture shock - at least to some degree - but not in the "angry" way. For me, it seems to be more fatigue - it is physically and emotionally draining to not know how to accomplish seemingly simple tasks (go to the bank, get insurance, etc) and to not be able to understand the language around you - not understanding bills that come in the mail (that's 20 euro for what?) and to sit through meetings that are conducted in German (especially ones that last 3 1/2 hours). Also, the "quiet Kari" seems to be the side of my personality that is most prevalent these days. I think it's because I'm trying to absorb everything around me, and because it takes so much energy to be social, etc.

I don't mean to sound negative...things really are going well. And I think the fact that I am aware of these things and willing to admit them is a good thing....as is the fact that being aware of them then enables me to make conscious decisions to counter these effects of transitioning to life in a new place. I'm feeling tired? I need to go to bed earlier this week. I'm feeling like stepping out of my comfort zone takes too much effort? I need to do it anyways, so that I know that #1 - I am making the most of my time in Germany and #2 - that I am faithfully obeying what God has called me to do.

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,"

~Colossians 3:17 & 23