January Newsletter: Out of China, Into Suriname!

Greetings friends! I have some exciting and wonderful news!

As some of you may know, the Network of International Christian Schools contacted me and told me about a new English position in South America. Because the NICS school in the country of Suriname had been without a high school English teacher since the beginning of the school year, they decided that my talents would be better used in the country of Suriname. As a result, I have been transferred to the country of Suriname, just north of Brazil and between Guiana and French Guiana.

While I am excited at this new opportunity to serve God and spread the Gospel, I am sad that I had to leave China. I feel like there is more that I wanted to see and do in China, and I really felt at home there. Living and working in China was a wonderful experience for me, and I hope that I can one day get back.

China was so completely different from the United States. Very few people spoke English, so I was forced to get along by pointing, grunting, and using my limited Chinese. Imagine being in a place where you could not read, write, or speak! I felt illiterate! But it was those kinds of challenges that made me fall in love with China.

Perhaps the biggest difference about living in China is the emphasis on relationships. People in China are not governed by time like they are in the United States. Consequently, the people there are more willing to spend as long as it takes to get a job done, or in the same way, stay with a friend until feeling satisfied. If I had a problem with my bicycle, I could get it fixed by a repairman on the spot, no appointments were necessary. I had a Chinese friend who would meet me when he was not working, even if he had something else schedule. He just wanted to spend time with me, and would include me in whatever his previous plans were. This emphasis on people was magnetic, and really made me fond of the Chinese.

Of course there were drawbacks to living in China. Life in a communist country is very much different than life in America. I was not able to speak my mind about government and politics. Nor was I able to freely practice my religion, or talk about it with others. While it was okay that I was a Christian and that I associated with other Christians, I was not allowed to share my faith with any local people. Having to watch what I said on the phone and in email was annoying, and served as a constant reminder to me that I was not in the USA.

Even the way that regular life transpired reminded me that I was in a communist country. In the United States many people complain about the number of government agencies we have. However, I soon found out what life is like without them. Since china doesn't have an EPA, the streets were filled with smog and car exhaust. Many people wore mouth and nose coverings to keep from breathing in the black exhaust. Without an FDA, prescription drugs were readily available as over-the-counter medication (okay, that was actually nice, but then again, I wasn't abusing those medications). Meat was sold uncovered on a piece of plywood, exposed to flies and juices from other meats. Water was not drinkable. I had to buy bottled water and large jugs to use at home. When I wanted to eat fruits or vegetables, I had to first peel them or soak them in a special chemical to kill the bad bacteria.

I could go on and on about the difference between China and the USA, but I think I'll stop. If you have specific questions, please let me know! Right now I want to focus on Suriname. I am in the capital city of Paramaribo. Suriname is located just north of the equator, so the weather is very tropical. I am teaching at the American Cooperative School, which is a school for all kinds of people. We have students from all over the world. This school was originally founded in the mid 60s by a company called Suralco. Suriname has large quantities of bauxite, which is used to make Aluminum. In fact, during WWII, the Americans built the airport here and used Suriname as a source of bauxite so they would have aluminum for the airplanes. Anyway, in the 60s there were two schools, one for the children of Suralco employees, and one for missionaries. Over time, the two schools merged. Today there are still children of Suralco and other mining companies, embassy kids, missionary kids, and other kids.

Suriname was a Dutch colony until 1975 when they gained their independence. As a result, the official language of Suriname is Dutch. However, the chief culture here is not Dutch. In the shops one would here language such as: Chinese, Hindustani, Sranan Tongo, Dutch and English. It seems odd, but the Dutch probably make up the smallest percentage of the Suriname culture!

Suriname is where the most violent slaves were sent during the slave trade. In fact, the slave trade in Suriname ended just twenty years after the slave trade in America. As a result, many people here can trace their roots back to relatives who were either freed, or escaped, from slavery. There are also people here from Indonesia, China, Holland, America, and other South American countries. It seems odd to see so much Chinese writing around town, especially since I'm not in China anymore! The people here are mostly black.

Many roads are made of brick, which is a common Dutch practice. In keeping with a Dutch style, many houses are made of wood, not brick. Gold is also a natural resource in Suriname, though most of it is mined illegally. Large quantities of marijuana also exist, and I am told that Suriname produces some of the largest quantities of ecstasy, as well as cocaine, but I really don't know if that is true. The people of Suriname do not use deodorant, and do not use hot water for showers. It is possible to get Dengue Fever from a mosquito bite. Even more unusual, I cannot make any phone calls outside of the country, but I can receive them. Weird.

I'm still learning about this place, but so far I like it. I want to learn how such a mix of people came to live in once place. Since there really isn't one predominant culture, I want to see if I can define Suriname culture on my own. I'm also curious about the land. Paramaribo is right on the ocean, but there aren't any beaches - just mud flats. So, this place will be an interesting place to live.

I am preparing some photos of China, and some explanations of them. I will try to send this out when I am done with them. In the mean time, please feel free to write! Or, if you want to make another donation to my ministry, let me know and I'll send you a form via email. My new mailing address is:

Steven Dickens

American Cooperative School

Lawtonlaan 20

Paramaribo, Suriname

Please know the Suriname is a free country, so my being a missionary is no problem, and there are no longer any restrictions on what you can, or cannot, say to me in an email!

In Him,

-Steven