Expectations

Expectations

Defining Expectations

Expectations

The act of state of looking forward of anticipating

Expectations

“But, as with anything else… there are unforeseen complications lying like

crocodiles among the green river grass.” St. Kilda (Elmer, 2002, p. 54)

Expectations

“Everyone has expectations about life in another culture. These gremlins hide in

our pockets and sit unseen on our shoulders.”

(Elmer, 2002, p. 54)

Expectations

Expectations

My Expectation My Reality

Expectations

My Expectation

Study hard and learn language well

My Reality

Expectations

My Expectation

Study hard and learn language well

My Reality

Language was frustrating. Slow progress. Couldn’t spend the time I wanted to on language study because I had small children.

Expectations

My Expectation

Good relationships with coworkers.

My Reality

Expectations

My Expectation

Good relationships with coworkers.

My Reality

Had conflict with our assigned supervisor from the Language & Orientation Committee.

Expectations

My Expectation

We went to do church planting among the least reached Hakka people.

My Reality

Expectations

My Expectation

We went to do church planting among the least reached Hakka people.

My Reality

We had to push the L&O Committee and the field council to place us in a Hakka church plant for our internship.

Expectations

My Expectation

Thought we’d be in church planting internship with Isabel or Scott & Leslie

My Reality

Expectations

My Expectation

Thought we’d be in church planting internship with Isabel or Scott & Leslie

My Reality

Isabel had left Taiwan by the time we started our internship and the Powells were moving to Taichung as Area Director.

Expectations

My Expectation

Thought we would work with a national pastor for our internship and would be mentored by him in some way.

My Reality

Expectations

My Expectation

Thought we would work with a national pastor for our internship and would be mentored by him in some way.

My Reality

Pastor was Hakka Chinese from Indonesia. He was threatened by us and went around town gossiping and spreading untruth about us and our SEND coworker.

Expectations

My Expectation

Things would be okay at home with our family.

My Reality

Expectations

My Expectation

Things would be okay at home with our family.

My Reality

Tom’s dad died in an accident 3 months after we arrived on the field.

My grandmother died from negligence in her nursing home.

Expectations

My Expectation

Thought we’d be in Taiwan forever or at least until retirement!

My Reality

Expectations

My Expectation

Thought we’d be in Taiwan forever or at least until retirement!

My Reality

God moved us to China after our first term.

Cancer diagnosis for our 2 year old son brings us back to the States in 2004.

Expectations

My Expectation

Stinky streets from the sewer system and heat

My Reality

Expectations

My Expectation

Stinky streets from the sewer system and heat

My Reality

Stinky bathroom – the odor from the sewer came right up the pipes in our old house.

Expectations

My Expectation

Thought I would make friends with Taiwanese.

My Reality

Never could have imagined the deep friendships that would develop with Taiwanese.

Expectations

How do we manage our own expectations?

Expectations

How do we manage our own expectations?

Set realistic expectations

Expectations

How do we manage our own expectations?

Set realistic expectationsIdentify expectations ahead of time

Expectations

How do we deal with unmet expectations?

Expectations

How do we deal with unmet expectations?

Stop

Expectations

How do we deal with unmet expectations?

StopSuspend judgment

Expectations

How do we deal with unmet expectations?

StopSuspend judgment

Ask why

Expectations

How do we deal with unmet expectations?

StopSuspend judgment

Ask whyPray

Expectations

Expectations

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