When cultures collide

There are just some things that you wouldn’t think would be cultural differences. You expect clothes, food, greetings etc to be different when you are in a different culture, but others just surprise you. For example, names. Whenever Carla and I introduce ourselves at churches with our full name, there’s a collective gasp in the audience. Here, your last name is actually the name of your father – when you get married, your last name is still the name of your family. When I introduce myself as “Joao (Jon) Reinagel”, then Carla introduces herself as “Carla Reinagel”, the audience naturally assumes I married my sister! No wonder several pastors have taken the mic after us and explain what’s going on! Now, we just introduce ourselves by our first names unless asked.