The main reason I decided to become a Peace Corps volunteer was to learn about a different culture and traditions outside of the U.S. Living in Timor-Leste for almost two years I have seen the difference between American and Timor traditions. Let me tell you about them!
The first tradition I learned about was the Timorese hospitality to guests. For example, whenever a foreigner is visiting an organization, here, they are greeted with a Tais. Tais is a handmade scarf that is presented to the foreigner by the director of the organization. Since living in Timor-Leste, I've collected four tais. The second tradition I've noticed is when a family member passes away, the family wears black for an entire year and cannot participate in parties by dancing. The third tradition is the different traditional medicines used for certain illnesses. For example, if a woman is having stomach issues, she would drink Kiesta three times a day, and pray. Timorese belief in traditional medicine heals them, according to my host family and coworkers.
