Before we went to work in Zimbabwe we were asked by the company to look up the definition for 'culture shock'.

This is what I found: The feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes.

I didn't really think much of it, but after spending a month in Zimbabwe I understand now why they wanted us to be wary. The contrast between British and African culture is huge, and I mean huge.

One of the first pieces of advise I was given as a volunteer was "Do NOT walk back from the local town in the dark", I thought, oh gosh, where have I come to? Is it that dangerous? Every one I'd met so far was so lovely, surely not? Turns out it was because there were wild elephants and chances are I would get trampled on; I've got to tell you I was slightly relieved. It's serial really, not being allowed to walk at night because chances are you'll cross paths with ten tonne beasts (We still walked out at night, thankfully I never came across one).

I found a major contrast in religion. We had a church service at the retirement home every Wednesday morning. These services were extremely interesting first hand. I must say they were actually quite fun as well, as I expected there was singing and gospel music and it was great to witness and get involved. I remember the song they taught us perfectly. They were even kind enough to translate all music sang in Ndebele (the Nguni language of the people) for us.

There was even the stereotypical fat woman you could hear in the background saying 'UMMMHMMMM' or "Ameeeeeen' after every line the priest said - I honestly thought that only happened in films, but obviously not.

Being a woman that has neither been baptised or christened, I was extremely shocked when I was told that if I don't believe I will go to hell, if I don't go to church every week I will go to hell, if I sin I will go to hell, and guess what happens if I prey in my head instead of out loud? I'm sure you got it in one: I go to hell. (I asked the question "what if you were incapable of speaking?" - he had no answer).

During this hour on a Wednesday religion was forced upon us. God is a father, and no matter how hard times are God loves us. It surprised me how a culture where everyone has so little (no running water, no electricity, hunger, young deaths, no money) had such a strong belief in God. In contrast to our culture which, nowadays hase less belief. Why is that people who have nothing have more faith than people who have everything? I wonder if I were brought up in the Zimbabwean community would I have been a religious Christian? I feel that our culture has started to ignore God because we have so much and we don't need him there any more, whether a God is real or not.

History shows that the west brought Christianity to Africa when we felt we needed it and made them feel they need it too and now they believe it as a whole more than we do.

Those at the services were very welcoming to the volunteers and it was lovely to see how touched they were that we came to help their community. They all showed us their gratitude, which really made my being there feel worthwhile. One woman even brought me some African dried fruit, I've unfortunately forgotten the name, but I can sure as hell remember the taste, it was probably the worst thing I have ever eaten, but I powered through and was very grateful for the kind gesture. Slightly annoyed that I had to endure the taste I told another volunteer, Savannah they were really nice and to have one, I believe I remember her describing it to be like a "furry rock".

Every one is kind to one another in Africa - a stranger is a friend. If you walk past someone in the street you say hello and ask them how they are. I think in England if some one of my age that I did not know even said 'Good Morning' as I passed them in the street I would actually be slightly confused and baffled.

There is so much more I could say about the change in culture, for example how women do most of the manual labour, or how without tourism most people in Victoria Falls would have no jobs, or even how men are still superior to women (the list goes on!), but if I wrote about it all this blog would go on for pages and pages, so I guess to find out more about that you would have to go and see for yourself - it's a much more enjoyable and fascinating way of doing it, trust me!

Seeing how another culture lives really does make you realise that there are so many different characters and personalities around the world, all influenced by their environment and upbringing. Being thrown in at the deep end into a culture that is so vastly different to your own can be daunting, but it really did help me put life into perspective and appreciate how lucky I really am.