What Is Culture Shock?
Culture shock can be described as the feeling of confusion and disorientationthat one experiences when faced with a large number of new and unfamiliar people and situations. Many things contribute to it —smells, sounds, flavors and the very feeling of the air one is breathing.
The symptoms of culture shock can appear at different times. Although one can experience real pain from culture shock, it is also an opportunity of redefining one’s life objectives. It is a great opportunity of learning and acquiring new perspectives. Culture shock can make one develop a better understanding of oneself and stimulate personal creativity.
Symptoms:
Sadness, loneliness, melancholyPreoccupation with health Aches, pains and allergiesInsomnia, desire to sleep too much or too little Changes in temperament, depression, feeling vulnerable, feeling powerless Anger, irritability, resentment, unwillingness to interact with others Identifying with the old culture or idealizing the old country Loss of Identity:
Trying too hard to absorb everything in the new culture or country Inability to solve simple problems Lack of confidence Feelings of inadequacy or insecurity Developing stereotypes about the new culture Developing obsessions such as over-cleanliness Longing for family Feelings of being lost, overlooked, exploited or abused Stages of Culture Shock Culture shock has many stages. Each stage can be ongoing or appear only at certain times. The first stage is the incubation stage. In this first stage, the new arrival may feel euphoric and be pleased by all of the new things encountered. This time is called the "honey moon" stage, as everything encountered is new and exciting.
Afterwards, the second stage presents itself. A person may encounter some difficult times and crises in daily life. For example, communication difficulties may occur, such as not being understood. In this stage, there may be feelings of discontent, impatience, anger, sadness, and feeling incompetence. This happens when a person is trying to adapt to a new culture that is very different from the culture of origin. Transition between the old methods and those of the new country is a difficult process and takes time to complete. During the transition, there can be strong feelings of dissatisfaction.
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The third stage is characterized by gaining some under-standing of the new culture. A new feeling of pleasure and sense of humor may be experienced. One may start to feel a certain psychological balance. The new arrival may not feel as lost and starts to have a feeling of direction. The individual is more familiar with the environment and wants to belong to it. This initiates an evaluation of the old ways versus those of the new.
In the fourth stage, the person realizes that the new culture has good and bad things to offer. This stage can be one of double integrationor triple integration depending on the number of cultures that the person has to process. This integration is accompanied by a more solid feeling of belonging. The person starts to define himself / herself and establish goals for living.
The fifth stage is the stage that is called "reentry shock". This occurs when a return to the country of origin is made. One may find that things are no longer the same. For example, some of the newly acquired customs are not in use in the old culture.
These stages are present at different times and each person has his / her own way of reacting in the stages of culture shock. As a consequence, some stages will be longer and more difficult than others. Many factors contribute to the duration and effect of culture shock. The factors are the individual’s state of mental health, type of personality, previous experiences, socio-economic conditions, familiarity with the language, family and/or social support systems and level of education.
How to Fight Culture Shock
The majority of emigrant individuals and families have the ability to positively confront the obstacles of a new environment. Some ways to combat stress produced by culture shock are:
Develop a hobby. Don’t forget the good things you already have. Remember, there are always resources that you can use.
Be patient —the act of emigrating is a process of adaptation to new situations. It is going to take time.
Learn to be constructive. If you encounter an unfavorable environment, don’t put yourself in that position again. Be easy on yourself.
Don’t try too hard.
Learn to include a regular form of physical activity in your routine. This will help combat the sadness and loneliness in a constructive manner. Exercise, swim, take an aerobics class, etc.
Relaxation and meditation have been proven to be very positive for people who are passing through periods of stress.
Maintain contact with your ethnic group. This will give you a feeling of belonging and will reduce your feelings of loneliness and alienation.
Maintain contact with the new culture. Learn the language. Volunteer in community activities that allow you to practice the language that you are learning. This will help you feel less stress about language and be useful at the same time.
Allow yourself to feel sad about the things that you have left behind: your family, your friends, etc.
Recognize the sorrow of leaving your old country. Accept the new country. Focus your power on getting through the transition.
Pay attention to relationships with your family and your colleagues. They will serve as support for you in difficult times.
Establish simple goals and evaluate your progress.
Find ways to live with the things that don’t satisfy you 100%. Maintain confidence in yourself. Follow your ambitions and continue your plans for the future.
If you feel stressed, look for help. There is always someone or some service available to help you.
1. Culture shock can make one develop a better understanding of oneself and stimulate personal creativity.
2. You may feel culture shock when you go to live in a foreign culture.
3. You feel lonely and depressed during the first stage of culture shock.
4. A new feeling of pleasure and sense of humor may be experienced in the third stage.
5. only happens to young people that culture shock might be reversed.
6. One may find that things are no longer the same during "re-entry shock".
7. Emigrant individuals and families cannot combat the stress produced by culture shock.
8. The new arrival may not feel as lost and starts to ______ in the third stage.
9. Many things ____________ it —smells, sounds, flavors and the very feeling of the air one is breathing.
10. __________ relationships with your family and your colleagues. They will serve as support for you in difficult times.
