Culture Shock
Culture Shock • What is culture shock? o indicators o stages • Dealing with it o tips o activities
What is Culture Shock? • Physical & psychological • Part of living abroad
Honeymoon Stage Exciting Amazing Beautiful
Comfort Level
I can’t wait to tell all my friends about this place!
Time
Honeymoon Indicators • Excitement • Optimism • Adventure
Conflict Stage We would never do that at home! These people are so ___!
Comfort Level
I can’t wait to go home!
Time
Conflict Indicators • Unmet expectations • Frustration • Unable to understand
Critical Period There’s no reason why they shouldn’t do that. Comfort Level
Imagine if I did that back home?!?
Time
Critical Period Indicators • Exploration • Self-reflection • Adjustment
Recovery Stage
You don’t understand them the way I do.
Comfort Level I’m beginning to like this.
We do that, just differently. Time
Recovery Indicators • Developed greater tolerance • Became part of the community • Improved language skills
Some more points • Your experience might not follow the cycle exactly • You might start the cycle at a different position • You might also experience reverse culture shock
Do’s • Do’s when experiencing a culture shock o Regular stress-reducing mechanism Sports, favourite music, painting, teddy bear - whatever works for you when you are in stress at home o Be natural in your behaviour Allow yourself natural retreat (“don’t eat the cake in one piece”) or natural aggression use these valves for regaining orientation
Dont’s Dont’s when experiencing a culture shock • Don’t exaggerate Watch yourself to not stick to your first “flight” or “fight” reaction • First reflect, then act It’s nobody’s fault - it’s a culture shock. Sleep it over before you make your judgement or even start doing or saying stupid things.
Dealing with It • 10. Keep busy and active • 9. Establish strong friendship with people from the host culture • 8. Make a list of positive things about the culture and look through it occasionally • 7. Realize that everyone who goes abroad experiences culture shock • 6. Be an avid learner about the country. Find out all the information you can
Dealing with It • 5. Try to trace every “strange action” to its underlying values • 4. Find someone from your country that has been there longer. Use that person to gain perspective
Dealing with It • 3. Avoid foreigners who spend their time complaining about the host culture. Avoid criticizing the host culture yourself • 2. Work at maintaining a healthy sense of humor. Be ready to laugh at yourself • 1. When talking about experiences, focus on your feelings rather than the causes
Activities • Keep a journal or weblog (http://www.blogspot.com) • Create a “to-do” list • Remember why you went you abroad
Additional Ideas • Positive emotions • Remember you’re not alone • Find host culture resources o o o
AIESECers other international students people at work
• Know your weak points
Thank you ď Š