I never thought I was going through culture shock and I don't want to be one of those who have been in culture shock for the last 30 years.
Thus, I assumed some of my friends may find this article useful:)
Here you are:
Culture shock is not a psychological disorder, but in fact, it is a developmental phase that is both common amongst sojourners and expected when one adjusts “properly” in a cross-cultural context. While there are many academic definitions of culture shock, the experience can be simply described as a clash between one's personal way of viewing and interacting with the world (which is determined by one's home culture) and the new cultural environment. This is the classic conflict between ethnocentric and ethnorelative views of the world, which is experienced as a perceived lack of control or a sense of helplessness. Anxiety, frustration, confusion, loss of perceptual cues, discrepant meaning systems - all these contribute to the "clash." Culture shock has often been described as an adjustment cycle, with an initial high point upon entry marked by excitement and optimism, a low point during the sojourn (the culture shock phase), and a moderated "high point" near the end of the sojourn experience as the student learns to function more successfully. Most students go through four phases of adjustment, a process commonly called “culture shock.”
What is culture shock?
Culture shock is the reaction one faces when confronted with a new cultural environment; the effect of going from culture into another. It is a process of adjustment as you learn to become culturally competent in your new setting. Culture shock is perfectly natural! As you struggle with the challenge, you grow and mature both personally and socially.
Euphoria: This first phase is characterized by excitement and optimism. Everything is great, nothing is wrong, you’re having a wonderful time.
Anxiety: You realize that you are being confronted by so many differences that you don’t know how to deal with them all. You encounter the difficulties of living abroad, such as language barriers, an absence of social cues and familiar geographic references. Your anxiety grows and you feel helpless.
Rejection of the new culture: Now it seems that everything in your new environment seems “wrong” or “backwards.” Commonly students in this stage start to withdraw themselves from the local community, preferring to surround themselves with others more familiar with their home culture. You find yourself getting a 3 a.m. impulse to call a family member or friend back home!
Adjustment: With advanced preparation and support from others, you enter the adjusted phase. At this point you can recognize some of the perceived shortcomings of both countries without rejecting everything. You learn to deal with the problems set before you and begin to integrate them in your own beliefs. You are able to live and study well here in your study abroad program even with all of the differences you encounter.
Preparing for Culture Shock
The first step in preparing for culture shock is just knowing what it is. Remember to look for signs and take them seriously. You may experience any of the following symptoms while you are adjusting: homesickness, feeling angry over minor inconveniences, irritability, withdrawal, a sudden intense loyalty to your own culture, problems with appetite, boredom, a need for excessive sleep, headaches, upset stomach, small pains that really hurt, depression, loss of ability to work or study effectively, unexplainable crying, relationship stress, exaggerated cleanliness, frequent illnesses. You need not have every symptom on the list to experience culture shock. Physical symptoms should be checked by a physician before you decide it’s culture shock.
Solutions for Culture Shock
Even though you may not be able to eliminate culture shock, there are ways to ease the stress. Some of these activities are listed below:
1. Keep Active. By getting out of your room or outside of your apartment, you are able to experience first-hand what people in the local culture are doing. If you visit public places you will be able to watch and learn how customs are practiced.
2. Make Friends who are Familiar with the Local Culture. By having friends you can talk to, you are able to ask them questions about what you do not understand.
3. Read and Familiarize Yourself with the Culture. Read websites to gain more knowledge about the culture. You can also read newspapers and attend local and campus activities to learn more about the culture.
4. Keep Mentally and Physically Fit. Resist the temptation to study all of the time! Find an activity that you can enjoy to reduce stress and depression. Read a book for pleasure. Engage in physical activity, such as sports or walking. Eat healthy meals.
5. Community Activities. Talk with your Program Director, host family, or other locals about community activities, religious services, or volunteer opportunities to help you become a member of the community.
6. Work on your Language Skills. This is extremely important. Even if English is commonly used, it is much easier to understand a culture when you can understand the language. Ask about any slang terms that you do not understand.
7. Introduce Yourself to Other Study Abroad / American Students. Other students may be experiencing the same problems that you are. By talking to them, you may be able to find out ways they are coping with their adjustment and other problems.
8. Keep A Journal. By starting a journal now, you can remind yourself of the reasons why you have decided to study abroad. Recalling your goals can put some of your hardships into perspective. This can also help you recognize the signs of cultural shock and see it as a series of phases. Once back home, you may consider your diary to be one of your most valued mementos.
9. Strive to Remain Open and Non-judgmental. Learn to stop, or at least delay, judgments. Evaluations are based on your own standards, standards that are based in part on your culture and may be inappropriate to another. Quick, judgmental reactions can lead to misunderstandings, misjudgments, and negative opinions. Learn to objectively describe what you see and remain open to many interpretations. Check out your interpretations with others more familiar with the culture.
9. BE PATIENT. This process is normal, so recognize culture shock as part of your study abroad adventure. By recognizing it, you can see through some of the emotional states that culture shock puts you through and you can also relieve some stress. Give yourself time to adjust. If culture shock continues, develops into depression, affects your academics or relationships, or if you would just like to have some support while you're going through the phases, contact your Program Director who can put you in touch with resources to help you.
When you’re having “one of those days,” try a Relaxing Breath! So what about when you’ve had one of those days when everything has gone wrong? Sometimes the very best you can do is to stop and take a deep breath and repeat a calming mantra, such as “it’s okay, relax” There are many things that you might not be able to change or even begin to understand. Just remember that you choosing to study abroad for the whole experience. And in the end, it really is okay!
Handout adapted by Wendy Settle, Ph.D., University of Notre Dame, from
http://www.nd.edu/~ucc/International_Eds_Hdbk_I.html#Culture by Kevin Gaw, http://www.uwec.edu/counsel/pubs/shock.htm by Katherine Schnieder, Ph.D. and http://www.utoronto.ca/safety.abroad/Guide/shock.html by Study.Abroad@UToronto.
No comments:
Post a Comment