CULTURE SHOCK
Date Modified: 07.13.2008
Content: Going Through Culture Shock While Living Overseas
Source: Wikipedia
Living overseas can be one of the most exciting adventures one could take on in their life. You get to experience a life in a different culture with different food, social environment and ideology. It can be exciting and scary all at the same time. Almost all people who live overseas go through something culture shock. I'm sure you have heard of it before but we have included some information about going through culture shock while living overseas.
Culture shock
Culture shock is a term used to describe the anxiety and feelings (of surprise, disorientation, confusion, etc.) felt when people have to operate within an entirely different cultural or social environment, such as a foreign country. It grows out of the difficulties in assimilating the new culture, causing difficulty in knowing what is appropriate and what is not. This is often combined with strong disgust (moral or aesthetical) about certain aspects of the new or different culture. The term was introduced for the first time in 1954 by Kalvero Oberg.
Culture shock is a research area in intercultural communication. Recently, some researchers claim that culture shock does have many positive effects on intercultural sojourners, like increasing self-efficiency and helping improve self-motivation.
Phases of Culture Shock
Culture shock (moving to a foreign country) often consists of distinct phases, though not everyone passes through these phases and not everyone is in the new culture long enough to pass through all three:
The "Honeymoon Phase" - During this period the differences between the old and new culture are seen in a romantic light, wonderful and new. For example, in moving to a new country, an individual might love the new foods, the pace of the life, the people's habits, the buildings and so on.
The "Negotiation Phase" - After a few days, weeks, or months, minor differences between the old and new culture are resolved. One may long for food the way it is prepared in one's native country, may find the pace of life too fast or slow, may find the people's habits annoying, etc.
The "Everything is OK" phase - Again, after a few days, weeks, or months, one grows accustomed to the new culture's differences and develops routines. By this point, one no longer reacts to the new culture positively or negatively, because it no longer feels like a new culture. One becomes concerned with basic living again, as one was in their original culture.
Reverse Culture Shock - Returning to one's home culture after growing accustomed to a new one can produce the same effects as described above.
In some cases, it may be impossible to deal with culture shock. Some people will give up on assimilating into the newer culture and return to their own culture, and some become so magnetized to the foreign culture that feel they must permanently move there to relieve the stress.
Coping with culture shock
Experienced travelers tend to cope much better with the difficulties of travel. Some common strategies used to make the transition easier are:
- Reading about the country and its culture before departing. This way, the country and its people are more familiar upon arrival. They then become aware of differences in the new country and are thus better prepared to deal with them when possible.
- Avoiding being offended, offending locals, or being engaged in any more general cultural misunderstanding; they familiarize themselves with local customs and language.
- Being open-minded about the culture they visit.
- Taking a 'time out' or rest apart from cultural exchange in order to reduce the 'shock' of adjustment.
More information about living overseas
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