by admin | May 18th, 2009
Culture shock occurs when your cultural expectations come into conflict with the living styles and expectations of a new culture. When experiencing expatriate living, some cultural shock is inevitable; but the more you learn about the culture of your new living destination beforehand, the less severe it will be. The more unlike your own country the new country is, the more likely that you will have a greater degree of culture shock after a period of living there.
Each of us has learned a certain set of values and habits by which we unconsciously and subconsciously live. Culture shock occurs when these values and habits are disturbed and things go contrary to our expectations.
There are numerous books that deal with the subject of cultural shock and adaptation and you should study at least one of these before you move to your new destination.
When I had my first experience as an expatriate on a two month extended educational tour of India, I thought I was immune to culture shock. Having recently graduated with my Ph.D degree in Anthropology, I thought that if you were aware enough of what culture shock was, you could anticipate it and avoid it. Boy, was I wrong!
The newness of the experience was fascinating to me and for the first several weeks, I could not get enough of the new visual and sensual experiences available to me. I loved the music. I loved the beauty of the countryside. I loved the beggars on the street. I loved the centuries old temples. And, I loved the colorful costumes of the locals as I traveled from State to State. I even loved the ever-present skinny cows who roamed freely about the city streets.
Then I arrived at the village where I was to participate in a two week seminar on Educational Change in India. The first few days were great. I dressed in my dhoti and other Indian clothing, walked on the left side of the street, and tried to fit in.
But then it happened. My intellectual discipline could no longer control what was happening. I woke up one morning in full rebellion. I could not take it any more. I dressed in my Western clothes. As I walked down the dirt road toward the seminar classroom, I consciously said to myself: “I am not an Indian, I will not walk on the left side of the road today”. My body and mind were rebelling against the local culture. I was experiencing culture shock. I knew what was happening but I could not control it.
Will your experience be as strong as mine, stronger, or maybe just a mild passing inconvenience? You can not know in advance. So, what can you do to prepare for the inevitable “culture shock”?
Before you go.
1. Make sure you know what to expect when you arrive. Run a google search on “culture shock” books; pick out some of the best, and study them. At least one publisher has a series of dozens of books on the customs and etiquette specific to certain countries. These are chock full of information that will aid you in preparing yourself for entry into your new culture.
2. Check out the publications of the U.S. Department of State on countries and their culture. The Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has an article specifically on “Culture Shock.”
3. Read the latest economic and political books dealing with your destination country. Don’t be surprised or shocked due to lack of background knowledge.
After you arrive. You will need to integrate yourself into your new culture as quickly as possible. Some simple items to emphasize follow.
1. Take care of yourself physically. Exercise and outdoor activity help here.
2. Get to know your neighbors and neighborhood. Social relationships tend to prolong or help you avoid culture shock.
3. Associate with other expatriates from your country and others. Being near the familiar helps to ameliorate the effects of the unfamiliar.
Ultimately, the most important thing to remember is that culture shock in some form of other will at some point happen to you in your new country. Just being aware of what’s happening to you will help you through the experience.
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E. Lamar Ross is an author, educator, internet entrepreneur, and international traveler. He has a special interest in training individuals for expatriate living http://www.expatriatetraveler.info and providing information on unique travel destinations . For more information on simplifying your application for Canadian Immigration, go to http://www.move2cnd.info
Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lamar_Ross
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