culture shock.doc

1. Welcome to your new country. Youre come here for fun, excitement, change, challenge, and perhaps money. Will the locals speak your language? Im not trying to scare you, but perhaps they wont. Will some people there speak your language, oh most definitely. This is only one of the things that you may have to think about when you plan on going to a new country. Culture shock is an interesting phenomenon that doesnt affect everyone the same way. Some just cant understand it when the locals dont speak English. Some cant comprehend why there arent any English signs anywhere to be found. Why are things done this way, and not that way? Why am I even in this situation? It would never happen in my home country. Questions like these can cause people to get stressed out and want to go back to their own countries. People can get frustrated when faced with change. Many people deal with it their own way, head back home. In 1998, I traveled to Taiwan. I never once felt that I suffered from culture shock, personally. I always felt it was more like culture fascination rather than culture shock. I was amazed with everything that I saw and encountered. But I still had many questions. For instance, why arent there English street signs on the corner of every intersection? I felt that they would be very helpful for me and also for other people from English speaking countries. What I didnt think about was that the people that live there can read the signs just fine, and it certainly isnt necessary for them to change them all just for me. A friend of mine had a girlfriend that hated everything about Taiwan and couldnt understand why it was different from her home in San Francisco. She hated the people, hated the food, hated the smells, hated the transportation, all because it was different from San Francisco. I asked her if she hated everything so much, why doesnt she just leave. I cared about Taiwan and its people and to be completely honest, I didnt want to hear any more of her complaining. She ended up leaving eventually, but after many more complaints. This is what happens to some people, they cant adjust to their new environment properly.Others suffer from a much more realistic and understandable reason, homesickness. Its easy to miss your family, your friends, and your familiar stomping grounds. For people that decide to go overseas, they have to stay focused, enjoy themselves, and be strong. Yes, this new place isnt like home. Yes, this new place is strange and different. No, your friends and family arent here. This was one of the biggest challenges that I had ever faced and I thrived on it. Another factor involved can be diet. The foods that youre used to eating may not be available in this new location. You may have to actually try something different. Believe me, this is a good thing. Trying new things will also be a test for you. Try the food that the locals eat everyday. Its obviously not bad for you, or these people wouldnt be eating it themselves. I have to laugh to myself when I hear about people going to Taiwan and eating McDonalds all the time. The culture in your new destination will obviously be different when compared to where youre from. Things they say and do will most likely also be different. When I was in Taiwan, it was generally accepted for people to ask others how much money they made. In Canada, this is just an awkward question that is rarely asked, even amongst close friends. Actually, now that I think back to that time, I felt uncomfortable every single time I was asked my rate of pay. I was asked quite frequently and I never actually gave up that information to my inquisitors.As I mentioned previously, culture shock affects different people different ways. I knew a guy who went to Taiwan; he was originally planning on staying for a year. He lasted 5 days. In my opinion, this small amount of time is not enough to give a fair evaluation of the country. But thats me, and that was his decision, not mine. I just goes to show you that people are different. Dont be worried about how culture shock is going to affect you, just buy a book and read a bit about your destination. Nothing will totally prepare you for what youre about to discover. Enjoy yourself and make the absolute most of your experience. Dont fear culture shock, embrace it.Culture Shock is a term used to describe the anxiety produced when a person moves to a completely new environment. This term expresses the lack of direction, the feeling of not knowing what to do or how to do things in a new environment, and not knowing what is appropriate or inappropriate. The feeling of culture shock can usually set in after the first few weeks of arriving in a new country. It is a normal part of adjusting to new foods, customs, language, people and activities, A person with culture shock may experience some of these symptoms: irritability, headaches or stomach aches, overly concerned with health, easily tired, loneliness, hopelessness, distrust of hosts, withdrawal from people and activities, painful homesickness, lowered work performance.This article can help to guide you through some of the stages you may recognize and how you can fight it or learn to deal with it and overcome its effects.Culture shock can be described as the physical and emotional discomfort one suffers when living in another country or place different from his or her place of origin. Usually, the way that we lived before is not accepted or considered normal in the new country. Everything is different, for example, not speaking the language, not knowing how to use simple everyday items such asmachines, using telephones, or knowing how to take a bus.Symptoms Of Culture ShockLearning the symptoms and knowing ahead of time of how to prepare yourself and how to deal withshock can make it a lot easier to overcome. The symptoms of cultural shock can appear at different times and show in different ways. Below are some of the symptoms you should look out for: Insomnia, or a desire to sleep too much or too little. Changes in your temperament, getting angry easily at things that usually wouldnt bother you, depression, feeling vulnerable, feeling powerless. You have a preoccupation with your health. You start having aches, pains, stomachaches, headaches, or allergies that you usually didnt have before arriving in Taiwan. Anger, irritability, resentment, and an unwillingness to interact with other people. A feeling of sadness or loneliness. A feeling of being lost, overlooked, exploited or abused. Identifying only with your own culture and comparing Taiwan negatively to your own country. You wish you were home and have a strong longing for your family and friends back in your country. Unable to solve simple problems. You are trying too hard to absorb everything in the new about the culture in Taiwan. Feelings of inadequacy, lack of confidence, insecurity, loss of identity, not fitting in, and doubting your ability to succeed. You start developing stereotypes about Taiwans culture and the country. You may start developing different obsessions such as: over-cleanliness; over-tidiness; over-eating; over-drinking. You feel you cant have a normal conversation with anyone. Having a feeling of helplessness, and thinking you need help from people in your own country. Being afraid to do new things or go to new places.Anotherexample of Culture shockthat happens to especially Taiwanese students, is when you finally graduate from college or university after so much hard work and then realize something the hard way. You realize that people skills are at least as important as technicalskills to get ahead in this world.Stages and Examples of Culture Shock Culture shock has many stages. Each one of these stages can be ongoing or only appear at certain times. We have listed the 5 stages of culture shock below. For foreigners who are staying a shorter period of time in Taiwan you may just experience the first 2 to 3 stages of culture shock.Stage 1 (the honeymoon stage)In this first stage, the you may feel exhilarated and pleased by all of the new things encountered. The new things you encounter in Taiwan are new and exciting at first, everything is wonderful. Even the most simple things are new and interesting, taking the bus or going to a restaurant. This exhilarating feeling will probably at some point change to the next phase.Stage 2 (the disillusionment stage)Culture shock will happen gradually, you may encounter some difficulties or simple differences in your daily routine. For example, communication problems such as not being understood, food, attitude, and customs, these things may start to irritate you. At this this stage, you may have feelings of discontent, impatience, anger, sadness, and a feeling of incompetence. This happens when you are trying to adapt to a new culture that is very different from your own. The change between your old methods and those of Taiwan is a difficult process and takes time to complete. During the transition period, you may have some strong feelings of dissatisfaction and start to compare Taiwan to your new country in an unfavorable way.Stage 3 (the understanding stage - enlightenment)The third stage is characterized by gaining some understanding of Taiwans culture, country, and its people.You will get a new feeling of pleasure and sense of humor may be experienced. You should start to feel more of a certain psychological balance. During this stage you wont feel as lost and should begin to have a feeling of direction. At this point you are more familiar with the environment and have more of a feeling of wanting to belong.Stage 4 (the integration stage)The fourth stage of culture shock is the integration stage and is usually experienced if you are staying for a very long period of time in Taiwan. You will probably realize that Taiwan has good and bad things to offer you. This integration is period is characterized by a strong feeling of belonging. You will start to define yourself and begin establishing goals.Stage 5 (the re-entry stage)The final stage of culture shock occurs when you return to your home country. This stage of culture shock generally only effects people who have been in Taiwan for a very long period of time (though many feel it after having lived overseas for only as little as 6 months). You may find that things are no longer the same in your home country. For example, some of your newly acquired customs are not in use in your own country. Your friends have changed and your family may have as well. You may feel like you dont fit in back home.These stages are present at different times and you will have your own way of reacting in each stage. As a result some you may find some stages can be longer and more difficult than others. There are many factors contribute to the duration and effects of culture shock. For example, your state of mental health, personality, previous experiences, socio-economic conditions, familiarity with the language, family, and level of education.Shock Guide - Coping with Culture ShockMost people who come to Taiwan have the ability to positively deal with the difficulties of a new environment and overcome culture shock. So if you are thinking about going home or only spending time with people from your own culture, dont. You have to realize that you are not alone. Many other foreigners in Taiwan have experienced what you feel, talk to your friends or other teachers at your school they can help you feel better.Here are some tips for dealing with the stress produced by culture shock:1. Be aware of the symptoms. Once you realize you are experiencing culture shock, you can then take steps to deal with it.2. What are the situations which confuse or irritate you the most in the new country?Are you misunderstanding the host peoples treatment of you? Where can you find more information about this aspect of the culture? Behavior which seems rude to you, may not be intended as rude. Polite customs are different for each culture. When situations seem senseless, remember the hosts may be following social rules unknown to you. Ask questions about social customs.If you are still bothered by a situation, find ways to minimize the irritation. Is the situation necessary? If not, you may be able to avoid or minimize involvement. Example: If womens swimwear offends you, then spend shorter periods of time at the pool. Or remind yourself that swimming apparel does not reflect moral looseness as it might in your home culture.3. What do you miss the most which was enjoyable in your home country? Look for ways to meet these desires or replace these with something new. For example, if you miss your favorite Japanese pickles, go to a U.S./Japanese grocery store or ask a relative to mail some to you.4. Develop friendships with both Americans and people from your own country. At times the friendships with culturally different people will seem very taxing. That is why it is important to have people from your own country or area to spend time with also. This helps you re-energize for interacting cross-culturally. However, isolation in either group alone causes more adjustment problems.5. Talk to people from your country about your stresses and ask how they have dealt with the same situation.6. Take a course or read a book on cross-cultural communication. Ask hosts questions like, As I understand it, you are saying that. Is that correct?7. Continue improving your language proficiency (watch TV, listen to the radio, read books in English).8. Have a sense of humor. Allow yourself to see the humor in misunderstandings or embarrassments. Laughter heals9. Exercise and a nutritional