| Ways to deal with culture shock
Posted: 2/22/2008 4:37:25 PM | I am looking for ideas about culture shock and people's experiences. How people coped with living in different places and what worked as far as making a new culture become home.
I only experienced culture shock as a small child going from a New Guinea plantation to a very old fashioned Victorian culture really in the land of concrete. The memory of so many sudden social constrictions and the very different landscape and noise still fill my recollections of that time. In Rome, I found I was miserable without all the small insects that fill so much of my surrounds in Australia, something I never even thought about before. Yet the I loved the people and the culture very much.
How did culture shock affect you, and what did you do about it? | |
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| Ways to deal with culture shock
Posted: 2/23/2008 8:31:08 AM | I think from my experience, culture shock has lots to do with romanticism and how I have perceived somewhere, which often conflicts with reality. I guess the more you travel the more you expect this.
I've recently come back from Egypt. We stayed in Shalm as we wanted to do some diving but went up to Cairo, which is very different and far less clinically aimed at tourism (with the exception of the Hard Rock Cafe!). Some guy's who stayed at the same hotel as us found the experience harrowing and couldn't get their head around the poverty and culture shock, particularly with how animals and women were treated.
I guess it's about limiting preconceptions and trying to embrace areas for their wonders, rather than irritants! | |
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| Ways to deal with culture shock
Posted: 2/23/2008 4:47:55 PM | | i went from living in Canada to a 3rd world country and there IS A BIG DIFFERENCE lol. just go with an open mind and try not to have any preconceived notions about anything. depending where you are going be prepared to lose many of the things you are used to and just try to make the most of what you have whoever you are. give it some time and you will adapt to it and realize how you really don't need have the things you use in your everyday life right now. | |
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| Ways to deal with culture shock
Posted: 2/23/2008 7:16:37 PM | | Do lots of reading on the place before you go. It will help you fit in and stop you making a complete idiot of yourself. Have some notion of the local customs, and try to do things their way. Don't complain about everything being different from home. | |
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| Ways to deal with culture shock
Posted: 2/24/2008 2:56:03 AM | Thankyou so much for the replies everyone!
I am hoping to do some international teaching, and emigrate to Canada from Australia, so maybe there won't be too much difference. Unless I do a stint in Asia etc as well which is on the cards.
I'm doing an assignment for uni, and I've done very little travel really so I'm having a hard time imagining what I have little experience with.
I am reading up on the relevant history, literature etc, which has been fun. One book I've been reading suggested being more aware of your own prejudices and your own culture, but how do you really do that? You always think your cupboard is fairly OK, until something falls out.
Did anyone feel as though they had to redefine their identity and values? | |
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| Ways to deal with culture shock
Posted: 9/5/2008 5:17:44 PM | I have traveled to a number of places over the years. Most of the places have cultures very different than what is found in the United States. I love adventure and diversity. I love meeting people of other cultures and learning about their customs and belief systems. Of course, before going I always do research. I listen and learn while I am there. I show the highest respect towards the people and their culture. The last place I visited, one person said to me that I know how to fit in the with system. That really made me feel good. There are things that I do not do, however. If I know my body cannot tolerate certain foods, I let the people know about my dietary requirements.
So far, they have accepted that. I do not take the Ugly American attitude with me. I have been on tours and saw some people show such an attitude. To be honest, I felt ashamed. Even here in the United States, I seek out friendships with people of different cultures. I love eating various ethnic foods and enjoy listening to a wide variety of music. One motto I have followed in life is that variety is the spice of life. That is so much a part of who I am.  | |
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| Ways to deal with culture shock
Posted: 9/6/2008 2:05:49 AM | Beside the diversity in my homeland and my new home in America, I have been very lucky to travel with parents to many places in my short life. I think it help me in life to learn of so many cultures.
But culture shock can be frustrate. I have leave many place with more question than I start with. Some thing that seem so crazy to me but so natural to them can not be understood in small conversation. Can only ask respectful question and try to understand part of it in my short time there.
I love America and Canada but even there people have view of thing and life I can not understand. Is what make life interesting though. :) | |
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| Ways to deal with culture shock
Posted: 9/6/2008 8:53:24 AM | Preparing in advance probably doesn't hurt, but I don't think it really helps all that much either. Culture shock happens when you have problems adjusting to a new environment and withdraw from it, a little or a lot. The solution is to force yourself to get out and adapt and get involved in the new culture, doing things their way. To do that you need to be flexible more than anything, so filling your head with ideas beforehand could conceivably work against you.
Personally, I find the reverse culture shock when you come home much harder to deal with. As far as I can tell, about the only answer for that is not to go home again! | |
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| Ways to deal with culture shock
Posted: 9/25/2008 12:33:09 PM |
Personally, I find the reverse culture shock when you come home much harder to deal with. As far as I can tell, about the only answer for that is not to go home again!
I was thinking the same thing reading this thread, but you beat me to that thought.
I've only been to England and Colombia (not counting Canada). I loved getting used to Colombia's culture and way of life; it was an adventure I'll never forget. It was coming back to the USA that I couldn't handle very well. | |
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| Ways to deal with culture shock
Posted: 9/25/2008 4:15:46 PM | I don't get "culture shock"--because I know that all humans are just humans. So, even if I can't speak the language, they understand me. As long as you are friendly and respectful, everything will go well. It even adds to the adventure. I'm not one to plan too much, I prolly should plan MORE. But I sort of like flying by the seat of my pants, not knowing where I'm going, exactly. That's part of the fun for me. It can get dicey at times, but , then, once you get home, you have a great story to tell.
As to the "reverse culture shock" (culture depression?), coming back home, I know I've had a perfect trip when I am eagerly looking FORWARD to home. If I get depressed thinking about going home, that means vacation wasn't long enough. | |
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| Ways to deal with culture shock
Posted: 9/25/2008 7:14:47 PM | I've done a great deal of travel and have lived for multiple years in countries other than my home. Culture shock is a natural and normal phenomena. The problem arises in the manner in which we choose to address it.
I've found that for me, the best way to handle it and make my stay more meaningful, is to avoid making comparrisons to "home". Each country and culture is different and it is natural for us to consider our own native culture and as the "right one" or the "way life should be". Unfortunatley when we do that we set ourselves up for failure. It has a tendancy to block our perception and acceptance of local cultural details that can serve to highlight the wonderful gems in the place we presently reside.
Get to know the local people and their culture through their eyes. I try not to go to American establishments and tourist traps when I'm in another country. I like to go where American's don't usually go, even if I don't speak the language, because that's how you REALLY see a country for what it is.
So my cure for culture shock is to approach each new place and it's population as an individual entity, with it's own wonderful details just waiting to be discovered. Not in the light of what I consider "Normal" or "acceptable", and I never make comparrisons to "home". | |
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