Who will experience culture shock? What will it feel like?
Anytime you leave a familiar environment and enter an unfamiliar environment you are likely to experience Culture Shock. It is the natural process of adjusting to your new surroundings. It is important to remember that Culture Shock is normal. Listed below are some basic symptoms:
*Extreme tiredness *Withdrawal
*Extreme homesickness *Excessive sleep
*A tendency to stereotype individuals in the host culture
*Compulsive eating or drinking
*Reading all day *Exaggerated cleanliness
*Extreme boredom and lack of energy *Family tension
*Feeling irritable and confused *Unexplainable weeping
*A tendency to talk negatively about the host culture
*Hostility toward
host nation
How to Overcome Feelings of Culture Shock
The easiest way to overcome the feelings of Culture Shock is to accept the feelings and deal with them. Listed below are some steps you can take to minimize the effect of Culture Shock.
*Carry pictures of your family and familiar surroundings.
*Identify the names of important people, places, event, holidays, leaders of governments, national heroes, distance measurements, temperatures, currency, meal time, foods, dress, and unique customs. Know as much as you can possibly know prior to departure.
*Discuss your feelings and apprehensions with people who have been there.
*List the advantages and disadvantages of living in another culture.
*List your fears, worries and expectations of your experience.
*Do not criticize the other culture no matter what the circumstances.
*Talk with another person of that culture about how you are feeling.
*Use the skills that you have already developed to deal with stressful situations.
*Laugh! It's good for you. Make sure you use appropriate humor for the culture.
*Keep a travel journal. Document places, events, people, and most importantly how you are feeling. The book will be useful as a reference when you return.
*Know that you will
experience some form of Culture Shock. Remember that it is normal
and will occur in cycles.