Culture Shock

Culture Shock• What is culture shock?

o indicatorso stages

• Dealing with ito tipso activities

What is Culture Shock? • Physical & psychological • Part of living abroad

Honeymoon Stage

Comfort Level

Time

ExcitingAmazingBeautiful

I can’t wait to tell all my friends

about this place!

Honeymoon Indicators• Excitement• Optimism• Adventure

Conflict Stage

Comfort Level

Time

We would never do that at home!

These people are so ___!

I can’t wait to go home!

Conflict Indicators• Unmet expectations• Frustration• Unable to understand

Critical Period

Comfort Level

Time

Imagine if I did that back

home?!?

There’s no reason why they shouldn’t

do that.

Critical Period Indicators• Exploration• Self-reflection• Adjustment

Recovery Stage

Comfort Level

Time

You don’t understand

them the way I do.

I’m beginning to like this.We do that,

just differently.

Recovery Indicators• Developed greater tolerance• Became part of the community• Improved language skills

Some more points• Your experience might not follow the cycle

exactly• You might start the cycle at a different position• You might also experience reverse culture

shock

Do’s• Do’s when experiencing a culture shock

o Regular stress-reducing mechanismSports, favourite music, painting, teddy bear - whatever works for you when you are in stress at home

o Be natural in your behaviourAllow yourself natural retreat (“don’t eat the cake in one piece”) or natural aggression - use these valves for regaining orientation

Dont’sDont’s when experiencing a culture shock• Don’t exaggerate

Watch yourself to not stick to your first “flight” or “fight” reaction

• First reflect, then actIt’s nobody’s fault - it’s a culture shock. Sleep it over before you make your judgement or even start doing or saying stupid things.

Dealing with It• 10. Keep busy and active

• 9. Establish strong friendship with people from the host culture

• 8. Make a list of positive things about the culture and look through it occasionally

• 7. Realize that everyone who goes abroad experiences culture shock

• 6. Be an avid learner about the country. Find out all the information you can

Dealing with It• 5. Try to trace every

“strange action” to its underlying values

• 4. Find someone from your country that has been there longer. Use that person to gain perspective

Dealing with It• 3. Avoid foreigners who

spend their time complaining about the host culture. Avoid criticizing the host culture yourself

• 2. Work at maintaining a healthy sense of humor. Be ready to laugh at yourself

• 1. When talking about experiences, focus on your

feelings rather than the causes

Activities• Keep a journal or

weblog (http://www.blogspot.com)• Create a “to-do” list• Remember why you went you abroad

Additional Ideas• Positive emotions• Remember you’re not alone• Find host culture resources

o AIESECerso other international studentso people at work

• Know your weak points

Thank you