CULTURE SHOCK

“ Culture shock is the confusing and nervous feeling a person may have after leaving a familiar culture to live in a new and different culture.”

www.Kidshealth.org/teen/your mind/emotions/culture shock.

Culture Shock – “ changes that pose either difficulty or stress to given persons. Changes can be either psychological or socio-cultural.”

J.W. Berry Lectures, “Acculturation and Adaptation Among Immigrants and Refugees.”

www.hamilton.edu

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PHASE 1 –The Honeymoon Stage

PHASE 2- The Frustration Phase

PHASE 3- The Comparison Phase

PHASE 4 -The Acceptance Phase

ACTIVITY

• In groups of 5, discuss and record some of the concerns you have about moving to a new culture. You will have ten minutes to discuss.

• Record your results on the provided flip chart paper and be prepared to share one concern from your group.

Activity

• Keeping the same group, pick one concern other than the one you previously discussed, and brainstorm some things you can do to help deal with this issue.

• Be prepared to share one-two suggestions.

SURVIVAL SUGGESTIONS FOR LIVING IN A NEW CULTURE

• 1.) Try to learn some key phrases in the new language.

2.) Pay attention to your perspective. You may have to readjust your expectations.

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• “ Living in another culture will remain essentially the same no matter how we look at it, but our looking at the situation will have an enormous impact on us, our emotions and our opportunities.”

http://www.GlobalCoachCenter.com

3.) Avoid developing a negative attitude through criticism.

4.) Continue with your normal routine of exercise and eating properly

5.) Explore new opportunities.

6.) Keep in contact with home and the culture you have left.

7.) Set up a support group where you feel free to discuss concerns.

8.) Decide what aspects of your home culture you will maintain.

9.) Learn all that you can about the new culture.

10.)Enjoy the new experience and have FUN!

REFERENCES

http://www.ehow.com http://www.expatica.comhttp://www.expatinterviews.comhttp://www.hamilton.eduhttp://moving.about.comhttp://kidshealth.orghttp://voices.yahoo.com Gottman,J.,Silver,N.( 1999) The Seven Principles of

Making a Marriage Work. Three Rivers Press, New York, New York.