The Culture Shock

When you go abroad you’re going to experience new cultures, people, food, music and probably a new language. All of the newness combined with the lack of things and people that you are familiar with might cause you to have some anxiety. This type of anxiety is called cultural shock. Expect to experience some degree of cultural shock.

Cultural shock can be put into three stages. Once you become familiar with the stages

you will be better able to combat it.

1)Honeymoon phase

2)Negotiation phase

3)Adjustment Phase

Symptoms of culture shock:Unwarranted criticism of the culture and people

Heightened irritabilityConstant complaints about the climate

Continual offering of excuses for staying indoorsUtopian ideas concerning one's previous culture

Continuous concern about the purity of water and foodFear of touching local peopleRefusal to learn the language

Preoccupation about being robbed or cheatedPressing desire to talk with people who "really make sense."

Preoccupation with returning home

Hoenymoon StageDuring this period the differences between the

old and new culture are seen in a romantic light,

wonderful and new.In the first few weeks most

people are fascinated by the new culture. They

associate with the nationals that speak their

language and are polite to the foreigners. This

period is full of observations and new discoveries.

Like many honeymoons this stage eventually ends.

After some time (usually weeks), differences between the old and new culture become apparent and may create anxiety. That sense of excitement will eventually give way to new and unpleasant feelings of frustration and anger as you continue to have unfavorable encounters that strike you as strange, offensive, and unacceptable. This phase is often marked by mood swings caused by minor issues or without apparent reason. This is where excitement turns to disappointment and more and more differences start to occur. Depression is not uncommon.

Negotiation phase

Again, after some time (usually 6 – 12 months), one grows accustomed to the new culture and develops routines. One knows what to expect in most situations and the host country no longer feels all that new. One becomes concerned with basic living again, and things become more "normal". One starts to develop problem-solving skills for dealing with the culture, and begins to accept the culture ways with a positive attitude. The culture begins to make sense, and negative reactions and responses to the culture are reduced. Reaching this stage requires a constructive response to culture shock with effective means of adaption.

Adjustment Phase

Also, Reverse Culture Shock (a.k.a. Re-entry Shock) may take place — returning to one's home culture after growing accustomed to a new one can produce the same effects as described above. This results from the psychosomatic and psychological consequences of the readjustment process to the primary culture. The affected person often finds this more surprising and difficult to deal with than the original culture shock.

Culture shock is a state of dis-ease, just like a disease. It has many

different effects, time spans, and degrees of severity. Many people are handicapped by its presence

and don't recognize what is bothering them. Culture shock symptoms are really hard to

seclude.Culture shock is a subcategory of a

more universal construct called transition shock. Transition shock is

a state of loss and disorientation predicated by a change in one's

familiar environment which requires adjustment.

These are only a few examples of situations in which you could be put if you are not warned in advance. We have to keep in mind that every culture is different. The best thing to do is to read a lot about the particular customs and habits of the country you are going to visit. If this is not enough try to keep your eyes wide open and see how the others do it.

Surse Surse

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_shock

http://www.diversityabroad.com/reverse-cultural-shock

http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/shock.htm