culture shock mentee guide week 6 the vira i. heinz program for women in global leadership

Culture Shock

Mentee Guide Week 6

The Vira I. Heinz Program for Women in Global Leadership

Peer-to-Peer Discussion:

What is culture shock?

* Please take a few minutes to share your ideas and opinions


Culture Shock Defined

“The alienation, confusions, surprise, etc. that may be experienced by someone encountering unfamiliar surroundings, a strange city or community, or a different culture or experiencing interpersonal interactions that involve behaviors and/or values that are different from those engrained in one’s one culture.” Webster’s 3rd College Dictionary

Mini Discussion: • Do you agree with this

definition?• Why or why not?


What Does Culture Shock Feel Like?

Feelings associated with culture shock:

• Surprise and anxiety after becoming aware of cultural differences

• Uncertainty of how to accomplish tasks in a new environment

• Lack of understanding of what is appropriate and what is inappropriate • Confusion in role expectations and values

• Feeling strained due to the effort required to make necessary psychological adaptations

• Anger, hostility, increased criticism and/or rejection of new culture

• Feeling lost in a new environment due to exposure to new foods, languages, and/or climate


Mentor Reflection

Individually Reflect• Please reflect on your study abroad experience. • Did you experience cultural shock?

Share• Please share your experience with culture shock. • If you experience culture shock, how did it affect you?• How did you constructively deal with it?

Questions• Mentee: Please take a moment to ask your mentor any questions you may have about culture shock.


The Four Stages of Culture Shock

Tip: The following slides will include additional information about each stage of culture shock. You are encouraged to discuss each stage as you read about it.

Adapted from diversityabroad.com

• Honeymoon Stage

• Frustration Stage

• Understanding Stage

• Acclimation Stage


The Honeymoon Stage

Feelings and Actions Associated with the Honeymoon Period:• Fascination with the new environment and new culture• Excitement due to experiencing new fashion, food, and social customs• Enthusiasm about discoveries and new observations • Pleasant anticipation

Quote from a student who has studied abroad:“We landed in Beijing but to me we might as well have been landing on Mars. Even though the writing was in characters, the air was thick with pollution and no one looked like me, I couldnot have been more excited to take it all in.” – Tiffany Martin, China 2005


The Frustration Stage

Feelings and Actions Associated with the Frustration Stage:

• Frustration due to not understanding the language or gestures

• Difficulties understanding local culture

• Feeling misunderstood or left out

• Homesickness

• Loss of initial excitement

• Idealizing your home culture

• Overreacting to slight setbacks


The Understanding Stage:

Feelings and Actions Associated with the Understanding Stage:

• You begin to feel less homesick

• You become more comfortable with the culture, people, and food of the host country

• Understanding what you enjoy about the new environment

• Realization that it is okay to make mistakes as you transition into a new environment

• Begin to feel more comfortable in your surroundings


The Acclimation Stage

Feelings and Actions Associated with the Acclimation Stage:

• You are able to objectively compare your host country with your home country

• You are able to better cope with things that initially frustrated you

• You begin to feel less like a foreigner


Coping StrategiesTips and strategies:

• Remember that what you are going though is normal and will eventually pass • Try not to dwell on small incidents and problems

• Reflect continuously• Keep a journal• Talk with a friend or a person you can trust

• Take care of yourself by getting lots of sleep and exercising

• Use the resources your program provides you with

• Explore and try to become comfortable within your new surroundings

• Maintain a sense of humor


Peer-to-Peer Discussion

What• Did you experience the four stages of culture shock?

How• How did you overcome culture shock? • What could you have done prior to leaving to better prepare yourself to deal

with the new challenges of culture shock?

Discuss• Think about who you are. Prior to going abroad, how will you prepare to deal

with culture shock? What coping strategies will you employ abroad?• Talking with someone you trust can be a great way to cope with culture shock.

Can you identify a few people in your life that you can have open discussions with?


Resources

• Culture Shock Defined. (2011). Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved from, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture%20shock

• Culture Shock & Study Abroad. (2009). Diversity Abroad. Retrieved from, http://www.diversityabroad.com/cultural-shock#Understanding


culture shock mentee guide week 6 the vira i. heinz program for women in global leadership

Documents

stage of culture shock

different culture

new culture excitement

local culture

heinz program

global leadershipculture

home culture overreacting

stages of culture shocktip