Culture Shock
Culture Shock
When you move to a different culture, you lose many of the social and cultural cues and the way of life you were accustomed to. In the new culture you are confronted with an entirely new set of rules relating to social order, personal relationships and business practices. These unwritten rules affect everything from dealing with co-workers and managers to forming friendships with your new neighbours. While you are adjusting to the rules of the new culture you may find that your normal behaviour may be perceived as strange or unusual by the locals. You may also find that certain things that the locals say and do may seem equally strange or unusual to you!
In the new culture you are required to adjust to a new home, job, climate, new food and customs, and perhaps a new language. Many of the ways you behaved in your home country no longer seem to apply in the new culture. This can cause anxiety, fear, confusion, resentment, frustration and sometimes anger. The experience is known as culture shock.
Virtually everyone who relocates to a new culture will experience some degree of culture shock, but the good news is that there are specific steps that you can take to lessen its impact.
- Gather information
The more you know about the new culture the less threatening the people and the place will seem.
Explore and appreciate cultural differences. This can help you to feel comfortable faster, to avoid misunderstandings and develop friendships more easily. - Recognize you own cultural baggage
Consider how your own culture has influenced your beliefs, values and assumptions and how they influence the way you perceive the new culture. - Take Care of yourself
Eat a healthy diet, get some exercise and plenty of sleep to keep your energy levels high.
Stay in touch with family and friends to avoid feeling isolated or depressed. These relationships will support you while you are building a new network of friends and colleagues.
Get involved in the new community. Go out and explore, volunteer and interact with the locals. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and to practice your language skills.
Adapting to a new culture, its people and its places takes time. Do not expect too much from yourself too soon, give yourself time to adjust. It is quite normal to experience culture shock but remember that you and your family are not alone, many others have gone through this process and have successfully adjusted to living and working in new locations all around the world.
