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Culture Shock
   Good morning, everybody. Today we are going to talk about culture shock. Culture shock refers to the difficulty people have adjusting to a new culture that differs markedly from their own.
   The shock of moving to a foreign country often consists of distinct phases, though not everyone passes through these phases and not everyone is in the new culture long enough to pass through all.
    (1) The first phase is often named as honeymoon phase. During this period, the differences between the old and new culture are seen in a romantic light, wonderful and new. (2) And this period is full of observations and new discoveries. Like many honeymoons this stage eventually ends.
    (4) After some time—usually three months but it may be sooner or later depending on the individual—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. (3) This phase is often called the negotiation phase, which is 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.
   Again, (5) after some time of usually 6-12 months, one enters the adjustment phase in which one grows accustomed to the new culture and develops routines. One starts to develop problem-solving skills for dealing with the culture, and begins to accept the culture with a positive attitude. Reaching this stage requires a constructive response to culture shock with effective means of adaptation.
   With this gradual adaptation, people get to the final phase—mastery phase. (6) In the mastery stage, assignees are able to participate fully and comfortably in the host culture. Mastery does not mean total conversion, and people are capable of not adopting some aspects of the host culture. (7) It is often referred to as the biculturalism stage.
    (8) In addition, we also have to mention reverse culture shock, which is also called " re-entry shock", or "own culture shock". It may take place—returning to one’s home culture after growing accustomed to a new one can produce the same effects as described above. The affected person often finds this more surprising and difficult to deal with than the original culture shock.
   Culture shock is a subcategory of a more universal construct called transition shock. (9) Transition shock is a state of loss and disorientation predicated by a change in one’s familiar environment which requires adjustment. There are many different symptoms of transition shock, some of which include: excessive concern over cleanliness and health, feelings of helplessness and withdrawal, etc.
   It is not advisable to sleep excessively, isolate yourself, or have anger towards your host people. You should write home, spend time with the host family or people, and try to adjust yourself to the culture, including eating even if you are not hungry, sleeping at normal times, not when you feel you should, and adjusting yourself to the time change. (10) Though these solutions may not work on everybody, you should try hard.