Cross-cultural Living In adapting to a new culture,

Cross-cultural Living
    Good morning, everyone. As we all know, different countries have different cultures. So when we start living in a foreign culture, what will we experience? This class we will talk about cross-cultural living.
    Living in a foreign culture is an experience we often look forward to with excitement and enthusiasm.(1)However, many of us are unprepared for the extent of cultural dissimilarity we encounter, and may experience pronounced reactions to the psychological disorientation of getting used to a new way of doing things. This very real phenomenon is called "culture shock" by some, and all travelers entering a foreign culture are affected by it in some way. Others prefer to call the experience "cultural adaptation". Although culture shock may feel intense and strike suddenly, adapting to the new culture is imperative for a happy journey.
    What is culture? According to Robert Kohls, author of the Survival Kit to Overseas Living, culture is everything that a group of people think, do and make. It is learned and transmitted from generation to generation.
    In adapting to a new culture, it is supposed to go through three distinct stages of cultural adaptation. The progress through these stages varies for each individual, and is often a function of the length of time spent away from home.
     (2)OK, at first, let’s see stage one "the honeymoon phase": The first few days or weeks in a new culture are exciting, new and exotic, a sensory delight. Tourists who go overseas for two weeks may not leave the honeymoon phase. People who are about to spend years overseas may have very long honeymoon periods. But, soon enough, this blissful feeling wears off.
    The second stage is "culture shock": Cultural shock is the emotional and/or physical upset we experience settling into a new culture. For some, culture shock is brief and hardly noticeable. For others, it can cause intense discomfort often accompanied by hyper-irritability, bitterness, resentment, homesickness and depression.(3)Some may experience physical symptoms such as upset stomach, fatigue, insomnia and headaches. Reflect on a time when you have previously experienced a form of culture shock. Are you having difficulty remembering one? What about the first time you changed schools, your first year at university? Have you ever moved to another city? Cultural shock is normal. Recognizing it is the most important step in preparing yourself for it.
     (4)The third stage I want to talk about is "cultural adaptation": Cultural adaptation involves psychological adjustment and social adjustment. It refers to the success of adapting to a new culture by participating in the local culture, learning the language, making friends, and enjoying life. Accept the lesson that cultural adaptation teaches. One culture, even the Canadian culture, does not pose the only way, right way, or the best way of doing something. Reaching this state of cultural nirvana takes time.
    So, do not rush it. Just be aware of the three stages. Observe and facilitate your progress throughout them. Keeping a journal is an excellent way to observe this. Next, I will give you some ideas of the emotional ups and downs that most people go through. What do they want to expect when they move to another culture?
     (5)Prior to your departure you’ll be busy with all the details of pre-trip preparation. It can be a stressful and exciting time. One minute you’re excited about your trip and the next you’re worried you may not get your visa in time. Often, people are so busy that they don’t emotionally process their departure until they are on the plane. For many this is the first time they realize they are really going.
     (6)For most people arrival in the host culture brings elation and excitement. Yes, that’s really the Eiffel Tower or the Sydney Opera House or the Pyramids. It can feel like you’re walking through a real-life postcard. Just remember, the fact that you are new to the culture and a little in awe can make you stand out as a tourist and a target for con artists and thieves, so be aware as you walk around taking in all the wonders. For some, the pre-trip preparation combined with jetlag and general travel weariness can cause a different reaction. A few students arrive in the host culture and feel that they immediately want to return home. This sudden onset culture shock is usually the result of several factors: 1)Being so busy prior to departure that you never got a chance to mentally process your trip and prepare yourself emotionally: 2)Assuming that because you’ve been to a culture before or that, because it’s essentially similar to your home culture, you won’t experience culture shock. When you arrive, and do experience culture shock, it is usually more severe because you weren’t expecting it:(7)3)Jetlag, and tiredness make everything seem worse. Any little thing that goes wrong when you arrive can seem like a big deal. When you’re tired and not feeling well the first place you want to be is home: 4)You may have chosen a host culture that is more challenging than you thought it would be, but give it a chance, don’t make any decision about staying or going until you’ve had a chance to catch up on your sleep and settle in a bit.
    Usually, the excitement of the honeymoon phase is followed by a down time. This is when many people experience culture shock or acute homesickness.(8)For longer trips it is not unusual for this low point to happen about 6 weeks after arrival in the host culture. You may find it’s a time when the new and exciting elements of your host culture no longer seem to compensate for the things you miss about home. You may notice that you want to spend more time with other Canadians or other expatriates. This can turn into a time of local culture bashing. So be careful not to spend too much time with others who are homesick, or you may find you’re spending all your time away with other expats complaining about your host culture. Try to avoid too much negativity. Get out and discover the things you enjoy about the culture.
     (9)Once you establish your daily routine, you’ll find your own comfort level in your new home. You may have deciphered the local transportation system, made some new friends or be energized by your studies or work activities: all these little triumphs will help you begin to feel at home. Life will settle into a regular pattern with the ups and downs one expects in any life. You’ve adapted and settled in.
    As you get closer to returning home, you’ll experience the same pre-travel ups and downs as you did before you left home. Upon your return it will feel like a second honeymoon. You’ll be excited to see all your friends and family.(10)However, as they attend to their daily lives, and you realize that many people don’t want to see your photos or their eyes glaze over when you talk about your trip, things can get a little depressing. You’ll feel homesick for the life and friends you left behind in your host culture. Remember that this is normal. It takes time to adjust to being home just as it did to being away. Once you re-establish a daily routine and get back into your old activities and some new ones probably things will begin to even out.
    Well, today we have talked about three stages and the emotional ups and downs in adapting to a new culture. Next time we will discuss some differences between cultures of different nations. Thanks for your attention.