Culture Shock

     Living, traveling and working abroad can be an incredible, challenging experience or a nightmare depending on how you interact with the local culture. Culture shock is familiar to most travelers living abroad for any period of time and is a type of psychological stress which affects those adjusting to new cultures or environments different from one's own. This is not simply the shock of experiencing something new, but is an all-encompassing environmental change which may take months to adjust to (or longer if one isolates him/herself from the new environment.)

     As most people take for granted that all cultures operate and behave in exactly the same manner as their own, they are 'shocked' or made temporarily uncomfortable by the differences and unpredictability they encounter, whether it be in the language, food or various society ceremonies of everyday life. One positive of the living abroad experience is the ability to better understand your own culture and society through observing another.

   While American or European cultures may be more straightforward in manner and rules of behavior, Asian cultures are more ambiguous, or relate more to individual situations and cannot be easily understand by or explained to those born outside their culture. For example, in Chinese culture a lot goes unsaid but is still completely understood by most, while to the foreigner, this can leave them at a complete loss and incapable of understanding what is happening. It is important to remember that no matter what the differences are, we are all still human and have the same needs and desires even if we communicate these needs differently.

    Culture shock typically strikes a few months after arrival when the newness of the location starts to wear off and you are no longer acting as a tourist but are starting to integrate with the local society. Recognizing the following symptoms can help you understand yourself as well as to empathize with others.

The most common occurence is a feeling of uncontrollability and helplessness. This can be either a positive or negative experience depending on how you adapt to it, whether you grow and adapt or withdraw and lose confidence in yourself. The challenges of finding new places to eat, shop, housing, entertainment can be taxing on anyone and you should try to relax and not push yourself in the initial months of living abroad regardless of whether better adjusted friends disagree or try to make you do something you aren't comfortable with.

You may notice the following:

-Difficulty sleeping

-Disregard for day-to-day life/withdrawl from social contact

-Difficulties eating/weight loss

Homesickness

--Extreme dislike for races or cultures other than your own

-Lack of sexual appetite

-Health problems/reurring sickness

-Socializing difficulties

-Obsessive worrying/fears

-Depression

Get excited and explore and participate in your new environment.

Cross-cultural environment- work values, study values, work styles, expectations, business practices, communication styles, laws and work/entertainment loads/lack of time and new surroundings all contribute to stress and adjustment difficulties.

The good news is the symptoms undoubtedly subside over time as adjustment takes place. The transition is complete and although there are still difficulties on a daily basis, they won't affect you so extremely as they did when you first arrived.

Techniques for adjusting

Don't be afraid to admit that you are uncomfortable, or confused in a new situation.

Feel free to express your frustration with understanding friends who won't force you to change or don't understand your experiences

Understand that adjusting takes time and will be challenging but is by no means impossible or traumatic.

Don't be surprised if normal activities are more difficult than those at home

1) Establish a routine

2) Make your home comfortable

3) Learn the local rules of living in a new location - Confucian tradition/ quick transition relatively of traditional/rural society to moder/industrialized nation today

4) Learn the local language

5) Take advantage of new opportunities/activities

6) Try to  attack problems right away/don't procrastinate

7) Stay in contact with friends at home/use their support-make new friends so you don't prolong the adjustment period

8) Write down your experiences or share them with others

9) Keep a sense of balance/humor/perspective

10) Make an effort

expat community reach out to them

join clubs

Shame-based society where doing the 'wrong' thing is relative to who you are around or have a relationship with.  In other words, sometimes people are more polite in front of close friends, but around strangers or the general public they might not think twice about littering, burping or observing right of-way d iving/traffic rules as much as in Western culture.

Age is revered and titles are respected. Teaching and medicine are respected positions in society because tehy focus on learning and knowledge and salaries aren't as important in general as respect for one's position. Families don't think twice about sacrificing for an education  as this is the primary goal of Chinese culture and and educated person is not expected to do manual labor.

The work ethic, long hours and hard work and self-sacrifice are common as well as saving money. A huge percentage of income goes into savings, partly because of the need to prepare for future problems whether it be weather (typhoon/earthquakes), decline in the economy, accidents/sickness or other misfortunes. The family unit is extremely important and forms the core of Chinese society. Having a simple lifestle allows for generosity on special occasions like births, weddings, funerals and the lunar New Year.

Chinese don't require as much space as westerners do and you may notice that the size of furniture, beds, portions of food, height of ceilings and doorways and the diminuative wooden or plastic stools surrounding tables at street food vendor restaurants all point to this. They live in a crowded environment because of the amount of people and lack of space in general. They tend to like togetherness and fear being alone. Bright, noisy places and restaurants are more popular than darker, more intimate western style venues.

While a Westerner may think the Chinese are superficial or 'fake' when they agree to do something but don't follow through, when in actuality they just didn't want to disappoint or disagree if they weren't able to do something. They are anxious to please and will go out of their way to try to accomodate someone, even if the result is the opposite of what one is expecting. Don't expect directness or honesty or bluntness discussions (tell someone like it is) as the anser will often be polite but nothing will get done results in the perception of rudeness rather than clarity. Other times they may say "I don't know" when in fact they do but don't want to appear arrogant, they prefer to be humble.

Backing someone into the corner is never recommended, nor is aorrguing to the point of losing 'face' , try to compromise.

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