CULTURE SHOCK

CULTURE SHOCK
When I was 10, I went to Australia and left my home country for the first time. And there, it was also my first time experiencing culture shock. I was shocked not just because I missed my country, but because of how different Australians do things: they used toilet paper instead of using the water spray after they take a dump.

Source: www.blog.schneider-electric.com

So what is Culture Shock?

Cultural Shock is a phenomenon that many people go through when they are living somewhere unfamiliar with different social norms, for example, a student studying abroad. For some people, it could take more than just a few weeks to get over Culture Shock.

Phases of Culture Shock:

The Honeymoon Stage
- This is when you first move to the new place. Everything seems very nice and exciting, because it is human nature to be curious and thrilled by new things. This is when you start to think that moving to the new place is the best decision ever, and you would be having the time of your life there.

The Frustration Stage
- The worst part of Culture Shock. You start to get frustrated due to the difficulty in communication, the different taste of food and the different living style of the new place. Even small things like waiting at the check-out counter can make a person feel frustrated at this stage.

The Adjustment Stage
- As you live for a longer time in the new place, it is quite logical that you begin to adjust yourself and get used to the ways of things there. Things seem to get better day by day: e.g. you get more patient waiting in a traffic jam, the food doesn't taste that bad anymore, etc.

The Acceptance Stage
- The last stage of Culture Shock. This could be defined as the phase when you are completely familiar with the place you live in, as everything seems to be much more convenient now. This is thanks to the fact that you are now able to manage your way to a comfortable and suitable life in the new place.

BUT, after all, when you go back to your previous place of living, you might experience culture shock again, as your old living style may seem much more different and less convenient for you now.