A bus called patience, photo by Crispin who volunteered in Ghana
by Roberta Geraci
Culture Shock
“Culture shock is the personal disorientation a person may feel when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life due to immigration or a visit to a new country, or to a move between social environments.”
Culture shock is a term used to describe the stress, anxiety and nerves that people may feel when moving to a new country, particularly if staying for a long period of time. While not everyone feels it to the same extent, when living abroad the unfamiliarity can be overwhelming. Culture shock, while not a medical condition, can cause a variety of mental symptoms including anger, insomnia, and lack of confidence or lonely feelings. It is important then to understand and be familiar with the stages of Culture Shock and how to mitigate its effects.
The majority of people experience Culture Shock in stages, and while individual experiences differ these have been grouped as follows:
The Honeymoon Stage
During this period, the differences between the old and new culture are seen in a positive even romantic light. Everything about the new culture may be seen in as exciting and individuals often embrace the new culture; however like all honeymoons this phase will likely end.
The Disintegration Stage
Often arriving without warning an Individual abroad may find that certain differences between cultures are viewed in a negative light and these differences may be a cause of conflict. Feelings of loneliness and homesickness (link to previous article) may develop in this phase.
The Reintegration Stage
During this stage Individuals often seek comfort or familiarity with their own culture. This can be expressed in a number of ways, for example, you may start wanting food from your own country, forming small groups with people from the same culture or background or find yourself phoning/writing home a lot more. This is a normal part of missing certain aspects of your own culture and wanting to re-establish your sense of identity.
The Acceptance Stage
At this point the Individual becomes familiar with their new surroundings and more comfortable with their identity within them. After time the new culture will seem normal and you should start to relax and feel more confident. During this time you will be more likely to enjoy your experiences.
How to avoid Culture Shock
Firstly it is important to remember that Culture Shock is only temporary and while it is a fairly common occurrence, it is a problem many overcome. An understanding that while you may feel homesick, lonely or slightly overwhelmed by your new country, persevering with a positive attitude will likely see you overcome these feelings far quicker. Our previous advice on how to avoid homesickness is just as helpful to avoid Culture Shock (link) and will help you to enjoy your experience. Other good techniques include having a familiar routine, including physical exercise and proper meal times, so that you become accustomed quicker and feel more comfortable. Often though just talking to someone about your feelings will help you to feel better, a problem shared is a problem halved after all!
At Lattitude Global Volunteering we find culture shock can be a real issue for returning volunteers which is why we address it at our returned volunteer debriefs.
Tags: culture, culture shock, travel, travelling
