Can the Differences Between Cultures Make It Difficult to Adapt to the New Environment?

Culture Shock

by

Maria Tataurova

A-51

Prof. G.G.Butorina

5 December 2017

Culture Shock

Thesis Statement: Can the differences between cultures make it difficult to adapt to the new environment?

1. General information about Culture Shock

1. Definition of Culture Shock
2. Causes of Culture Shock
3. Stages of Culture Shock

1. My own experience

1. Culture Shock in Egypt
2. How to endure Culture Shock

1. Conclusion

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Maria Tataurova

Prof. G.G.Butorina

A-51

5 December 2017

Culture Shock

In our world, more and more people go abroad for work, study or travelling. The term Culture Shock was first mentioned in literature by Kalvero Oberg in 1960. In his article Oberg defined Culture Shock as follows: "Culture Shock is precipitated by the anxiety that results from losing all our familiar signs and symbols of social intercourse. These signs or cues include the thousand and one ways in which we orient ourselves to the situations of daily life." In other words, culture shock is the term describing the feelings of people who spend longer periods of time abroad in a culture, which differs from their own. Culture shock appears when the person is far from his family, hears the sound of foreign language, misunderstands people of another nation and is unfamiliar with food. No one can avoid this state because it is the normal reaction of organism to the new culture, traditions and the way of life.

Almost everybody who spends some time abroad experiences the problem of culture shock. And the main reasons of culture shock are difference in values, loneliness and daily life challenges. To begin with, one of the main causes of culture shock is the difference in values. In different countries values may differ in religion, laws, traditions and customs. Many people who travel abroad have to accept and learn the foreign country’s values. However it may seem to be very difficult to accept the new values as it differs too much from your own country. In addition, another cause of culture shock is due to the feeling of loneliness. The feeling of loneliness can cause many negative effects, causing depression and anxiety. Many suffer from culture shock due to loneliness because almost all people cannot get over the separation with friends and relatives. They feel sad and it is very difficult for them not to see familiar faces anywhere. And the last and most important cause of culture shock is the daily life challenges. It is a new environment when you are in a foreign country. The weather, transport, language becomes a challenge because each country has its own individuality. It can be really difficult for many people to adapt to these differences and to get used to the new environment.

Culture Shock can be divided into 5 stages. Each stage is characterized by certain symptoms along with the change of emotional state which a person goes through. In the first stage, people enjoy new experiences: meeting new people, tasting new food and learning about different habits. Everything seems to be new and exciting. Afterwards, the second stage appears. A person may encounter some difficult times and crises in daily life. For example, misunderstanding in communication between people. In this stage, there may be feelings of discontent, impatience, anger, sadness or dissatisfaction. On the third stage, a person pays the most effort to make peace with the circumstances they have found themselves in. He understands the new culture and he is more familiar with the environment. In the fourth stage, the person realizes that the new culture has good and bad things. Usually, people form new habits and standards of behavior to become a part of society they are to live in. And the last stage is characterized by the fact, that a person gets completely blended into the culture. However, going through a culture shock is really challenging.