Tips to deal with culture shock

Herewith the tips to deal with culture shock, I found this from http://www.juliaferguson.com/shock.html

1. Excerpts from Managing Culture Shock - Created Especially For The Employees & Families Of SEPIV by William Drake & Associates

Effects of Culture Shock
· A sense of uprootedness
· Feeling of disorientation
· Not knowing what is going on
· Behaviors and attitudes which were necessary for obtaining goals in the culture we learned are no longer useful
· Familiar behaviors which marked a well-adjusted person in one's own culture are now seen as bad manners
· So many adjustments to be made that one becomes overwhelmed, frustrated, and angry

Typical Pattern of Culture Shock
· At first we think it is charming
· Then we think it is evil
· Then we think it is different

Typical Reactions to Culture Shock
· We assume something is wrong with them, not with us
· We over-value our own culture
· We define our own culture in moral terms: Natural, rational, civilized, polite
· We under-value the new culture and see it in moral terms: I.e., as immoral

About Whom Do We Feel Culture Shock?
· Most everyone who is different:
· country
· race
· gender
· age
· religion
· occupation
· region

In Summary
· Culture shock is a typical reaction to difference
· To get beyond the reactions of culture shock requires a self-conscious effort to understand the reasonableness of other people’s way of life
· Our own culture is:
· Take for granted, invisible to us
· Deeply emotionally felt, even when we do not realize it
· Learned as moral claims
· We typically assume people who behave differently are wilfully immoral
· They think the same about us

2. Excerpts from Survival Kit for Overseas Living, Robert L. Kohl's

Culture shock is the emotional and behavioural reaction to living and working in another culture.Each person will experience culture shock differently based on his or her personality.Basically, there are four stages of culture shock: honeymoon, rejection, adjustment and recovery.During the honeymoon you will be exposed to a new environment. Having so many things to do,you will be fascinated with the new images. Basically, the Shocko Loco example describes howmost people will react after the honeymoon phase is over. One of the major causes of culture shockis being cut off from familiar cultural patterns. This stage is characterized by a person's inability towork effectively. Therefore, we must examine the intercultural adjustment phase.
Basically, the first thing you have to do is begin to know your new culture. Try to seek the culturalpatterns behind situations that are strange or different. If you really want to have a good time, youshould try to make friends with host country nationals.According to the author of "Survival Kit for overseas Living" Robert L. Kohls,these are the main symptoms of intercultural adjustment:
1. Initial anxiety
2. Arrival fascination
3. Initial culture shock
4. Surface adjustment
5. Mental isolation
6. Integration Acceptance
7. Return anxiety
8. Shock/Reintegration

3. Coping with Culture Shock

The most effective way to combat culture shock is to step back from a given event that has bothered you,assess it, and search for an appropriate explanation and response. Try the following:
· Observe how others are acting in the same situation
· Describe the situation, what it means to you, and your response to it
· Ask a local resident or someone with extensive experience how they would have handled the situation and what it means in the host culture
· Plan how you might act in this or similar situations in the future
· Test the new behavior and evaluate how well it works
· Decide how you can apply what you have learned the next time you find yourself in a similar situation
Throughout the period of cultural adaptation, take good care of yourself. Read a book or rent a video in yourhome language, take a short trip if possible, exercise and get plenty of rest, write a letter or telephone home,eat good food, and do things you enjoy with friends. Take special notice of things you enjoy about living in the host culture.
Although it can be disconcerting and a little scary, the "shock" gradually eases as you begin to understand thenew culture. It is useful to realize that often the reactions and perceptions of others toward you--and you toward them--are not personal evaluations but are based on a clash of cultural values. The more skilled you become in recognizinghow and when cultural values and behaviors are likely to come in conflict, the easier it becomes to make adjustmentsthat can help you avoid serious difficulties.

4. Another source that I had gathered originally written for foreign students... GREAT STUFF!

Almost everyone who studies, lives or works abroad experiences some degree of culture shock. This period of cultural adjustment involves everything from getting used to the food and language to learning how to use the telephone. No matterhow patient and flexible you are, adjusting to a new culture can, at times, be difficult and frustrating. It is easy to get lost,depressed and homesick. You may even want to go back home!
Don't panic…these are all totally normal reactions and you are not alone. Sometimes it is hard to remember why youdecided to leave home. You are on an adventure - a wonderful opportunity to grow and learn - but it does not alwaysseem that way. Although you cannot avoid culture shock entirely, we have a number of tips that will help you getthrough difficult moments:* Start a journal of the new things you come across every day and your reactions to your new home.Writing things down will help you keep them in perspective, and are funny to look back on!* Never confuse your ability to speak the new language with your intelligence; it is easy to feel stupid and getdown on yourself, but there is no reason to. It takes everyone some time to adjust and become comfortablewith a new language.* Be physically active! Walk, swim, run, play tennis or do some other physical activity you enjoy often.You will feel better, meet new people and keep in shape.* Keep your sense of humour. Try, no matter how hard it is, to see something of value in every new experienceand challenge you come across. Laugh now, not just later!*Take advantage of services that your university, church or community offer. Contact a counsellor at the InternationalStudents Office, a resident advisor if you live in residence halls, someone at your church…. If you are having a problemwith something, tell someone! They will want to help you, and you will feel a lot better having people to support you.Don't be afraid to speak up.
Adjusting to a new culture can be difficult and frustrating, but it can also be a wonderful, thought provoking time ofyour life during which you will grow as a person. Living in a foreign country will open new doors, introduce you tonew ways of thinking, and give you the opportunity to make life-long friends.
REMEMBER: all international students share in what you are going through; you are not alone. Even more importantly,it is only a matter of time before you are adjusted and comfortable in your new home.
Keep smiling!

5. More tips on dealing with Culture Shock

Culture shock happens to the best of us. When culture shock does happen to you, do not wallow in it or feel ashamed.There are ways to minimize, adapt, and deal with culture shock, and it is best to get moving to in order to do so. Beloware some suggestions for dealing with culture shock when it does occur:

• Get out and about, even if it is first in your immediate neighborhood. Explore the layout to become comfortablewith your immediate surroundings. Try to get to know a few neighbors. Do any speak English? Afterwards,stretch out to explore the local shops, restaurants and means of transportation.
• Identify similarities and differences. Identifying similarities will be of a comfort to you. Identifying differenceswill allow you to pinpoint what is causing the majority of your discomfort. How can you best deal with it?
• Begin to learn a few local words or phrases. This will help you with signs, menus, and some services, andwill be appreciated by the people of the country.
• Find a club or social group to belong to. Be careful, however! Do not mix with a group that gets together andcomplains about their state of being. Find a group that is active in the community somehow, through shoppingexpeditions or site seeing. A church is also a good place to meet people, and there are often ones in manydenominations as well as non-denominational.

Remember, you are a guest in another country. Avoid at all costs disparaging the host country's culture. Once you havegained an understanding of the country and its customs, learned a few phrases, become familiar with the neighborhood,and made a few friends you are on your way to overcoming culture shock and becoming more self-assured about theplace in which you live.

Example Case Study Report: Culture Shock

I found this case study report important. Here is the link to view the complete report http://www.staff.vu.edu.au/case_studies/example.htm

Abstract
International students studying at university in Australia often suffer from culture shock and difficulties in adjusting to what is often for them a very new academic environment. The issue of culture shock and adjustment is examined by looking at the case of Jun, a student from China who is experiencing difficulties both with academic and cultural adjustment in the first year of his study in Australia. Three possible solutions are put forward and evaluated, and one chosen as the best: that he seek help both regarding his studies and his difficulties in adjusting. Some conclusions and recommendations are then given relating to the wider issue, including the importance and impact of differences in learning styles, particularly on students of an Asian background, and the need for increased clarification of student expectations and understandings prior to arrival in the destination country.

Introduction:
Culture shock is a phenomenon that can affect to a lesser or greater degree any traveller to a new or foreign country or cultural environment. Students studying overseas are no exception to this rule, and of all the problems that international students face, culture shock can be one of the most difficult and challenging. Culture shock can occur whether the person is aware of it or not, and manifests in particular stages known as the stages of adjustment. These stages include the imagining stage, the arrival stage, the participation stage, the culture shock stage, the real adjustment stage, and, ultimately, the re-entry stage. Culture shock is a psychological reaction to the unknown rules and cultural mores of a new social environment, and can manifest itself in mental as well as physiological symptoms. Difficulties that compound and typically trigger culture shock in international students include the new environment and how to navigate in that new environment, a different academic culture, with perhaps less formality in some areas - such as relationship to teachers - and more in others, as well as in changes in food, accommodation style and weather. This case study will explore the issue of the effect of culture on international students by looking at the case of Jun, a bachelor degree student from China who came to Australia with the aim of completing a course in international trade. While Jun was happy to be in Australia at first, he has found the accumulative build-up of challenges difficult, and as a result is considering returning to his home country. The first section of the report will give a statement of the problem. This will be followed by a suggestion of possible solutions, an evaluation of those solutions, and a choice and justification of the best solution. In the final section some conclusions and recommendations will be put forward.

Statement of problem:
Definition: Jun, an international student from China, was keen to study for an International Trade degree in Australia. Although excited to be in Australia at first, he now misses home increasingly. His studies have not been as successful as he would have liked. He is faced with a lot of reading to do for his study, but is not sure how to finish his assignments. At the end of his first semester he passed three of his four subjects, but failed the fourth subject. Everything feels difficult and although he knows his parents want him to complete his studies in Australia, he is considering quitting and going back home.

Analysis: Although during the first few weeks Jun felt excited and enjoyed experiencing the different environment of Australia, his energy levels have dropped and he is missing the food and environment of home, as well as his family and friends. In China, his mother always cooked for the family and he did not have to worry about organising food, accommodation, or other needs such as clothes washing for himself. Lately his energy levels have been dropping. His language skills, while seeming to progress quite well in the first few months of being in Australia, seemed to have stopped progressing also, and he now sometimes feels he is going backwards. He is not doing well in his assignments, but is unsure of what he is doing wrong and lacks the confidence to ask the teacher directly.

Possible solutions
He could continue as he has been doing and hope that the situation will improve.
He could quit his course and return home to China.
He could seek help both regarding his studies and his difficulties in adjusting.

Evaluation of possible solutions
Solution 1.
Advantages: He would not have to expend energy in changing his routine. It is likely that he is in the 4th, or 'culture shock' stage of adjustment, and does not realise that the next stage, 'real adjustment' ,will probably occur quite soon. If he does nothing, therefore, there is a good chance things will improve soon.
Disadvantages: The next stage of adjustment may not happen for some time and Jun's health and mental state may deteriorate further, becoming a more serious problem.

Solution 2.
Advantages: He would be with, and enjoy the support of his family and fiends again. He will be able to eat food he is used to again and his energy will soon return.
Disadvantages: He will always know that he quit, and may regret his decision later in life.

Solution 3.
Advantages: He may be able to find some good study guidance from the university's student help centre. He may find advisors who are aware of the difficulties for international students, and particularly Chinese students, and receive some good advice about understanding the culture in Australia as well about the effects and stages of culture shock.
Disadvantages: If it is difficult to find someone to give him advice, he may feel disheartened. Similarly, if the advice he receives is not helpful, or the advisor does not understand the situation of international student, he may feel worse than before.

Choice of Solution:
Solution 3. Seeking help about his studies and his difficulties in adjusting to the new environment, is the best of the three possible solutions.
Justification: Most universities in Australia have well structured student help facilities, both in the area of learning and academic skills and in the area of student counselling services. The large number of international students studying in Australian universities likewise means that most universities ensure that there support staff with knowledge of of the needs and unique problems of international students are available. The academic staff may be able to help Jun understand the main expectations Australian lecturers have in terms of their written assignments. A counsellor may likewise help Jun understand that the 'symptoms' he is experiencing are normal, and usually occur at their most severest just prior to the 'real adjustment' stage, the simple knowledge of which may already take the edge of his current distress. Finally, if Jun left before doing his best to seek help, he may feel that he has failed, a burden he may continue to carry as a negative experience.

Conclusions and recommendations
Although international students often think carefully when deciding on which country and which institution they wish to study at, they are in fact often not as well prepared for the experience of being an international student as they may think. While giving careful thought to the kind of institution they would like to study at and the kind of degree they would like to study for, often less thought is given to the possible differences in culture and academic environment they will experience, and how these differences may impact on their aim of a successful overseas studying experience. In many Asian cultures for example, it is up to the teacher to ensure that students learn and that a proper understanding has been obtained by the student. Students don't expect to have to ask questions if they don't understand. Material is likewise presented for rote learning in a way that is often quite different from the more independent style of study that western students are used to wherein critical thinking and ability to engage in independent analysis are valued. Additional efforts on the parts of both the university and incoming students is recommended to clarify what is expected of international students as is an increasingly appropriate acknowledgement of the unique difficulties of international students on the part of Australian universities. If more students such as Jun are clearer about the difficulties they may encounter while studying in Australia, both in terms of cultures shock and in terms of the structure and expectations of the environment they are entering, and more universities are equipped to provide accessible and relevant support, the richer and more rewarding the experience of international students choosing to study in Australia will be.

Personal Reflections: Gripes about Australian Education - 1

Personal Reflections: Gripes about Australian Education - 1

You Learn Something New Every Day: Blogging Across Cultures - How Well Does This Practice Translate?

You Learn Something New Every Day: Blogging Across Cultures - How Well Does This Practice Translate?

The Importance of Reflective Thought for your first Semester at the ANU

June, 2007 was my first semester and also my first 2 month as an international student when I took my four courses at the ANU, Australia . I experienced (I would say) 3C shocks (currency shock, climate shock, and culture shock) which made me difficult to deal with those courses. I converted Australian dollar to Indonesian rupiah and got surprised with the living costs here. The costs for staying in a small room, buying food and textbooks are very expensive. I also arrived here when winter season began and got shocked with its coldness. The third C shock is culture shock which is vital to me and I would relate it to the class activities as following.

I remember when I was in junior high school level in Manado, Indonesia when my teacher told me “do not speak Andress, before I ask you to speak!”, in senior high school and university level I heard many times the other students said that “that is a stupid question” to students who asked questions. This makes us think twice if we want to ask questions even to confirm something which is still unclear to us. Moreover, sometimes my teachers also tested students by asking back to the students who asked the teacher to prove that they did not intend to test the teacher.

Another culture is that the attitude to show oral abilities in terms of questioning and answering frequently in a class may be interpreted as arrogant attitudes. These are the cultures in my hometown (Manado, Indonesia), which negatively impacts me to be active in questioning and answering orally. Therefore, when I attended my first four courses at the ANU in June 2007, I was surprised when one of the students interrupted a lecturer and started talking about his opinion. As soon as the student expressed his ideas, the other students also contributed their ideas even without raising their hands. If it happens at the university in my hometown, their friends would cry out with one voice and the students who are actually active will be embarrassed at this situation. Therefore, students tend to answer the questions only once or twice and students are also more likely to ask the teacher privately after the class.

Dealing with the 3C Shocks
You will be able to adapt the first 2C shocks (Climate and Currency) after six months here, so do not put too much worry about these. The third C shock (Culture) in academic environment particularly, will take more time to adapt than the others. I found that it is essential to have a reflection even for only 10 minutes per day. In everyday activities, even before going to bed, I found myself recess and contemplate about what things I have done successfully, what things I have not achieved yet, and which areas I made mistakes during a day in an academic environment.

A reflective thought has been fulfilled since I can transfer it to my daily life and I find that “It is more valuable to realise that why we failed rather than experiencing our success without knowing why we could achieve or obtain the success!” You will never obtain worthwhile solution for your mistakes if your mind is too busy to think the other things and does not have time to reflect and to evaluate your mistakes. Students, for example, whose managerial understanding actually have been enriched successfully by writing journals and completing a course, but just think it merely as a compulsory assignment or course to be completed, will not obtain better understanding rather than spending more time to reflect what will be the real application of what they have obtained through that assignments or courses in a workplace in the future.

I also realise that students in the class are more likely to interpret your quietness in class as a passive behaviour. No matter how much you put extra effort outside the class in group meetings and contributed in the group assignments. They tend to define an active student is a student who is answering problems, questioning, and taking initiative to present for the whole audience. Another problem I found is that it is more difficult to obtain your confidence since the other students have recognised you as a quiet student as you do not want to answer and give comments in class after you attended several lectures at the beginning of the courses you are taking. The valuable thing I learnt from this case is that it is really important to show your contribution in terms of questioning and answering since the very beginning of the lecture.