Are you in danger of Culture Shock?

Anyone moving from another country is likely to suffer from stresses by the inability to understand of the new culture. This is what you called culture shock. But remember, it is normal to suffer from culture shock when moving to a new country.

Stages of Culture Shock:

1. Euphoria – just before or shortly after arriving in the new country you may feel high hopes and great expectations. Everything is fascinating.

2.Disenchantment – You are absorbed in many practical problems, such as finding housing, employment, enrolling in language classes, etc…

- Feelings may include frustration, embarrassment, fear, anger, guilt, nostalgia, irritability or depression. You may also suffer from sleeplessness, fatigue, loss of appetite, and a feeling of apathy.

3. Gradual Adjustment – You start feeling more in control of your life as you acquire better language skills and a better understanding of the new country.

- Feelings may still include uncertainty, self-doubt, and failure; expectations are not easily met.

4. Mental Isolation – The initial problems of settling in have been resolved. You now have time to think about everything you have lost in your old country,

-Deeper psychological thoughts may come to the fore; you may isolate

yourself from the new culture and stay close to people from your own culture.

5. Acceptance and integration – A routine has been established. You have become accustomed to the habits, customs, food and the people of the new country. You may feel comfortable and accept the new country as your home.

Some Symptoms of Culture Shock

1. Homesickness – missing your country and loved ones
2. Inability to work well
3. Too much eating, drinking, or sleeping
4. Loss of appetite, general tiredness, difficulty sleeping
5. Anger towards members of the new culture
6. Glorifying the native culture and emphasizing the negative in the new culture.
7. lack of ability to deal with even small problems
8. Feeling rootless ness
9. Feeling elated one day and depressed the next
10. General irritability

Reducing the Effects of Culture Shock

1. make friends with the new other comers and with the member of the new country.
2. Attend language classes.
3. Try to look at the initial period as just one phase of your life and hope for a better future.
4. Attitude is powerful. A positive attitude is a must.
5. don’t stay at home; get out volunteer, get busy with something.
6. Learn to handle new situations. You have to change.
7. Don’t drink alcohol; it will just make you more depressed.
8. do something special for yourself regularly have fun.
9. Get some exercise regularly, walk, run, ride a bike.

Encircle your answers and total the score from 10 questions.

Are you in Danger of Culture Shock

1. Why did you leave your country?

1—2—3—4—5--------------- 6—7—8—9—10

choose to leave --------------forced to leave

2. How much is your language and culture similar to that of the new country

1—2—3—4—5--------------- 6—7—8—9—10

very similar-------------------- very different

3. How well can you understand the culture and speak the language of the new country.

1—2—3—4—5--------------- 6—7—8—9—10

very well-----------------------very different

4. How well can you understand the culture and speak the language of the new country.

1—2—3--------------------4—5-- 6—7—----------8—9—10

less than 3 months-----all your life from--------from 3 months to 5 years

5. How open are you to new ways of thinking

1—2—3—4—5—6------------------------7—8—9—10

you’re not afraid of change-------------you are set in your ways

6. How much support will you have from your family and friends?

1—2—3—4—5—6--------------------------7—8—9—10

all your family/friends can help-----------no family, no friends

7. Will you have a job? Will it be of lower status than the job you had in your country?

1—2—3—4—5--------------------6—7—8—9—10

a job you like no job--------------job of low status

8. How old are you?

1—2—3—4---------------------5—6—7—8-------------------9—10

under 6 years------------------in your 30’s------------------over 55

9.How much do you think your culture is better than other cultures?

1—2—3—4—5—6-------------------------------------------7—8—9—10

all cultures have good and bad---------------------------my culture is better

10. Have you suffered due to rape, persecution, torture or war?

1—2—3—4—5---------------------------6—7—8—9—10

no, not at all------------------------------yes a lot

If your total belongs to this range Results are:

1 - 25 plausible accepting

26 – 60 some culture shock

61 -100 severe culture shock