How to Overcome Culture Shock in a Foreign Country
Keep an open mind., Make an effort to learn the local language., Get acquainted with the social conduct of your new environment., Do not take cultural familiarity or knowledge at face-value., Make sure you get to know people in your new...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Keep an open mind.
Do not automatically perceive anything that is different to be "wrong".
Withholding judgment will allow you to be an objective observer and will facilitate the process of cross-cultural understanding.
Also, if you are going to a country with which you know close to nothing about, do a little background information.
As you learn about the country in which you are going to, keeping an open mind is necessary, and, who knows, you may find the reason for something you may not understand. -
Step 2: Make an effort to learn the local language.
This increases your communication skills and it helps you to integrate with the local community.
It also demonstrates your interest in the new country. , Do not assume or interpret behavior from your own cultural perspective or "filter".
Behavior is not data.
For example, Americans often use the phrase "How are you?" to mean "hello" or "I acknowledge your presence as I pass you in the hall." A foreigner may wonder why Americans don't respond in detail to this question about one's well-being.
Thus they may interpret the behavior of walking away before one has a chance to respond to the question to be "uncaring"
"superficial" or even "rude".
An American knows otherwise and would probably not be offended that someone did not take the time to respond to this question.
Remember:
If in doubt, check it out! , Even as you become more savvy about rituals, customs and protocol in your new environment, be careful not to attribute an explanation or rationale to what you now believe you know.
A little bit of knowledge can be misleading.
Psychologist Geert Hofstede wrote that 'culture' is like an onion that can be peeled, layer by layer, to reveal the content.
It takes a long time to really understand a culture in its social and historical context. , Respectfully ask questions, read newspapers, and attend a variety of festivals and events. , Establishing a routine will give you a feeling of safety. , Don't be too hard on yourself if you make a cultural gaffe or don't know what to do in a social situation.
Laugh at yourself and others will laugh with you.
Most individuals will admire your tenacity and effort to understand their ways, especially if you are devoid of judgment and cultural comparisons that subtly and perhaps unconsciously convey a veil of superiority. -
Step 3: Get acquainted with the social conduct of your new environment.
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Step 4: Do not take cultural familiarity or knowledge at face-value.
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Step 5: Make sure you get to know people in your new environment.
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Step 6: Try to achieve a sense of stability in your life.
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Step 7: Most importantly
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Step 8: maintain a sense of humor!
Detailed Guide
Do not automatically perceive anything that is different to be "wrong".
Withholding judgment will allow you to be an objective observer and will facilitate the process of cross-cultural understanding.
Also, if you are going to a country with which you know close to nothing about, do a little background information.
As you learn about the country in which you are going to, keeping an open mind is necessary, and, who knows, you may find the reason for something you may not understand.
This increases your communication skills and it helps you to integrate with the local community.
It also demonstrates your interest in the new country. , Do not assume or interpret behavior from your own cultural perspective or "filter".
Behavior is not data.
For example, Americans often use the phrase "How are you?" to mean "hello" or "I acknowledge your presence as I pass you in the hall." A foreigner may wonder why Americans don't respond in detail to this question about one's well-being.
Thus they may interpret the behavior of walking away before one has a chance to respond to the question to be "uncaring"
"superficial" or even "rude".
An American knows otherwise and would probably not be offended that someone did not take the time to respond to this question.
Remember:
If in doubt, check it out! , Even as you become more savvy about rituals, customs and protocol in your new environment, be careful not to attribute an explanation or rationale to what you now believe you know.
A little bit of knowledge can be misleading.
Psychologist Geert Hofstede wrote that 'culture' is like an onion that can be peeled, layer by layer, to reveal the content.
It takes a long time to really understand a culture in its social and historical context. , Respectfully ask questions, read newspapers, and attend a variety of festivals and events. , Establishing a routine will give you a feeling of safety. , Don't be too hard on yourself if you make a cultural gaffe or don't know what to do in a social situation.
Laugh at yourself and others will laugh with you.
Most individuals will admire your tenacity and effort to understand their ways, especially if you are devoid of judgment and cultural comparisons that subtly and perhaps unconsciously convey a veil of superiority.
About the Author
Julie Harvey
Creates helpful guides on crafts to inspire and educate readers.
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