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Culture Shock
elcome to your new change. Many people deal with it
country. You're come here their own way, head back home.
for fun, excitement,
change, challenge, and perhaps In 1998, I traveled to Taiwan. I
money. Will the locals speak your never once felt that I suffered
language? I'm not trying to scare from culture shock, personally. I
you, but perhaps they won't. Will always felt it was more like
some people there speak your culture fascination rather than
language, oh most definitely. culture shock. I was amazed with
This is only one of the things everything that I saw and
that you may have to think about encountered. But I still had many
when you plan on going to a new questions. For instance, why
country. aren't there English street signs
on the corner of every
Culture shock is an interesting intersection? I felt that they
phenomenon that doesn't affect would be very helpful for me and
everyone the same way. Some just also for other people from
can't understand it when the English speaking countries. What
locals don't speak English. Some I didn't think about was that the
can't comprehend why there aren't people that live there can read
any English signs anywhere to be the signs just fine, and it
found. Why are things done this certainly isn't necessary for
way, and not that way? Why am I them to change them all just for
even in this situation? It would me. A friend of mine had a
never happen in my home country. girlfriend that hated everything
Questions like these can cause about Taiwan and couldn't
people to get stressed out and understand why it was different
want to go back to their own from her home in San Francisco.
countries. People can get She hated the people, hated the
frustrated when faced with food, hated the smells, hated the
transportation, all because it thrived on it.
was different from San Francisco.
I asked her if she hated Another factor involved can be
everything so much, why doesn't diet. The foods that you're used
she just leave. I cared about to eating may not be available in
Taiwan and its people and to be this new location. You may have
completely honest, I didn't want to actually try something
to hear any more of her different. Believe me, this is a
complaining. She ended up leaving good thing. Trying new things
eventually, but after many more will also be a test for you. Try
complaints. This is what happens the food that the locals eat
to some people, they can't adjust everyday. It's obviously not bad
to their new environment for you, or these people wouldn't
properly. be eating it themselves. I have
to laugh to myself when I hear
Others suffer from a much more about people going to Taiwan and
realistic and understandable eating McDonald's all the time.
reason, homesickness. It's easy
to miss your family, your The culture in your new
friends, and your familiar destination will obviously be
stomping grounds. For people that different when compared to where
decide to go overseas, they have you're from. Things they say and
to stay focused, enjoy do will most likely also be
themselves, and be strong. Yes, different. When I was in Taiwan,
this new place isn't like home. it was generally accepted for
Yes, this new place is strange people to ask others how much
and different. No, your friends money they made. In Canada, this
and family aren't here. This was is just an awkward question that
one of the biggest challenges is rarely asked, even amongst
that I had ever faced and I close friends. Actually, now that
I think back to that time, I felt evaluation of the country. But
uncomfortable every single time I that's me, and that was his
was asked my rate of pay. I was decision, not mine. I just goes
asked quite frequently and I to show you that people are
never actually gave up that different. Don'd be worried about
information to my inquisitors. how culture shock is going to
affect you, just buy a book and
As I mentioned previously, read a bit about your
culture shock affects different destination. Nothing will totally
people different ways. I knew a prepare you for what you're about
guy who went to Taiwan; he was to discover. Enjoy yourself and
originally planning on staying make the absolute most of your
for a year. He lasted 5 days. In experience. Don't fear culture
my opinion, this small amount of shock, embrace it.
time is not enough to give a fair
About the Author:
Andrew Greenham, the Founder of ESL Job Site, ESL Elite (http://www.eslelite.com).
Read more articles by: Ricky Greenham
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