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What Are Cultural Differences?
When we are in our native environment, we are relatively comfortable
because of our familiarity with the culture. In general, we know what
kinds of reactions to expect from people in a given situation. We
know how to get what we need. The cues and symbols that we use to
make these determinations are based on our culture. In a different
culture, we suddenly lose cues and symbols that orient us to situations
of daily life. The process of adjusting to another culture and of gaining
an understanding of it often creates psychological discomfort, commonly
referred to as culture shock. This is the reaction to differences
and difficulties one encounters in a foreign culture and can consist
of many phases.
Normal feelings encountered as a reaction to culture shock may include helplessness, hopelessness, loneliness, homesickness, slight depression, irritability, and boredom. For most participants, going through culture shock means that they are truly making an effort to understand and adjust to their new environment. It can be a time of tremendous personal and academic growth.
Other reactions may also accompany culture shock:- changes in sleeping habits and chronic fatigue
- disorientation about how to work with and relate to others
- language difficulties and mental fatigue from speaking and listening to a foreign language all day
- unexplained emotional surges, such as verbal outbursts or crying
- placing blame for difficulties on the program or host culture
- decline in inventiveness, spontaneity, or flexibility
- stereotyping of host country/culture
- increase in physical ailments or pain
- compulsive eating or lack of appetite
- inability to work effectively
Often participants cannot explain why they are feeling this way, only that these strong feelings exist. This process of discovering cultural differences and experiencing culture shock is a powerful learning tool. As participants work through the challenges and emotions of cultural adjustment, the result can be a high degree of understanding both about themselves and about the culture in which they are living. Past participants have stated that study abroad can be an invaluable education about what it means to be from the United States and to gain first-hand knowledge about the diversity of lifestyles and beliefs in the world.
During these challenging times it is easy for participants to stick together because it is more comfortable for them to be with people from their own culture. However, by doing so, they may miss many of the beautiful experiences the host country has to offer. It often takes a lot of effort to develop relationships across cultures, but the rewards can be considerable.
Practical Advice While in the Host Country
The important thing to remember is to be supportive, patient, and
a good listener. Here are some additional suggestions for the time
that your friend or family member is abroad:
- Be prepared to receive phone calls and letters from participants expressing either great excitement or complaints and frustration about the host country. Take these feelings seriously; show support for the new experience and empathy for the difficult challenges. Please keep in mind that participants may not call home immediately as it may be too inconvenient, complex, or difficult. Also remember that there is a tendency for participants abroad to call or write home when things are not going well and not to call or write when things are going fine.
- During a stressful telephone call, constructive advice can emphasize adaptability, a sense of humor, and a lot of common sense. Encourage participants to allow time to become accustomed to the cultural differences. It may help to remind them about the cultural adjustment curve to validate their feelings, while at the same time encouraging them to think about the positive things they have learned about the new culture
- Encourage your friend or family member to write down experiences and feelings in a journal. Keeping a journal has two major benefits: 1) writing about the experience can help the participant understand what is happening and the feelings taking place and 2) past journal entries provide a means of documenting experiences as well as an interesting way to identify what has been learned.
- Save correspondence from participants. Letters and post-cards also function as documentation of experiences and participants may want to look back on them upon return home.
The encouragement and support of friends and family at home is a powerful tool in the adjustment process. Of course, remember to take participants’ needs and concerns seriously and be on the lookout for problems that may indicate that a participant is experiencing more than culture shock such as severe depression, drastic changes in eating habits, excessive drinking, self-isolation, etc. If you are concerned about the safety and well-being of a student, please contact the Learning Abroad Center. The following University of Minnesota online resources may also be of assistance to you www.mentalhealth.umn.edu, www.bhs.umn.edu/services/mentalhealth, and www.ucs.umn.edu.
Last modified on February 18, 2009 |