Culture Shock

Culture Shock is the reaction of your mind and body to the change from a familiar environment to another environment that is unknown. In your own culture, you know the language, all the ways a person behaves in different situations, the non-verbal behaviors, the values, and the ways of reasoning. You are able to do things automatically and without thinking. For example, you know how to greet someone on the street, how to answer the telephone, how to dress for different occasions, and how to ask for assistance if you need any. In a foreign culture, you do not have any of this knowledge. You have to think about how to do the smallest thing. After the newness of the foreign culture wears off, and you begin to notice the many subtle differences, you begin to have language, food, money, social, and even health problems.

Some of the physical symptoms of culture shock include:

too much sleep or too little sleep
eating too much or no appetite
frequent minor illnesses
upset stomach/headaches

Some of the psychological symptoms of culture shock include:

loneliness or boredom
homesickness, idealizing home
feeling helpless and dependent
irritability and even hostility
social withdrawal
excessive concern for health or security
rebellion against rules and authority
feeling like you have no control in your life
feeling unimportant and being a foreigner
crying
negative stereotyping of your host country people

As you can see, many of these symptoms are not unusual. This is why it can be difficult to recognize when you have culture shock. Not everyone will experience all of these symptoms, and each person's reaction may be different.

Overcoming Culture Shock

Once you realize you have culture shock, getting over it and moving on to better adjustment with the host culture will depend on you. It is you who must take some positive steps to feel better, and the sooner you take them, the better!

First, you should remember that culture shock is a normal part of your adjustment and that you may have some of the symptoms. Some of your reactions may not be normal for you; you may be more emotional or more sensitive, or lose your sense of humor. Recognizing your culture shock symptoms will help you learn about yourself as you work your way through it.

Second, try to analyze objectively the differences you are finding between your home and your host country. Look for the reasons your host country does things differently. Remember that host customs and norms are (mostly) logical to them, just as your customs and norms at home are logical to you!

Third, set some goals for yourself to redevelop your feeling of control in your life. These should be small tasks that you can accomplish each day. For example, if you do not feel like leaving your room, plan a short activity each day that will get you out. Go to a post office or store to buy something, ride a bus or go to a sports event. If you feel that language is your problem, set daily goals to learn more: study fifteen minutes a day; learn five new words a day; learn one new expression each day; watch a TV program in your new language for 30 minutes. Each goal that you achieve will give you more and more self-confidence that you can cope. Fourth, find local friends who are sympathetic and understanding. Talk to them about your feelings and specific situations. They can help you understand ideas from their cultural point of view.

Finally, remember that you became a volunteer to live in another culture and learn about it. Develop the attitude that you CAN live with the differences and still learn and enjoy yourself. You do not need to worry about losing your own cultural values or identity just because you feel comfortable in another culture.

Thanks to Rotary International Youth Exchange for the above.

Everyone is different and it doesn't help if people nag at you to stay or 'get over it'. From experience, volunteers who have gone home early often regret it as after sitting on a plane for 8-10 hours they are back home and everything is exactly the same as it was before, as if they never went away, except everyone keeps saying 'I thought you were going to Africa'.