How do people feel when facing a new culture?
People who move to Mexico or any other country experience a culture shock. People who haven’t undergone any adaptation program don’t know the stages that people go through when adjusting to a new country, culture, and language. Understanding these stages will help you identify easily and make your adaptation to the country much easier.
What should people know about Culture Shock?
Culture shock is defined by Oxford Dictionary as a disorientation experienced when suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture or way of life. Everything seems unfamiliar: weather, landscape, language, food, clothing, social roles, values, customs, and communication. Basically, everything you're used to is no longer in place.
How to know you have Culture Shock symptoms?
Identifying any of the following symptoms will let you know you are experiencing a culture shock according to different authors.
- Feelings of sadness or loneliness: Feeling shy or insecure, lost or confused; anger, depression, and vulnerability.
- Over-concern about your health
- Headaches, pains, and allergies
- Insomnia or too much sleep
- Idealizing your own culture
- Obsession with adjusting to a new culture
- An overwhelming sense of homesickness
- Questioning your decision of moving to a new place
How to Help Yourself during culture shock
There are different activities that you can do to help yourself through the stages of culture shock: Join a club, try out for a sports team, volunteer, attend a local church, or take a language class. Meeting new people and forcing yourself to become part of the community will help you through the re-integration stage.
Hits & Tips for culture shock
- Get out and walk around your new neighborhood.
- Let people see you. Smile.
- Visit the same coffee shop, bookstore, or market to create a routine.
- Go on tours. Be a tourist in your new town.
- Sign up for local excursions.
- Plan to know the city, its history, and culture.
How many stages of cultural shock people go through?
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1.-The Honeymoon
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People experience feelings of euphoria when arriving to a new country.
Feeling excited, stimulated, and enriched is normal during this stage. Feeling close to everything familiar back home.
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2.- The Distress
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People feel confused, alone, and sometimes they realize that the family support systems are not easily accessible.
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3.- Re-Integration
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People start refusing to accept the differences encountered.
Some people get angry, frustrated, and even feel hostile to those around them and idealize life "back home"
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4.- Autonomy
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People face a stage of acceptance.
Start to accept the differences and feel to live with them. Be confident and no longer isolated.
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5.- Independence
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People embrace the new culture and see everything from a new perspective.
In this stage, people must feel able to make decisions based on preferences by being comfortable and confident in the new environment.
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