Webster's Dictionary defines culture shock this way:
The feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes.
DISORIENTATION!
I think that word says so much.
Where am I?
Who am I?
What are they doing?
Why do they do that?
How can I still be "me" in a culture that is so different?
I was recently in a seminar designed for teaching international students English and a large portion of our time was spent on this topic. As I listened to the instructor share about culture shock and the stages associated with it, light bulbs clicked in my brain and numerous emotions and feelings that I had experienced in the past resurfaced, but now these emotions had a name and fell into a category. As a missionary and a wife in an intercultural marriage and teacher to internationals, I recognized that in my own life I am and will always be living in a stage of culture shock.
The nine stages of culture shock that she taught us were:
1. Initial Elation
2. Initial Shock
3. Superficial Adjustment
4. Depression or Frustration
5. Acceptance
6. Return anxiety
7. Return elation
8. Return shock
9. Reintegration
Now, I've read many other websites and books and know that others break down the categories into four or five, but regardless, there are stages and when dealing with other cultures, we will cycle through them. Numbers one through five are the emotions associated with the new culture and six through nine are when you return to your home culture.
Okay....so many people reading this may think, "What's the big deal? You experience emotions due to changes." However, if you have ever lived these emotions, you know that they affect you in every way. There are emotional side effects and physical side effects. Relationships are also altered and thus affected. I know. I've cycled through these a time or two and so has my family. Right now as I am creating this blog, I am reflecting over the last two years and how we as a family have shifted our gears through them. That's one of the reasons that I decided to create this blog. I'll be sharing personal stories about our journey through some of these phases and how we survived, and just because I find myself "reintegrated" now, I know that the cycle will begin all over again in the future. I also want to point out that everyone walks through these differently and at different paces. Some may stay longer at one stage than another and some may even skip over a stage. Sometimes, we cycle through them so fast that it seems we are caught in a hurricane of every-changing emotions and of course disorientation.
Symptoms associated with culture shock are:
- a feeling of sadness and loneliness,
- an over-concern about your health,
- headaches, pains, and allergies
- insomnia or sleeping too much
- feelings of anger, depression, vulnerability
- idealizing your own culture
- trying too hard to adapt by becoming obsessed with the new culture
- the smallest problems seem overwhelming
- feeling shy or insecure
- become obsessed with cleanliness
- overwhelming sense of homesickness
- feeling lost or confused
- questioning your decision to move to this place
For me, this information was enlightening! It showed me that I don't belong in an insane asylum. Also, the good news is that these symptoms are only associated with a few of the stages and we do move past them. But....isn't is encouraging to recognize the stage won't last forever? My hope is that if someone who is walking through culture shock is reading this, they will be encouraged. For the others, maybe you will be able to understand those of us that are walking through this a little better.
