Question

Culture shock how does it affect life in two paragraphs?

Answer 1

• Living abroad can be an exhilarating experience that encourages new world views, increases cultural curiosity and supports willingness to explore unfamiliar terrains. However, it may also invite a sense of feeling a little lost in the world.
• Culture shock is a common phenomenon and, though it may take months to develop, it often affects travelers and people living far from home in unexpected ways. Culture shock is more than simply being unfamiliar with social norms or experiencing new foods and it tends to impact travelers even after they’ve become familiar with and comfortable in new cultures.
• Culture shock generally moves through four different phases: honeymoon, frustration, adjustment and acceptance. While individuals experience these stages differently and the impact and order of each stage varies widely, they do provide a guideline of how we adapt and cope with new cultures.
• 1.The Honeymoon Stage-The first stage of culture shock is often overwhelmingly positive during which travelers become infatuated with the language, people and food in their new surroundings. At this stage, the trip or move seems like the greatest decision ever made, an exciting adventure to stay on forever.
  
• 2.The Frustration Stage-Frustration may be the most difficult stage of culture shock and is probably familiar to anyone who has lived abroad or who travels frequently. At this stage, the fatigue of not understanding gestures, signs and the language sets in and miscommunications may be happening frequently.
• Small things- losing keys, missing the bus or not being able easily order food in a restaurant may trigger frustration. And while frustration comes and goes, it’s a natural reaction for people spending extended time in new countries.
• 3.The Adjustment Stage -Frustrations are often subdued as travelers begin to feel more familiar and comfortable with the cultures, people, food and languages of new environments. Navigation becomes easier, friends and communities of support are established and details of local languages may become more recognizable during the adjustment stage.
• 4.The Acceptance Stage -Generally, though sometimes weeks, months or years after wrestling with the emotional stages outlined above, the final stage of culture shock is acceptance.
• Acceptance doesn’t mean that new cultures or environments are completely understood, rather it signifies realization that complete understanding isn’t necessary to function and thrive in the new surroundings. During the acceptance stage, travelers have the familiarity and are able to draw together the resources they need to feel at ease.
• When people lose all familiar signs and symbols of social intercourse, they have to try to adapt themselves to different lifestyles, living conditions and business practices in a new cultural setting. However, this is a long term and difficult process.
• In this condition, feelings of alienation accumulate sharply because of poor adaptation. Consequentially, culture shock occurs, followed by a series of psychological confusion and emotional discomfort.
• Individuals experiencing cultural shock have to adjust to a complete new way of life. Customs and beliefs of their homeland do not apply in this new area anymore. This is often where the idea of being ‘weird’ or ‘awkward’ originates from.
• Psychological stress begins to emerge. This stress is the starting point to much deeper psychological problems.But,not everyone goes through these problems,some people adjust pretty well to new places over time.
• Cultural shock is a real phenomenon that can affect any type of person. It can last from a couple days to a couple years, depending on how well prepared the individual was to make a move to a new location or how fast they can pick up the culture after arriving.
• And its not always negative,it can have a good impact on the individual as well.It’s the surprise of a new environment, with new people and a new way of life.You'llonly recognize the incorrect assumptions you might be making if you immerse yourself in a culture that runs on different values to those you’re familiar with.
• In short, culture shock is as important for learning about yourself and your own culture as it is for fostering understanding between different peoples.