Lecture 12 Culture Shock Adaptation & Re-entry

The stress or disorientation associated with ada pting to a new culture or unusual context The stress or disorientation associated with ada pting to a new culture or unusual context Causes Causes Loss of usual cues, signs and signals Loss of usual cues, signs and signals Collapse of normal interpersonal interaction Collapse of normal interpersonal interaction Sense of danger to our personal unity Sense of danger to our personal unity Stages: Honeymoon, Homesick, Hate, Home Stages: Honeymoon, Homesick, Hate, Home Culture Shock

Cycle of Culture Shock Phase 1: Tourist phase (Euphoria ) Phase 2: Crisis phase (Depression ) Phase 3: Readjustment phase (Rebuilding ) Phase 4: Back to Normal Phase

Physiological Physiological Overly concerned with health & cleanliness Overly concerned with health & cleanliness Not feeling “well” Not feeling “well” Headaches, Tension, Upset stomach, Sleeplessness Headaches, Tension, Upset stomach, Sleeplessness Low energy level / Tired Low energy level / Tired Psychological Psychological Feelings of powerlessness & helplessness Feelings of powerlessness & helplessness Fear of being cheated or robbed Fear of being cheated or robbed Fear of injury Fear of injury Homesickness Homesickness Stress, anxiety, loneliness, irritability, frustration, paranoia, disorientatio n, defensiveness Stress, anxiety, loneliness, irritability, frustration, paranoia, disorientatio n, defensiveness Social Social Withdrawal from relationships and conversations Withdrawal from relationships and conversations Excessive frustration and complaining Excessive frustration and complaining “Local native” bashing “Local native” bashing Defensive communication style Defensive communication style Symptoms of Culture Shock

U-curve anticipation adaptation shock, disorientation, identity crisis

Re-entering one’s home culture = repeat U-curve resulting in a “W-curve” Preliminary State Adaptation State Spectator State Shock State Participant State Preliminary State Adaptation State Spectator State Shock State Participant State Entry into New CultureRe-entry into Own Culture

Preliminary Stage Preliminary Stage Planning & Packing: Airplane tickets, passport, visa Planning & Packing: Airplane tickets, passport, visa Spectator Stage Spectator Stage Many strange sights, new experiences & people Many strange sights, new experiences & people Things happen so fast, everything is a blur Things happen so fast, everything is a blur Participant Stage Participant Stage Sightseeing has ended Normal life begins Sightseeing has ended Normal life begins Housing, food, shopping, commuting, banking Housing, food, shopping, commuting, banking Stages of W-curve

Shock Stage Shock Stage Problems surface which can’t handle alone Problems surface which can’t handle alone Tired of strange food; Work quality declines Tired of strange food; Work quality declines Depressed, lethargic, irritable, critical of host country Depressed, lethargic, irritable, critical of host country Feeling local people are indifferent to one’s struggles Feeling local people are indifferent to one’s struggles Adaptation Stage Adaptation Stage Reaching this stage = satisfactory progress Reaching this stage = satisfactory progress In-group relationships develop with locals In-group relationships develop with locals Sense of belonging and acceptance develops Sense of belonging and acceptance develops Re-entry Stage Re-entry Stage Intercultural re-entry begins with preparations to return to ho me country Intercultural re-entry begins with preparations to return to ho me country Stages of W-curve (con’t)

Occurs after you have returned home Occurs after you have returned home More “shocking” because unexpected More “shocking” because unexpected You are a different person than when you left You are a different person than when you left New experiences, understanding, skills, words or lan guage, style, fashion, interests, opinions New experiences, understanding, skills, words or lan guage, style, fashion, interests, opinions Meanwhile, life at home has not stopped Meanwhile, life at home has not stopped People are older, important things happened People are older, important things happened People may not care about your experience People may not care about your experience They may feel you are different negatively They may feel you are different negatively They wait for you to get back to “normal” They wait for you to get back to “normal” Re-entry Shock

Everything will be the same Everything will be the same Everything will be great Everything will be great I will fit back into life with no problem I will fit back into life with no problem I can continue relationships where left off I can continue relationships where left off I have the same needs and goals as before I have the same needs and goals as before People will be open minded People will be open minded People will be interested in my stories People will be interested in my stories People will recognize and applaud my personal growth People will recognize and applaud my personal growth Common Expectations Upon returning

Understand returning involves an adjustment pr ocess similar to going abroad Understand returning involves an adjustment pr ocess similar to going abroad Ask questions to get “tuned” back in Ask questions to get “tuned” back in Research groups that may interest you Research groups that may interest you Explore places where you might find others with international experience, or seek foreign nation als with whom you can speak the language you’ve learned and continue to Explore places where you might find others with international experience, or seek foreign nation als with whom you can speak the language you’ve learned and continue to share common experiences you’ve enjoyed Countering Re-entry Shock

Discussion Questions Cues and Symbols What are some cues/signs/symbols… What are some cues/signs/symbols… that you missed in an intercultural setting? that you missed in an intercultural setting? that you have seen foreigners miss in your culture? that you have seen foreigners miss in your culture? that foreigners need to be aware of in your culture? that foreigners need to be aware of in your culture? Phases of Culture Shock When experiencing CS, what are some coping strategies that you can use? When experiencing CS, what are some coping strategies that you can use? Describe your experience of going through CS. Describe your experience of going through CS. Personal Needs When living abroad, what were (or what would be) some of y our personal needs? When living abroad, what were (or what would be) some of y our personal needs? What do you think you just couldn’t live without? What do you think you just couldn’t live without? Personality Traits for Success What personality traits are needed to have a successful stay What personality traits are needed to have a successful stay abroad? Or, to have a successful return home?