Culture Shock
Culture Shock is “a relatively short-term
feeling of disorientation and discomfort due to the lack of familiar cues in
the environment.” Culture shock is the second phase of the U-Curve Model. The first
stage is Anticipation, when the excitement of going to a new place overwhelms
your fears. The next phase is Culture Shock, followed by Adjustment.
The Beverly Hillbillies was a popular show in
the 1960s. The show centered on a family who became rich and moved into a new
social class.
In my own experience I have experienced some
Culture Shock. Staying on a poor island in South America was probably the most
heightened Culture Shock experience for me. I was so excited at first, but then
when I realized they had no air conditioning or modern conveniences I was
disorientated. After a few days I began to adjust and assimilate into the new
environment.
Every time I return from a study abroad, I
get an email from UNL International Affairs Office to attend a lecture on recovering
from Culture Shock. I would laugh because it took me only a couple days to get
back into my regular routine and assumed most others were similar. After
reading this chapter I think it might depend on the individual. Some people may
have trouble transitioning into the Adjustment phase. I guess I have travelled
a lot as a child with my parents to different countries, like Japan and
Honduras. So perhaps I have become more fluent in transitioning between phases and must remember some may have more difficulty.
References:
Martin, J. N., & Nakayama T. K. (2009). Intercultural communication in contexts (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
References:
Martin, J. N., & Nakayama T. K. (2009). Intercultural communication in contexts (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Beverly Hillbillies Opening. (2011, February). Retrieved March 2012, from
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnXfRstZntE
You're experience in South America is very interesting. I never thought of cultural shock like that. I guess when I think about it I experience slight cultural shock even when I go on vacation within the United States. You also brought up a nice point about everyone adjusting differently, I think that is so true!
ReplyDeleteI would imagine, like you said, that culture shock depends on an individual. Compare a solider coming back to the United States versus traveling abroad and coming home to the United States. Perhaps traveling abroad you had a blast but miss your family so it may be easier to come back to the states and get into the swing of things. But compare that to a solider who their way of life completely changes in one day, from worrying about death constantly to not having to look over your shoulder. I would image the culture shock for most soliders is rough.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. Where did you go in South America. It seems like you have done more than 1 study abroad, Is it something you would recommend?
ReplyDeleteThis was a very interesting blog! I liked your point about how individuals experience different levels of reverse culture shock when they return home. I had just assumed that it would take a matter of weeks for anyone to recover from culture shock. For you to be able to recover within a matter of days is an amazing skill! I wonder if the recovery time not only has to do with the individual, but also with what the individual is doing while abroad, such as being a student, traveling just for fun, or fighting in a war like Katie mentioned.
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