Ways To Diminish Feelings of Culture Shock
Below are some ways to diminish feelings of culture shock.
• Plunge into your host culture and wrestle with the differences.
• Keep an open mind; it is natural to have preconceived ideas and beliefs that come into question while abroad.
• Athletic activities like team sports or taking walks may be helpful.
• Get to know others at your host school or organization.
• Do not isolate yourself.
• Find a local person with whom you can discuss your frustrations and encounters.
• Learn as much as you can about your host culture.
• Maintain a support structure with others, particularly those going through the same experience. However, do not retreat into a clique to avoid the discomfort of culture shock.
• Keep a journal. Record your impressions of new experiences and the transformations that are occurring within you.
Vocabulary:
diminish – to make something smaller, weaker, or less important, “Taking medicine can help diminish the pain of a headache.”
culture shock – a feeling of confusion, worry, or nervousness that people get when they visit a new country with a very different way of life, “Moving to Japan caused a lot of culture shock for the American student.”
plunge into – to jump or dive into an activity with a lot of excitement and energy, “Instead of waiting, he decided to plunge into learning how to swim.”
host culture – the lifestyle, traditions, and habits of the country you are visiting or living in, “When moving to Spain, it is important to respect the host culture.”
wrestle with – to struggle very hard to deal with a difficult problem or situation, “She had to wrestle with the difficult math problem for an hour.”
open mind – a willingness to listen to and accept new ideas, opinions, or cultures without judging them early, “You need an open mind to enjoy foods you have never tried before.”
preconceived ideas – opinions or beliefs formed about something before you actually see it or experience it, “I had preconceived ideas that the city would be dirty, but it was beautiful.”
come into question – to be doubted or challenged as being true, correct, or safe, “The safety of the old bridge began to come into question after the storm.”
abroad – in or to a foreign country, “My uncle loves to travel abroad every summer.”
athletic activities – sports and exercises that require physical strength, speed, and energy, “Running, swimming, and playing soccer are fun athletic activities.”
isolate – to separate yourself or someone else from other people, “When you feel sad, you should not isolate yourself in your bedroom.”
frustrations – feelings of being annoyed, upset, or angry because you cannot achieve what you want, “He expressed his frustrations when the computer crashed again.”
encounters – unexpected or meaningful meetings with people or things, “During my trip to the forest, I had several close encounters with wild deer.”
support structure – a group of friends, family, or people who are available to help you when you have a hard time, “Having a strong support structure helps students do well in college.”
retreat – to move back or withdraw to a safe or quiet place to avoid difficulty or danger, “The cat decided to retreat under the bed when the loud guests arrived.”
clique – a small, exclusive group of friends who spend time together and do not easily allow others to join, “The popular girls formed a clique and sat at the same lunch table every day.”
discomfort – a feeling of slight pain, worry, or uneasiness that keeps you from being comfortable, “Sleeping on the hard floor caused him a lot of discomfort.”
journal – a notebook where you regularly write down your personal thoughts, feelings, and daily experiences, “She writes in her journal every night before going to sleep.”
impressions – opinions or feelings you form about someone or something after seeing them for a short time, “My first impressions of the new teacher were very positive.”
transformations – complete and big changes in the way someone or something looks, feels, or acts, “We watched the transformations of caterpillars into beautiful butterflies.”
occurring – happening or taking place right now or at a specific time, “The police are checking what is occurring at the bank right now.”