The Town's Culture and Heritage Manager, Michelle, shared with me some information regarding what newcomers to Kindersley may be experiencing. Given the number of newcomers we have, ranging from service and retail employers to our new physicians, this information can help them understand their experience and help us be more hospitable.
Many people have heard of the term culture shock, but few
really understand what culture shock actually consists of. Culture shock is
discomfort and stress resulting from losing one’s sense of when and how to
behave in the context of a new environment. It generally occurs when people enter
an environment that is different from what they are accustomed. For example,
individuals who choose to attend a college in a different country may experience
culture shock because their new surroundings are unlike the country that they
left behind. People that they meet act differently than the people back home,
and they are unsure how to interact. All of the rules have changed. Everything
from the way people eat to the holidays that they celebrate is unfamiliar.
Two important things to know about culture shock is that it
is a normal process and that everyone who enters a foreign environment
experiences culture shock to some degree. Culture shock tends to progress in a
series of stages, although not everyone follows the stages exactly or
experiences all of the stages. Generally, there are four stages: the Honeymoon
Stage, the Hostility Stage, the Humor Stage, and the Home Stage.
The Honeymoon Stage
This stage is characterized by a fascination with the new
environment. People in this stage are eager to cooperate with and please the
people they meet. One problem with their enthusiasm is that it is often
misunderstood for understanding. They may nod their heads or smile even if they
do not comprehend what is being said. Even though they do no understand their
new environment, they enjoy the novelty of their experiences.
The Hostility Stage
When the novelty wears off and the misunderstandings become
overwhelming, the Hostility Stage sets in. This stage is characterized by
frustration, anger, and sometimes sadness. They blame these feelings on their
new environment, and they develop negative attitudes towards the people of that
culture. Their enthusiasm for participating in the culture is replaced by a
lack of interest and motivation, and in extreme cases, they completely
withdraw.
The Humor Stage
Eventually these individuals begin to relax in the new
situation, and they begin to accept and laugh at the differences that had upset
them in the past. They learn to adapt by making new friends and learning the
social rules of the culture. By finding the humor of their situation, they regain
their enthusiasm for experiencing the culture.
The Home Stage
In this stage, people become relaxed in their new
environment and start to feel at home. People maintain pride and allegiance to
their home culture, as well as enjoy their new culture. They now know two sets
of rules, and they can live comfortably in both cultures.
Usually people react to culture shock with a variety of
symptoms. Recognizing these symptoms can help identify the source of their problems.
Knowing that their symptoms are normal reactions to culture shock can help them
feel better about themselves. Common symptoms include:
- Homesickness
- Boredom
- Withdrawal
- Problems sleeping and eating
- Alcohol use
- Irritability
- Social isolation
- Communication difficulties
- Family tensions
- Fatigue
- Episodes of crying and fearfulness
- Physical illness
Thank you Michelle.
The original can be found here.
