Avoiding Cultural Shock in New Country

Avoiding Cultural Shock in New Country                                                                                                              

                                 

Cultural shock is considered to be a psychological disorientation which is generally caused by moving to a totally different environment. After being relocated to a new country, most of the times it has been observed that along with initial enchantment and excitement about the culture of new country expatriates often come across few things which they consider being totally different from their own culture and this is when cultural shock strikes them hard.

This shock is further exacerbated if the person is not pre aware about the culture of the country to which he / she is visiting. Cultural shock often results in extreme bitterness towards the foreign country’s culture and even result in physical illness. The more cultural information one has at hand the fewer surprises which ultimately makes avoiding cultural shocks easier.

Cognitive approach is one of the most famous approaches used to avoid cultural shock in a new country. It’s a fourfold approach with focus on below mentioned content areas.

a)      General cultural concepts

b)      Local communication patters

c)      Cultural self-awareness

d)     Cultural specific information

Having touched on all of these content areas the visitor or expatriate will have enough knowledge about the culture that he will be able to avoid total alienation and few of most debilitating consequences of cultural shock.

             

                                

Information acquisition about the new culture is just the first milestone which needs to be achieved in order to avoid cultural shock. Preparation regarding coping and eventually adjusting to different cultural environments requires development of certain skills, acquisition of new attitudes and modification of old ways of doing things.

Apart from the approach mentioned above in order to avoid cultural shock, mentioned below are some suggestions to avoid cultural shock and enhancing international experience.

a)      Acknowledging that learning about host culture will continue even after you have landed to the country, so try using information resources such as local newspaper, tourist information, libraries in order to learn maximum about the culture of host country.

b)      It’s important to have sufficient knowledge with physical surroundings, soon after arrival become familiar with streets, towns, local buildings and other surroundings.

c)      Within first few days of your arrival familiarize yourself with some of the basic surviving skills such as using local currency, transportation system, buying stamps and ordering from a menu. Mastering these simple skills will save you from frustration and will avoid cultural shock.