Indirect Communication
Subtle Communication
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Culture shock is inevitable and everyone in a new culture goes through it. The only difference is the amount of the shock people have and this depends on many factors (How much apart is the host culture from your own, system support, connection to your home, previous cultural experiences etc..). Listening to your feelings and be of aware of your culture shock is fundamental in managing your culture shock. Here are some of the most common signs of culture shock and the strategies to overcome them. 1. Extreme homesickness ( You miss your family, your do, your bed, your food, your car and everything in your hometown.) For the most part people miss of these things back home because what they have is very different and sometimes hard to deal with. This happens at least after the honey moon stage which the first two weeks in the new culture where everything looks new, beautiful and fun. Strategies to deal with extreme homesickness
2. Disorientation and isolation: Language barriers and other cultural practices and mannerisms sometimes are overwhelming which will make you want to go away from the host culture and lock yourself in the room or spend most of your time in coffee shops and go home very late. This happens a lot with people doing long home stays experience. Strategies to deal with Isolation
3. Excessive critical reactions to host culture/stereotyping: In the first two weeks in the new culture people talk about the beauty and how everything looks different and fun. When the honey moon stage ends things cease being fun but rather annoying and people start complaining. When this continues it leads to being hostile to the new culture and only see the negatives. Strategies to deal with cultural related irritation
4. Bad -Tempered: Gradual cultural shock experience develops unconscious sadness which might come out as inappropriate anger and hostility when talking to people. This make sense that people in this mood will have poor relationships and ultimately this could lead to complete inability to function in the host culture. Strategies to deal with cultural related irritation
1. Stop!Whenever you are going to meet someone from a different culture it is advisable you take sometime to dig and find out possible cultural differences you might have and plan the conversation accordingly. For example if you come from a non pet culture and you are meeting someone from a pet culture you should set a reminder to personalize the pets when they come with him/she ( it). Taking time to learn about the other culture and strategize will significantly reduce your culture shock and ultimately improve your relationships. 2. Avoid Quick JudgmentWe all interpret everything using our cultural lens but unfortunately sometimes we get it wrong which is very normal. To avoid quick judgment you should always try and assume the best. For example if you come from West and someone from Africa tells you you are fat, though it might hurt you just assume that maybe fat is good in their culture. Since assuming helps for a short time and sometime might not be right, you should always ask to make you sure you understand what the other person means. 3. Find one thing about their culture and appreciate itI believe it and it is true every culture has got beautiful things but you should be willing to find them out. Since we are all attached to our cultures everyone will appreciate a good and genuine word about their culture. Therefore, before you meet the person from a different culture try and find at least one thing that you genuinely believe is beautiful and share it during the conversation. This will break the strangeness and draw the person closer. 4. Do not try hardDo not try to loose all of you to adapt to the new culture because people will easily see that you are not the real you. Always remember your core values and maintain them because they make you who you are. However, you should also know your flexible area that you can easily change to adapt to the new culture and relate with people in the culture. 5. Be curiousWe all want to hang around with people who are more like us. But unfortunately we do not learn a lot from people whom we share a lot of things. Curious people are willing to leave their comfort zones and dive into new culture and learn and share the differences. If you are new in a culture, I recommend you reduce the time you spend in the expat community and schedule meetings with local people, this will not only increase your cultural knowledge but also will significantly increase your community trust.
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