Culture Shock! What Should You Do?

Culture is a way of life. When you emigrate, the new culture you find yourself in may be very different from the one you have grown up in. Countries that are geographically close to each other can have very similar or very different cultures e.g. the USA and Canada are more similar than the USA and Mexico. When you emigrate, you may find yourself dealing with different weather, foods, language, cultural norms, and this may create culture shock.

We immigrants tend to stick with our own. In our groups we enjoy a closeness with others simply because we have our heritage in common. Together, we indulge in the good old ways, speaking the languages we know so well, sharing the foods we are used to, spending time socializing in the same ways we did back at home. In essence, we try to recreate our homeland in the new country.


But restricting yourself to your own people and not wanting to be around people who are different from you is a sign of culture shock. It means that you are seeking comfort and security in what you know because what you don't know (the new culture) is overwhelming and even scary.


Take active, small steps to learn the culture:

• Try a new food even though you can't pronounce it - bordignon polenta, anyone ?
• Make friends with your co-workers and neighbors. When they invite you to join in an activity you have never heard of, accept enthusiastically. Don't be embarrassed to let them know you have no no clue what you are doing.
• Encourage your children to participate in extra-curricular activities at school - sports, theater, dance, art etc.
• Attend activities celebrating the local heritage such as Independence Days and other important historical events.
• Check your local paper for a calendar of social and cultural events in your neighborhood. Many of them are even free.

The more often you engage with the new culture, the easier and faster it will be for you to settle down and feel at home in your new country. Don’t look for your homeland abroad and don’t dispose of it abroad. Find the sweet spot that allows you to retain who you are while assimilating and building a satisfying life in your adopted homeland.

A Powerful Question?

It's weird how there are times when I find inspiration everywhere for my blogging and sometimes I am just blank. Blogging has a way of uncovering new insecurities with questions such as; Who is reading? Is it relevant to them? What do they think? Is it too cheesy? and countless others that I dare not allow my mind to explore.

Like any self respecting blogger, I went to Oprah.com for some inspiration. I found a great article called 20 Questions That Could Change your Life by Martha Beck. All the questions were interesting but one in particular caught my attention as I reflected on my life as an Immigrant. 

The question was; Where am I wrong? I think this is an interesting question that every immigrant can ask themselves especially when faced with the difficulty of assimilation. The answer to that question may be that you are not wrong. I think the value of the question will get you off defensive mode and allow you to learn faster and adapt better. This will lead to an improved life abroad and a better appreciation of the culture you are now learning. 

The next time you find yourself faced with an argument where you are defending your way vs "their" way, ask yourself; where am I wrong? It may help to take a step back and learn. It does not mean you are losing yourself, but that you are growing.