Culture Shock

By Isabella Gitau, Ajabu Africa News Contributor, posted November 13 , 2010

“””””””””””””Phone rings
             “Hi dad, it’s Manasa. I’m calling to let you know that I will be coming home next week!”
 “What! What are you talking about, Manasa, you cannot do this; you know very well that we sold the last piece of land we had to send you to the land of opportunities; hoping that in return our lives will be transformed!”
 “But dad, I cannot even buy a simple meal in a hotel nor can I open a bottle of pain killers! It’s all complicated!”
“Hold on Manasa!  You are going through culture shock and it will not last forever, take heart, you will make it.”

Culture shock is the physical and emotional discomfort individuals suffer after relocating to a place different from their place of origin. The discomfort comes because new ways of living have to be learnt; these ways do not come naturally. The style of living is not considered normal in the new place and that is why Manasa claims that he never thought it an issue to open a bottle of pain killers while now he can't open.

The symptoms of the culture shock are outstanding and can appear at any time after the arrival to the new place. They involve homesickness, irritability, marital stress or familial tension, boredom, excessive sleeping, compulsive eating or drinking, unexplainable fits of weeping, physical ailments (psychosomatic illness), sadness, loneliness as well as lose of identity, among others.

There are four stages in culture shock; the honeymoon, irritation and hostility, gradual adjustment and finally biculturalism. The Honeymoon stage usually begins with a very positive attitude – often exciting and unrealistically positive. This usually lasts for several days or weeks. People tend to focus on the similarities between the host culture as well as their own culture.

Irritation and hostility
As you are all aware, honeymoon does not last forever and neither does the excitement of being in the new land. Things start to turn upside down when reality hits and things taken for granted do not occur; the previously felt joy turns to sadness as well as loneliness. People start feeling out of place and at the same time, small issues become problems as culture crisis loom large. This is the worst stage and it usually becomes a “disease.” It is a complaints stage where people often complain of hostility in the host culture. The differences in cultures that were once adored become a nuisance. It is a very heart breaking stage—people go back to their country or make it to the next stage. The rate at which people pass through this often varies from person to person.

Gradual adjustment
Gradual adjustment marks the passing of the culture crisis and recovery. This stage can be very gradual that people do not realize that there is something that is happening though at the same time understands how to handle the new life and realize their role in the host culture. At this point, the language improves and communication becomes much easier. This becomes a great relieve and helps in resolving the problems experienced in stage two.

Life in this stage seems natural and manageable. A new feeling of pleasure and sense of humor may be experienced and a feel of psychological balance appears. This is when people try to figure out why they could not do simple things that became the source of their stress. Then a feeling of direction with much familiarity of environment emerges. This gives people a desire to belong to the host culture. (Adler)

Biculturalism
This stage represents the full recovery from culture shock. It involves the ability to function effectively in two different cultures. Individuals in this stage can integrate the two cultures without much hassle, although not all strain and conflict have completely disappeared, but the anxiety is manageable. Generally, majority of people do not go through this stage because the shock is rid off at stage three.

Although culture shock causes great pain in individuals going through it, it is an opportunity for learning and gaining new experience. It can help people develop better understanding of themselves as well as others and also becomes creative so as to seal the loop-holes that seem to be in their lives at that moment. (Guanipa)

Finally the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 7:14-15,
 “When the times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other, therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future." 

Reference
Adler, P.S. (1975). “The Transitional experience”, NJ
Guanipa, Carmen, “Culture Shock” March 17, 1998, San Diego Sate University.

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