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Friday, June 28, 2019

Adapting To Living In A New Culture

By Joyce Bell


Moving to a foreign country and adapting to their way of life is not easy. There are so many things that you have to adjust to. Of course, it can depend on where you go. Some areas are more westernized. Many people are able to slot in. However, when you move to a country in Africa or Asia, for example, you may find that this is quite a shock. Living in a new culture can be exciting, but also overwhelming and you need to be patient with yourself.

Make sure you observe and this will help you to get more familiar with the way in which things are done. It especially relates to the early days when you are feeling overwhelmed. You can also ask other colleagues more about how things work. The more you ask, the faster you will learn. Don't be afraid of asking because it will prevent any embarrassing situations.

At first, excitement will take over, as the individual enters the new environment. They explore their surroundings and they are keen to find out more about what there is to do and what there is to see. This is more like a vacation. However, reality will hit them. They begin to think about what life is like at home.

Coping with culture shock as a student is another aspect which individuals struggle with. More and more students are flocking to other parts of the world to promote themselves and this helps them get a better chance in life. However, it is not always easy to fit in. Many students have beliefs of how things should be according to how they grew up.

People find that they have to learn about driving on the other side of the road. They need to learn about public transport. Of course, it is your attitude that makes the difference. If you are negative about everything, then it is going to be more difficult to adjust. People may say that it is wrong to drive on the opposite side of the road.

This can include aspects, such as the people and their way of life, the food, how closely related the country is to your home country and how easy it is to learn the language. People may frown upon certain things which you do. This is all part of the culture. It comes in the form of the way in which you eat, the way you dress, your body language and gestures.

It is important to respect everyone, no matter what their beliefs are. Adjustment will begin to develop to the new environment once they start to accept this. However, it doesn't mean that they have to change their values. Once they begin to observe and are more comfortable with culture, they will become less stressed and anxious.

Judging other people is not something that you can easily do, because they can do the same to you. You are a guest of their country and you need to remember that. It is easy to think that people are not normal in the way in which they do things. Basically, there is no one way of doing things.




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