This episode is going to take a detailed look at culture shock. We’ll define both “culture shock” and “reverse culture shock” and then discuss the various stages you go through while experiencing culture shock.
And at the end of the episode, I’ll share some of my experiences and give you advice on how to deal with culture shock!
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Vocabulary
- Puzzled (Adjective): Feeling confused because something is difficult to understand.
- I was puzzled when the bank gave me a cash card instead of a debit card.
- Overwhelming (Adjective): Very intense or difficult to deal with, often causing feelings of being unable to cope.
- Moving to a new country can be overwhelming.
- Frustrated (Adjective): Feeling annoyed or upset because you cannot achieve or understand something.
- I became frustrated when I couldn’t find shoes in my size in Japan.
- Disoriented (Adjective): Feeling confused and unsure about your surroundings or situation.
- I felt disoriented when I first moved abroad, as everything seemed so different from what I was used to back home.
- Open-minded (Adjective): Willing to consider new ideas, experiences, and perspectives.
- Being open-minded helped me adapt to the new culture.
- Norm (Noun): A standard, pattern, or typical behaviour that is considered normal within a group or society.
- In Japan, it’s a norm to take off your shoes before entering a house.
- Adaptable (Adjective): Able to adjust or change in response to new situations or environments.
- Being adaptable is crucial when living in a foreign country.
Introduction
I live in a culture that is very different from the culture in which I grew up. I’m an English guy, from a small village in the English countryside with a family that is entirely British, now living in the countryside of Japan with a Japanese wife.
Over the past 8 years, I have spent years living in the south of Japan, Tokyo, and now further north in the country.
While I love living in Japan, there are definitely times when I am puzzled or confused or frustrated by certain cultural factors here.
For example, most bank accounts in Japan don’t offer a debit card straightaway. Instead, they give you a “cash card” that purely allows you to withdraw money from ATMs. Without a debit card (or a credit card) you can’t buy things online easily – instead you have to pay via bank transfer, or via cash on delivery, or by paying at convenience stores.
This was a big shock coming from the UK where every bank account gives you a debit card. I had to get used to reserving bus or train tickets online, then walking to the bank ATM to get cash out, and then walking to the convenience store with my reservation number to pay in cash!
There were many other challenges and confusions, especially at the beginning.
Needing to take my shoes off before entering the school I worked at, paying at the counter rather than the table at a restaurant, not being able to find shoes my size, cheap capsule hotels and hostels with a communal bath rather than private showers, very little kitchen space in every apartment I’ve lived in, and sitting on the floor rather than chairs.
These are just a few of the various things about Japanese culture that shocked me. The new experiences, new expectations on me, and new settings were often overwhelming.
This feeling of being overwhelmed is known as “Culture Shock.”
I have been relatively fortunate when it comes to culture shock. I’m quite a flexible person, with low expectations and an open mind, which has helped me adjust to different cultures. Many of my friends have struggled far more with culture shock, to the extent that they had to leave great jobs or opportunities.
Today, I’m going to talk about culture shock. I’ll define culture shock, discuss the stages of culture shock, consider reverse culture shock, and end with some suggestions or tips on how to cope with culture shock.
Many of you listening to this podcast will have aspirations or plans to move abroad or travel around the world, so culture shock is definitely something you should all be aware of and considering.
What is Culture Shock?
Culture shock is a term often used to describe the feeling of disorientation and discomfort that people experience when they encounter a new culture or environment significantly different from their own. For me, it was the disorientation I felt dealing with Japanese society after living in the UK until I was 21.
While it is most often associated with moving countries, culture shock can also happen when you travel to a different city, start a new job, or interact with people from different cultural backgrounds.
Culture shock is the psychological and emotional reaction we experience after being exposed to a new set of norms, behaviours, values, and expectations. The rules and traditions that you grew up learning and becoming accustomed to may no longer be relevant, or could even be wrong, in this new culture.
It could be something simple. Maybe you grew up doing your grocery shopping on a Sunday evening in your country, but then you move to the UK, and you realise that all large British supermarkets close at 3 or 4pm on a Sunday.
Or, like me, you move to Japan and are surprised that Japanese washing machines tend to use cold water rather than hot water.
Or it could be something much more important. Your new job could have a very hierarchical and strict work culture requiring lots of formal language and asking for permission to do things. Or the way healthcare works in your new country could be really different from where you grew up.
These experiences can be really unsettling for you, but they are a normal part of life in your new environment which makes it hard to explain to other people. And while some “culture shocks” can just be a little confusing or embarrassing, others can make it really difficult to adjust to life in a new culture.
The Stages of Culture Shock
It is often said that culture shock comes in four stages: the honeymoon stage, the frustration stage, the adjustment stage, and the acceptance stage.
Honeymoon Stage
When you first move to a new place or enter a new culture, often everything feels new, exciting, and fascinating. This is known as the honeymoon stage.
You want to eat all of the delicious new foods available in your new home and you spend days being a tourist sightseeing around different destinations. Struggles with the language are obviously present but you don’t mind too much because you are in this honeymoon phase.
In this stage of culture shock, people often feel emotions like happiness, excitement, and curiosity.
When I first moved to Japan back in 2016, my first few weeks in the country were a blur of excitement and new experiences. Everyday was enjoyable and different.
I made friends with my new colleagues, travelled around my new home by bicycle every evening, my boss helped with all the difficult processes of moving into my new home, and I was fascinated by even small things like shopping in a supermarket with completely new products and ingredients.
Frustration Stage
It wasn’t until a few months later, when I had started my job and was left to deal with life on my own, that I started to become more annoyed with parts of life in Japan.
The excitement of a new culture gradually wore off, and the differences between my expectations and culture, the expectations of Japanese society, became more apparent and frustrating.
This is known as the frustration stage.
During this stage it is common to feel emotions like irritation, anxiety, and homesickness.
The struggles with language become more obvious and troubling. Perhaps you struggle to make deep friends or form connections with colleagues because you are having issues with communicating (even if you speak the language well).
You start to miss the foods you grew up eating. For example, I love Japanese food but in my first year in Japan I ate more McDonalds than I had at any other point in my life.
Was it because McDonalds is my favourite food? No. It is because McDonalds was the only restaurant with 30 minutes of my house that served food that I used to eat in the UK. Japanese food was far more delicious, but I became frustrated that I couldn’t eat snacks and dishes from the UK.
During this stage you will also begin to find the lcoal customs strange and challenging.
Adjustment Stage
After frustration comes adjustment.
The adjustment stage involves slowly adapting to the new culture, finding routines, and learning how to navigate the differences between your culture and the new culture.
The time take to adjust depends on the person. In fact, I have friends who never really adjusted to life in a new culture. They just remained frustrated and puzzled for their entire time abroad and then they left.
During the adjustment stage, you become calmer, more flexible, and are more adaptable. You accept the changes and differences and are no longer frustrated by everything.
Maybe you start to gain confidence in speaking the local language and understanding the new norms and expectations.
Acceptance Stage
Finally, after adjustment comes the adaptation stage.
You feel comfortable and at ease in the new culture. In many ways, it may feel like a second home.
You become more confident, you feel as though you belong, and you start to integrate.
At the same time, you may start to develop true and deep friendships and relationships, participate in events and traditions, and no longer feel out of place.
Reverse Culture Shock
Culture shock may seem like a relatively obvious concept. You visit a new culture or society, with different rules and expectations, and you experience challenges and frustrations.
Less obvious, however, is reverse culture shock.
Reverse culture shock occurs when you return to your home country after spending a significant amount of time abroad and find yourself feeling disoriented, out of place, or even uncomfortable in what you thought was your own culture.
Reverse culture shock often feels like a strange and unexpected experience because people often expect their return home after a time abroad to be seamless and easy. Instead, you may find that things have changed while you were away, or perhaps you have changed more than you realized.
I have struggled more with reverse culture shock than I have with actual culture shock. I am quite flexible and open minded, and while things about Japanese culture do frustrate me, I tend adjust quickly.
The problem is that I struggle to adjust back to British culture when I’m in the UK. I struggle with the food, with the kinds of restaurants and shops available in my hometown, the change in climate and my daily routine, and much more.
Reverse culture shock happens because your experiences abroad have altered your perceptions, habits, and worldview. You’ve adapted to different ways of living, thinking, and interacting, which means your outlook on life may no longer align with what you once considered “normal.”
After spending months or years communicating in another language, you might find it strange to suddenly be surrounded by your native language again.
When you return home, you might feel self-conscious or awkward when you realise that your new habits don’t fit in with your home culture. My dad still jokes about the time I bowed when saying thank you at a store (something common in Japanese culture but unheard of in the UK)!
Reverse culture shock can actually be just as challenging as the initial culture shock you felt in the new country.
Coping with Culture Shock
Culture shock can be frustrating, but it is a normal and natural part of adjusting to a new environment. There are strategies that can help you feel comfortable and at ease in a new culture!
Learn About the Culture Before Arriving
One of the most effective ways to prepare for culture shock is to learn as much as you can about your new environment before you arrive.
Research the country’s customs, traditions, language, social norms, and daily routines. Familiarise yourself with local etiquette, gestures, greetings, and even dining habits.
I watched a lot of videos on YouTube on life in the Japanese countryside and what to expect from my job position before moving in 2016. This took away some of the biggest surprises that I would encounter (but there were many other culture shocks.
If you are moving to a new country, I’d recommend reading books, watching documentaries, following influencers, or even taking online courses to learn more about the new culture.
Stay Open-Minded and Curious
For me personally, I think my open-mindedness, curiosity, and lack of expectations have really helped while living in Japan and limited the amount of culture shock I have experienced.
Culture shock often comes from comparing your new environment to what you’re used to. This is not necessarily bad, but problems can arise when you judge the new environment negatively. Perhaps you consider the cultural differences as “strange” or as “wrong.”
This is not a helpful mindset. Rather than judging a culture as strange or weird or bad, try to approach everything with a sense of curiosity and an open mind.
While many of my friends spent a lot of time viewing things about their life abroad negatively, I prefer to learn and understand the reasons behind different customs. I recommend trying to see things from the perspective of local people.
Viewing differences as opportunities to learn rather than obstacles will make you far more adaptable.
Find a Support Network
Building a support network is essential when coping with culture shock. You need to surround yourself with people who understand your experiences.
When I was a teacher in the countryside, I was close to many of the other teachers. When I was a student in Tokyo, I was close with my classmates.
Having a group of people who can understand your situation can provide comfort and reduce your feelings of isolation. They can help answer questions you have and share their experiences – from serious issues like visa support to simple things like restaurant recommendations.
It was my colleagues back in 2016 who helped me set up a phone contract, used their cars to transport some of my furniture, introduced me to a Japanese teacher, and answered all of my stupid questions!
Stay in Touch
You should also try to stay in touch with both your old life and your loved ones.
Of course, you should immerse yourself in the new culture, but you should also try to maintain a sense of familiarity and stability with your home culture.
I call my parents every single weekend to chat for an hour or two, and I exchange messages regularly with friends back in the UK.
I also try to keep around some of the habits I had in the UK. Every day, I drink at least one cup of tea using English tea bags. If I ever see something British being sold in Japan, I tend to buy it. I often have shortbread or McVities digestive biscuits to eat with my cups of tea, I buy British beer and cider if I can find it in the supermarket, and when I’m in Tokyo I’ll always get something British!
I also recommend cooking meals from your home (I often make simple shortbread biscuits) and continue with some of your old hobbies and habits within your home.
Final Thought
Culture shock is a natural part of adapting to a new environment, especially when moving abroad. It can be challenging, but understanding the stages and being open-minded can help you adjust.
This episode has defined “culture shock” and “reverse culture shock”, looked at the stages of culture shock, and given you some tips and advice on how to deal with culture shock. Many of you listening will have ambitions to move and travel overseas, and many of you will likely need to deal with culture shock.
I also shared a lot of my personal experiences, which have hopefully been useful.
You should embrace, stay curious, find support, and stay connected to your home culture!
What do you think? Have you ever experienced culture shock or reverse culture shock? Share your experiences with the Thinking in English audience!
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