Culture Shock: From Third World to First World in One Long Day

Publisher:	Jack Deal
Date:	2008-01-20

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Budget Hotels in Amsterdam

Anand Dongre

2007-04-02

		Title: Budget Hotels in Amsterdam

It’s an old world European city with the new world cosmopolitan culture which attracts tourists from across the world. It’s Amsterdam for you, the hottest tourist attraction and a popular honeymoon destination. The big question what draws people to Amsterdam? The answer lies in its rich cultural heritage, diverse & creative culture and high quality of life. That makes Amsterdam a truly world class tourist destination which attracts hundreds of thousand people from all over the world every year. Referred as one of the most colorful cities in the world Amsterdam truly appeals to the visitors with its places of interest, museums, pubs and fun shops, and the most colorful flower markets.

Amsterdam is the titular capital city of the Netherlands. It lies on the banks of two bodies of water, the IJ bay and the Amstel River. Founded in the late 12th century as a small fishing village on the banks of the Amstel, it is now the largest city in the country and is a financial and cultural centre. Amsterdam is a combination of old world and the new genre. If you are a first time visitor to Amsterdam you can visit its many outstanding museums, including the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum, the Rembrandt House Museum, and its world-class symphony orchestra, the Concertgebouworkest, the home base of which is the Concertgebouw. The Van Gogh Museum houses the largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings in the world. Anne Frank House is also one of the popular tourist attractions. Amsterdam is also famous for its red-light district, de Wallen. Window prostitution is legal in the Netherlands at specific places. The red-light district is located in the center of the city along major canals and is clearly marked on maps. This great romantic city attracts lots of tourists and honeymooners and gives them a heartwarming welcome. This reflects in the fact that this small city has many hotels, vacation resorts, and restaurants etc where you will find quality service within your budget. Whatever budget you have, you can always find the right place in Amsterdam provided you have made prior reservations in this busy city. Amsterdam in fact is a cozy city with big parks and public areas. You will find the stairs squeezing and the hotel rooms smaller than usual, especially if you have traveled a thousand miles from the United States. So leave your big luggage back home and enjoy the coziness of the city. In most of the hotels here you will find almost everything you look for including Air-conditioned rooms and suits, swimming pool, spas and health clubs, airport pick-up and drop facility, room service, and other such services. The restaurants here will feed you really tempting delicacies that you will remember for a lifetime. The best part of it is that you can still have the best of everything in your tight budget. The mantra is to make prior reservations before you start for this romantic journey to Amsterdam.

Looking for more information on Budget Hotels check out cheaphotel-rates.com your guide to Budget Hotels.

Culture Shock and International business, tips for women

Tracey Wilen

2006-11-12

		Title: Culture Shock and International business, tips for women

If this is your first trip outside the U.S., you are probably looking forward to the new, exciting experiences that are in store for you. Unfortunately, when you arrive in your first foreign country, instead of feeling excited and full of energy, you may unexpectedly feel depressed, disoriented and lonely, especially if you are traveling alone. The greater the difference between this foreign culture and the American culture you’re familiar with, the more pronounced these feelings might be. The technical term for this is “culture shock.” For many Americans in foreign countries, the language barrier is often the most difficult issue to cope with. If you do not know some simple phrases in the language of your host country, you will feel very isolated. How do you communicate with others to find a place to eat or to find your way around town? What do you do for entertainment? The movies are in a foreign language and there are few places available where you can socialize easily. You suddenly feel very alienated. Dealing with foreign currency can also be a problem. You have to do mental calculations every time you try to buy something. How much does this cost? All of these coins look alike. How much change do I get back? This can be very intimidating, especially if bargaining for goods is part of the culture. While a brief, voluntary exposure to a new culture can be temporarily unsettling, with some awareness of what you are experiencing and a few techniques to deal with it, you will soon begin to enjoy your visit. Before your trip, learn as much as you can about the culture you are going to visit. Read some books on the history and customs of the country. Travel videos are especially helpful and readily available from the library. Get some foreign language audiotapes from the library as well and learn a few important phrases, such as “Where’s the bathroom?” “Waiter,” “How much is this?” “Please,” and “Thank you.” You’ll likely run into foreigners who speak some English and who love to practice it on visitors. If you know a few phrases in their language they are often encouraged to try out their English on you. Also learn something about food names and ingredients so you will feel more secure in ordering from the menu in a restaurant. If you have the opportunity, seek out some ethnic restaurants at home and try out these exotic foods before you leave. Plan to do some sightseeing in your spare time. Make a list of the key tourist attractions and find out from a travel agent how to get there from your hotel. Take a city tour after you arrive to familiarize yourself with the area. You can usually book English-speaking tours at your hotel once you arrive. Plan to keep yourself busy. Above all, don’t hide out in your hotel room moping. There are many American and other internationally-known hotel chains in most countries. The staff there usually speaks English quite well and the hotel will quickly become your home away from home if you feel comfortable in it. Look for a hotel with a gym, swimming pool, jacuzzi, several restaurants, a sundry shop and perhaps a lounge where you can relax in the evening. Get the business card of a reliable taxi service as well as the hotel card with its address and phone number in the local language and be sure to keep it with you when you go out. Show it to the taxi driver when you are ready to go back to the hotel. Some hotels even offer a shuttle service to the center of town as well as to the airport so you don’t have to bother with taxis. Become friendly with the hotel concierge who will usually have walking maps, restaurant suggestions, theater and museum tickets, and shopping tips and who is there to make your visit as pleasant as possible.

Women traveling alone have the added burden of being an anomaly in some foreign countries where few women are employed in executive positions in the business world. You might find people staring or being downright rude. Ignore them. Focus on your strengths, take a few deep breaths, relax and move on. Exhaustion is also common when traveling. Jet lag is a physical phenomenon and the greater the change in time, the more time needed to adjust. On some trips you may find night and day completely reversed from home. In addition, major cities in Europe, Asia, and South America are quite congested and have a higher level of noise and air pollution than you may be used to. When all of the noise and congestion begins to feel overwhelming, take time out to relax. Get plenty of sleep, eat lightly and drink lots of fluid, preferably bottled water. Get some exercise every day even if it is just a walk around the block (if the area is safe). Bring your laptop computer. Remember your friends and family are only an e-mail away. Above all, keep your sense of humor. This is an experience to be enjoyed; make the most of it. Feelings You May Have • Depression: When you have to deal with great multitudes of people speaking a foreign tongue, and with vastly different customs and lifestyles, it is easy to become anxious and irritable. The resulting feeling of being helpless to do anything about your situation can lead to depression and an overall loss of energy.

• Disorientation: You may be traveling to countries where English is not used on street signs, office buildings, or restaurants. Panic can set in quickly. It is not only very frustrating to try to find your way in an unfamiliar environment, but it can also be frightening when you don’t recognize where you are and realize that you can’t just ask anyone to help you.

• Intimidation: We all like to feel that we are organized and in control of our environment. In other countries, however, you may feel frustrated and thwarted by the numerous steps it may take to do a simple task such as paying for some purchase.

• Alienation: When you travel abroad, you may feel out of place, particularly if you don’t speak the language. In many countries it is not likely that you will be invited to join a social group or even be approached at a social gathering. You will more likely be left on your own, which may cause you to feel rejected and uncertain about how to proceed.

• Boredom: Because of language difficulties, there are not many places you can easily visit in the evenings or on weekends. Since you don’t know too many people, you can’t even make phone calls to lessen your isolation. Sightseeing presents both transportation and language problems as do sojourns to the movies and theater -- but how many times can you watch the same CNN or Sky Net programs on TV?

• Exhaustion: You truly do expend more energy doing less when you are on the road. Adjusting to jet lag, getting to your business appointments on time, maneuvering through crowds on the street, finding a cab, and haggling with a shopkeeper over prices when you are trying to pick up a few souvenirs can be physically and mentally exhausting.

Attitude Adjustments Recognizing that any uncomfortable or negative feelings you’re experiencing in this new culture are normal will help alleviate your discomfort. It’s also helpful to know that others have similar reactions. Remind yourself that you are traveling for a purpose and that you’ll be going home when your job is done. Here are some suggestions that may help ease your adjustment:

• Take care of your health. Get plenty of sleep and be careful about what you eat and drink. Get daily exercise. • Relax. When the noise and crowds get to you, take some time out for yourself. Consider bringing a tape deck and a relaxation tape with you to listen to for twenty minutes a day. Luxuriate in a bubble bath. • Don’t mope around your hotel room. Stay active: jog, swim, or join a local exercise group if you have an extended stay. Take a walk through a local park or visit a museum (check with your hotel first on what areas are not safe and should be avoided). Re-center yourself by focusing on your strengths and pursuing your interests. • Keep your sense of humor. Look for the amusing aspects of your situation. At least you will have lots of good stories to tell when you get home. Laughter releases tension. • Know you are envied. Many people appreciate the exotica of other cultures and would give their eyeteeth to be in your position. This should bring you some sense of satisfaction.

• If you are traveling for an extended period of time, try bringing a few things from home to put in your room, such as photos, your favorite pillow and maybe some of your favorite CD’s to play while walking around.

• Travel with a companion. If you know someone else who is also traveling on business, think about coordinating your schedules to meet for dinner or for sightseeing. It is easier to face a new environment as a team than to face it alone.

Preparing for Culture Shock

• Get to know the people you will visit. Use phone, fax, or letter to initiate your relationships. A friendly reception is more likely to await you when you arrive. • If you are traveling to a country for the first time let your hosts know and ask them for some advice on what to do and see while you are there. You might find that they will spend more time with you if they know you are there for the first time, and may even make arrangements for you or help you arrange to see some cultural events or take a tour. Most hosts will appreciate your interest in their country and culture, and this will help enhance your relationship. • List places you think you might want to visit. Jot down interesting day and evening destinations that you might like to visit in your spare time. • Plan your days carefully, finding activities that will help you fill your spare time. If you are very busy, you will have little time to experience culture shock. Exploring On Your Own • If you can, take a city tour soon after you arrive. This is a safe and comfortable way to become familiar with your new environment. Short tours (about four hours) in English can usually be booked at the hotel, where you will be picked up and dropped off afterward. Tours also provide a good opportunity to meet other women business travelers. • Do a little bit of sightseeing each day. Visiting even one city site on the way back to your hotel from a meeting or on the way to lunch or dinner will help give you a deeper understanding of the culture and the people. • If the area is safe for walking (ask at the hotel), get a map and explore. Your hotel will provide a map of the surrounding area at your request. A walk through the neighborhood will help you see how people live and work. Be smart about walking and do so only during daylight hours and in safe areas. • Hire a driver or use a taxi. In many countries it is very reasonable and a safe way to sightsee. Renting a car in foreign countries may be more than you can or would want to handle. In many countries public transportation is your best bet -- except during commuter hours when it may be very crowded. • Plan your travel routes. Keep the telephone numbers of taxis, and bus and train route maps with you, as well as a card from your hotel in the local language in case you get lost. City maps can easily be obtained from tourist offices at the airport or downtown as well as from your hotel concierge or desk clerk. • Establish familiar grounds. Frequent certain lunch and dinner spots and evening hangouts to help you establish a rapport with the owners and locals and make you feel like you’re part of the group. • Talk to locals who speak English. They appreciate the chance to practice their English and will be delighted at your interest in their culture and more than happy to answer your questions about it. Adapting • Be flexible. Allow plenty of time to get to appointments. Bring a book to read in case you have to wait. Try to figure out ways to avoid offending your hosts while satisfying your own needs. • Be patient. People in foreign countries are not usually as direct or in as much of a rush as people in the U.S. When you feel yourself getting uptight, take a few deep breaths and visualize a calming scene. Remember that people won’t behave the way you expect or want them to, and getting upset won’t make you or them feel any better. • Ask your hosts some questions about their country and culture. They will usually enjoy talking about it, which will help you better understand and appreciate what you are seeing. • Develop friendships by showing interest in your hosts. This, in turn, will help overcome what you may initially perceive as a negative environment. • Keep an open mind. Look for similarities and intriguing differences between your culture and the one you are visiting. Focus on the good aspects. Try role reversal—how would you react if a foreign businessperson visiting you in the United States insisted that their way of living and doing business was the only way? When you’re in another country, remember to do as the locals do, since it is your ways that may seem strange or offensive to them. • Try to remember to keep a sense of humor. When you feel confused, embarrassed, or upset, smile, smile, smile.

Free Time It is inevitable when you travel that things won’t always go according to plan. You will probably experience delays and have free time. In general, when you travel internationally it is wise to allow more time to get to where you are going. You will most likely experience a delay at airports, on public transportation or from traffic. You might have difficulty finding an address. You might also find that a meeting has been canceled or rescheduled once you have already arrived. In general, be prepared for unexpected free time.

Free Time During Travel

• Keep a book or some magazines handy to help pass the time. It can be very frustrating to sit in an airport with an extended delay with only one English newspaper available for sale at the newsstand.

• Bring a CD or cassette player with you with your favorite music or, even better, language tapes for the country you are visiting. It will help pass the time and help you learn some key phrases. (Remember to bring extra batteries.)

• Many airports have services for business travelers who are delayed. Some excellent stop-over points include: Heathrow Airport, in London, England; Frankfort International Airport, Germany; the Miami, Florida airport for those en route to Latin America; and the Singapore airport for those traveling in the Far East. Services may include health clubs, showers, swimming pools, movies, city tours, and nap rooms.

• If you plan to travel a lot, it is wise to join one of the many airline hospitality clubs offered by major airlines. These clubs provide a quiet area in which to relax in a comfortable environment during a long delay. You will most likely also meet other traveling businesswomen there. Many of these hospitality clubs serve refreshments and offer various other amenities such as TV, flight confirmation and magazines.

• If you are traveling overseas and have not joined a club, see if you are eligible for one-time use of a club in an international airport. Many times if you are flying business- or first-class the club entry is included with the flight as a layover courtesy.

Free Time at Your Destination

• If a meeting is canceled or postponed and you can’t make business use of the time, take a tour to familiarize yourself with the area you are visiting. Your hosts will appreciate your efforts to understand their culture.

• If you don’t have a lot of time to sightsee, walk around the city (ask first if it is safe to walk around and for suggested areas to walk) to get a feel for how the people live, eat, and interact with each other.

• If you have a part of a day which is free (due to a canceled meeting, for example) talk to your hotel concierge about a morning or afternoon tour or hire a taxi to take you to the major sight seeing spots.

• Many hotels offer nightlife tours that include a city illumination tour, dinner and a cultural show. Many of these excursions can be booked the same day so you can fit it in to your busy schedule. It is a great way to learn about the culture and meet other businesswomen on the road.

• Check to see if any museums or department stores have late night hours. Major cities such as London and Paris have extended hours at least one night a week, which is ideal for business people on the road.

Culture Shock!!!

Ricky Greenham

2006-11-01

		Title: Culture Shock!!!

CULTURE SHOCK

Welcome to your new country. You're come here for fun, excitement, change, challenge, and perhaps money. Will the locals speak your language? I'm not trying to scare you, but perhaps they won't. Will some people there speak your language, oh most definitely. This is only one of the things that you may have to think about when you plan on going to a new country. Culture shock is an interesting phenomenon that doesn't affect everyone the same way. Some just can't understand it when the locals don't speak English. Some can't comprehend why there aren't any English signs anywhere to be found. Why are things done this way, and not that way? Why am I even in this situation? It would never happen in my home country. Questions like these can cause people to get stressed out and want to go back to their own countries. People can get frustrated when faced with change. Many people deal with it their own way, head back home. In 1998, I traveled to Taiwan. I never once felt that I suffered from culture shock, personally. I always felt it was more like culture fascination rather than culture shock. I was amazed with everything that I saw and encountered. But I still had many questions. For instance, why aren't there English street signs on the corner of every intersection? I felt that they would be very helpful for me and also for other people from English speaking countries. What I didn't think about was that the people that live there can read the signs just fine, and it certainly isn't necessary for them to change them all just for me. A friend of mine had a girlfriend that hated everything about Taiwan and couldn't understand why it was different from her home in San Francisco. She hated the people, hated the food, hated the smells, hated the transportation, all because it was different from San Francisco. I asked her if she hated everything so much, why doesn't she just leave. I cared about Taiwan and its people and to be completely honest, I didn't want to hear any more of her complaining. She ended up leaving eventually, but after many more complaints. This is what happens to some people, they can't adjust to their new environment properly. Others suffer from a much more realistic and understandable reason, homesickness. It's easy to miss your family, your friends, and your familiar stomping grounds. For people that decide to go overseas, they have to stay focused, enjoy themselves, and be strong. Yes, this new place isn't like home. Yes, this new place is strange and different. No, your friends and family aren't here. This was one of the biggest challenges that I had ever faced and I thrived on it. Another factor involved can be diet. The foods that you're used to eating may not be available in this new location. You may have to actually try something different. Believe me, this is a good thing. Trying new things will also be a test for you. Try the food that the locals eat everyday. It's obviously not bad for you, or these people wouldn't be eating it themselves. I have to laugh to myself when I hear about people going to Taiwan and eating McDonald's all the time. The culture in your new destination will obviously be different when compared to where you're from. Things they say and do will most likely also be different. When I was in Taiwan, it was generally accepted for people to ask others how much money they made. In Canada, this is just an awkward question that is rarely asked, even amongst close friends. Actually, now that I think back to that time, I felt uncomfortable every single time I was asked my rate of pay. I was asked quite frequently and I never actually gave up that information to my inquisitors. As I mentioned previously, culture shock affects different people different ways. I knew a guy who went to Taiwan; he was originally planning on staying for a year. He lasted 5 days. In my opinion, this small amount of time is not enough to give a fair evaluation of the country. But that's me, and that was his decision, not mine. I just goes to show you that people are different. Don'd be worried about how culture shock is going to affect you, just buy a book and read a bit about your destination. Nothing will totally prepare you for what you're about to discover. Enjoy yourself and make the absolute most of your experience. Don't fear culture shock, embrace it.

About Author: Andrew Greenham, site co-founder of ESL Elite.Com . This site has lots of job information in various countries. Please visit his site here: http://www.eslelite.com

How To Overcome Culture Shock

Kimbles

2007-12-02

		Title: How To Overcome Culture Shock

The term "culture shock" originated in the 1950s. Basically it describes the physical and emotional discomforts that occur when someone moves from one cultural environment to another. There are several stages to culture shock.
In the holiday stage, which is the period just before and just after the move everything is new and exciting. One feels very energetic, enthusiastic and hopeful about everything in life. This is followed by the deterioration/ falling apart stage during which there may be great feelings of dissatisfaction. Things are difficult and one’s excitement turns to distress. One goes through communication difficulties, impatience, anger, grief, and a feeling of inexperience. There is more hope during the adjustment stage. This is when you can see some direction, you are able to laugh at yourselves again and life begins to feel a bit more balanced. During the orientation stage there is an increasing feeling confidence and a sense of belonging. One starts to make connections within the new culture, and starts to enjoy many aspects of many of the customs and cultural conventions. It becomes easier to adopt these practices and make them part of your life and daily routine. Lastly, repatriation is when one returns to the "home country". A "reverse culture-shock" is often experienced. Re-adjusting to the old culture is as hard as, and may be even more difficult than the original move.

You can experience:

Emotional trauma
Adjustment problems
Mental isolation
Acceptance and integration difficulties
Sense of separation

These are all quite normal for a period of time. The tips below may seem easy and oversimplified, but they work in overcoming culture shock. If it persists, however, seek professional help:

TIPS:
Don’t expect yourself, others or situations to be perfect.
Have an open mind.
Be active and participate.
Speak to support groups and/or individuals.
Stay in touch with family and friends.
Use Expat Forums on line – they are great

“Culture is the process by which a person becomes all that they were created capable of being.” Thomas Carlyle

Teaching Jobs Abroad and Overcoming Culture Shock

Kelly Blackwell

2007-05-14

		Title: Teaching Jobs Abroad and Overcoming Culture Shock

Culture shock is the term used to describe how people feel when they are exposed to an unfamiliar culture or way of life, and the feeling of disorientation and separateness they experience. It’s a condition that every international teacher feels in varying degrees, whether they’re new to teaching abroad or old hands at it.

Luckily culture shock follows a fairly predictable cycle and there are a number of ways you can prepare for it and lessen the impact of it once you’ve made the move overseas.

Unfortunately, when describing culture shock, it comes across as a negative thing to be avoided at all costs, and I’ve just told you it’s inevitable for anyone wanting to teach abroad. It’s important for you to remember that teaching overseas is an opportunity to explore other cultures and enjoy a better teaching environment. Yes, you will experience culture shock, but you can manage this and it’s not all bad!

Factors that can contribute to culture shock are :

* People speaking a different language, dialect or with an unfamiliar accent.

* Dealing with a different currnecy, money that is a different colour, feel and value. Keeping track of exchange rates can become a tiresome chore when living abroad, so once you’ve received your first paycheck, don’t bother. Earn local, spend local!

* People behaving in unfamiliar ways, even local customs can vary from one end of a country to another.

* Spicy and/or unfamiliar food. You may need to substitute ‘like’ ingredients in your favourite recipes too.

* People staring at you, if you are in a country where your skin colour or facial features stand out as being different, this will happen.

On top of this you’ll be the new teacher in school, so the procedures and policies will be different to what you’re used to at home.

Recognising culture shock

Recognising culture shock for what it is and acknowledging which stage you’re in is the first step to lessening the grip it has on you. For example, if you suddenly feel like you hate your new teaching job because of how hard it is to make the purchasing department understand what it is you’re trying to order, recognising this as an effect of culture shock can help you adjust your behaviour.

When you first get to your new home you’ll feel happy to be there and everything you see or experience will be wonderful and new. This is the ‘honeymoon’ stage of culture shock and it feels great! It can last from several days to several months. This is the time where you’ll be sending loads of emails to your friend using words and phrases like ‘awesome’, ‘best decision I’ve ever made’, ‘don’t know why I didn’t do this years ago’. Recognise this stage of culture shock and enjoy it.

Next comes the period of frustration, full of situations like the example above. When you sink into this part of the cycle you’ll begin to dislike everything about your new home. It’ll be too hard, too smelly, too hot, too loud, and everything else ‘too’!

This is also when homesickness could strike you with a vengeance. You may find yourself developing a hostile attitude towards every one not of your own nationality and culture. Your old home will suddenly seem like the best place in the world and you may regret ever leaving it.

Strategies to cope with the stress of culture shock

1. Learn some of the local language before you leave home. You’ve signed a contract that means you’re going to be living in your host country for 1-2 years, learning the language will help you get around and make friends. Some great ways to learn the local language while you’re still at home…

2. Take time to get used to the new time zone, the different weather and smells, sounds etc.

3. Begin building friendships as soon as you arrive and meet the other new teachers. You’ll form a bond with these teachers in the first year especially because they’ll be coping with culture shock as well. This will be your support group.

4. Stay in touch with people you’ve left at home. In my most recent move I found the best medicine for the frustration phase was an email from my old colleagues telling me how unsatisfied they were at my previous school.

5. Cut yourself some slack. When you recognise the symptoms of culture shock, give yourself a break, watch a favourite movie, look at pictures from home, have a meal at your favourite restaurant. Revel in the great things you’re experiencing in your new home so that you can put your frustration in perspective.

The Up-Side of the Frustration Stage

Finally you will start to see the funny side of it all and most of the things that made you angry during the frustration stage will either cause you to laugh or you’ll be able to shrug your shoulders and pass it off as being a feature of your new home. When you’re in this stage of the cycle you’ll begin to remember your old home without your rose-coloured glasses again.

You may wonder how I can write with so much confidence about culture shock, and it’s because I’ve experienced it all. I’ve moved country 7 times in the last 11 years and each time I’ve been hit with culture shock. Sometimes only a mild dose, but it’s always there.

Culture shock has never put me off seeking teaching jobs abroad. I recognise it and work with it. In this article I’ve given you 5 methods of alleviating the stress of culture shock. Remember that all international teachers feel culture shock to some degree. You won’t be alone, so don’t let it stop you from enjoying the fantastic experiences you’ll have teaching abroad.

Culture Shock

Jonathon Hardcastle

2006-10-20

		Title: Culture Shock

With the rapid changes in society these days, behavioral scientists have put an increasing emphasis on the diagnosis and treatment of culture shock, those feeing of anxiety and disorientation that affect people who have to suddenly function within a new and different social environment. Culture shock affects individuals who move to another country or sometimes to a different state, for example, from rural North Carolina to urban Southern California. In the case of moving from one country to another, culture shock oftentimes takes on a severe form.

There are three main phases of culture shock and sufferers do not necessarily pass through all of them. They are explained here in layman's terms.

The Honeymoon Phase is usually the first phase of culture shock. When someone is in this state, he considers the differences between his new environment and his old one as wonderful and romantic. He views his new surroundings as a welcome and pleasant change. He may fall in love with the new pace of his life, the new people he meets and the new relationships he develops. Overall, he embraces with open arms the lifestyle, environment, food and practically everything about his new environment.

The "Everything is Awful" phase sometimes occurs in a few days, but can also take weeks or even months. In this phase, the differences between the new environment and the old one have become irritating and tiresome, especially the minor differences. Al of a sudden, one finds himself longing for a taste of the food back home or for the friends that he left behind. Suddenly, the pace and lifestyle of his new life are either too slow or too fast. The habits of his new acquaintances have become annoying. The novelty of the new place has worn off.

The "Everything is OK" phase, like the previous phase, may take days, weeks or months to manifest itself. At this stage, one has learned to adjust to the new surroundings and overcome his feeling of homesickness. He has become accustomed to the new routines and rhythms of his new society. In fact, at this point, he may no longer consider it as a new society, but rather as his new home. His concerns now revert back to the everyday business of basic living, same as in his previous environment.

Finally, there is also Reverse Culture Shock, which is when he feels any or all of the above phases upon his return to his old environment.

To France or Bust - Learn French Fluently and Lose the Culture Shock

Paul Brown

2008-04-11

		Title: To France or Bust - Learn French Fluently and Lose the Culture Shock

Culture shock is a perfectly normal but inevitable part of the adjustment process whenever a person enters a new culture. If you are going to spend more than a few weeks in any French-speaking country, with these 5 important forget-me-nots you can minimize the signs of culture shock such as the feeling of homesickness, frustration, alienation, resentment and anger to name a few, to help you through the phases of feeling comfortable when living abroad.

1. Communication Breakdown: You should learn to speak French fluently because communication is paramount when it comes to getting to know and to feel more comfortable in your new surroundings. This is true for both adults and children. When you learn French fluently, you will be able to deal with the day-to-day activities (your system of paying bills, shopping, getting medical help, dealing with transport, administrative affairs, etc) that are apart of our existence and to be better equipped at dealing with the natives and making new friends. You should also make a conscious effort to observe how French people communicate with each other, in this way you will learn French fast and feel less alienated and more connected.

2. Don't Know Much About History: You need to complement your French lessons by learning about the country, the people and their culture. By having some history in hand, France and the French will seem less foreign or threatening.

3. Monkey See, Monkey Do: In your environment you should try to mirror the behavior of the French people you want to get to know. For example, never assume that the social etiquette in the workplace among colleagues is the same at your job back home. Observe constantly and do not hesitate to ask questions about things you are not sure about, you will be appreciated more for being open to learning and respecting their social manners.

4. Time Is On Your Side: Give yourself time to observe and discover how the French themselves deal with the routines of daily living. No doubt there will be things you had back home you do not have here, especially your family and network of friends. But rest assured that when you return back to normal life at home, you will see how much you have gained from experiencing other ways of dealing with these necessities of life.

5. Birds Of A Feather Flock Together: Find comfort with fellow expatriates. Because expats have gone through the same process of adaptation, they can be a good source of advice and comfort to help you assimilate into the culture more quickly. You can find clubs and organizations in France, for example, where you can speak English or whatever other mother tongue you may have.

Learn French fluently and get the most out of the time you have in France to accumulate memorable experiences and make life-long friends. It is obviously much easier to survive, adjust, and integrate into French society if you speak French. Do not forget these 5 tips and in time and with patience you will find your niche and culture shock will be less of a hindrance and only a small learning curve.

Culture Shock

Ernie Fitzpatrick

2007-11-22

		Title: Culture Shock

What the world is facing is greater than any culture shock that Alvin Toffler (sociologist and futurologist) might have envisoned many 37 years ago with his best-selling book- Future Shock. William Irwin thompson says that we’re headed to what he calls “catastrophic bifurcation“. Is there another species on the horizon? Are we going to split into something new? And, how is any of that possible by 2012?

The answer has been discovered by Carl Johan Calleman, if he’s right about his theory. His interpretation of the Mayan Long Count calendar is that we are going through nine phases of time with each succeeding one being 20x faster than the previous one. And the last two phases will really be moving fast. We’re almost there.

It’s a theory akin to Moore’s Law that’s been right on schedule.

How is it that many past cultures have been wiped out? What happened to the Mayans anyway? What happened to the Secoya of Ecuador? There were some 30,000 Secoya living in a complex culture, but only around 700 survive today.

Daniel Pinchbeck says, “Of the six thousand known cultures on Earth, more than half are currently threatened with elimination.”

And that’s the good news!

We are looking at a world wherein we are doing everything we can to destroy not just half of the cultures but all of them. It is my hope that we will come into an enlightenment as to the many dangers from within and without that need our focused attention, enlightenment, and with an exponentially increased consciousness (can you say the grace of God), we can turn crap into fertilizer, lemons into lemonade, and destruction into dreams.

You game?

The Best of Both Cultures: Amish Vs Non-amish

Anna Dee Olson

2007-09-23

		Title: The Best of Both Cultures: Amish Vs Non-amish

No matter how much I thought I knew what I was doing or I knew how to live in the unsheltered world........I certainly had lots to learn.

When a person grows up in a sheltered environment like the Amish, you have lots to learn no matter how old you are when you leave. Of course, my childhood was not to prepare me to live in the unsheltered world but rather purposely so I don't know how to survive in the unsheltered world.

Here are just a couple of the hard lessons I had to learn to survive:

Completely naive

No money smarts at all (didn't know how to handle money wisely)

Too trusting of people

Did not care for myself

Can you imagine your own child going out into the world with the things I listed above?

It gives me the shivers to think of my own children leaving high school without any of the knowledge that is needed to survive.

Of course, I am doing everything I can to make sure children get the knowledge and experience they will need.

But I also realize how much of the simple life (unsheltered life) I still use today and I know I am living "The Best of Both Cultures". You will be hearing a lot more about this in the coming months, but let me give you an example.

Background noises: At home we had very little background noises. Other than peoples voices there was very little noise. Check out my comparison chart below:

Non Amish vs Amish

Radio vs not

TV vs not

traffic (in town or highway) vs not (we lived in the country)

noisy children toys vs not (we did not have any toys that made noises)

Bicycle or scooter vs not (we only had a little red wagon)

Kitchen Appliances vs not (no electricity)

Power tools vs not

sprinkler in yard other than new seedlings we did not water our lawn

milking machines vs yes the gas engine to cool the milk was noisy during chore time

water pump vs not

This is only a partial list, some the top things I can think of at the moment.

There are many times when I will pay extra attention to keep the background noises to a minimum. I sincerely enjoy the quietness most of the time. You should try it sometime. I truly think my brain is much more active when everything is quiet.

Like I said earlier, you will be hearing much more about how you too can live "The Best of Both Cultures" in the coming months so stay tuned.

With Gratitude,

Anna Dee Olson

Author, Inspirational Speaker, & Life Coach

Teaching Jobs Abroad and Coping With Culture Shock

Kelly Blackwell

2007-05-15

		Title: Teaching Jobs Abroad and Coping With Culture Shock

Culture shock is the term used to describe how people feel when they are exposed to an unfamiliar culture or way of life, and the feeling of disorientation and separateness they experience. It’s a condition that every international teacher feels in varying degrees, whether they’re new to teaching abroad or old hands at it.

Luckily culture shock follows a fairly predictable cycle and there are a number of ways you can prepare for it and lessen the impact of it once you’ve made the move overseas.

Unfortunately, when describing culture shock, it comes across as a negative thing to be avoided at all costs, and I’ve just told you it’s inevitable for anyone wanting to teach abroad. It’s important for you to remember that teaching overseas is an opportunity to explore other cultures and enjoy a better teaching environment. Yes, you will experience culture shock, but you can manage this and it’s not all bad!

Factors that can contribute to culture shock are :
* People speaking a different language, dialect or with an unfamiliar accent.
* Dealing with a different currnecy, money that is a different colour, feel and value. Keeping track of exchange rates can become a tiresome chore when living abroad, so once you’ve received your first paycheck, don’t bother. Earn local, spend local!
* People behaving in unfamiliar ways, even local customs can vary from one end of a country to another.
* Spicy and/or unfamiliar food. You may need to substitute ‘like’ ingredients in your favourite recipes too.
* People staring at you, if you are in a country where your skin colour or facial features stand out as being different, this will happen.

On top of this you’ll be the new teacher in school, so the procedures and policies will be different to what you’re used to at home.

Recognising culture shock
Recognising culture shock for what it is and acknowledging which stage you’re in is the first step to lessening the grip it has on you. For example, if you suddenly feel like you hate your new teaching job because of how hard it is to make the purchasing department understand what it is you’re trying to order, recognising this as an effect of culture shock can help you adjust your behaviour.

When you first get to your new home you’ll feel happy to be there and everything you see or experience will be wonderful and new. This is the ‘honeymoon’ stage of culture shock and it feels great! It can last from several days to several months. This is the time where you’ll be sending loads of emails to your friend using words and phrases like ‘awesome’, ‘best decision I’ve ever made’, ‘don’t know why I didn’t do this years ago’. Recognise this stage of culture shock and enjoy it.

Next comes the period of frustration, full of situations like the example above. When you sink into this part of the cycle you’ll begin to dislike everything about your new home. It’ll be too hard, too smelly, too hot, too loud, and everything else ‘too’!

This is also when homesickness could strike you with a vengeance. You may find yourself developing a hostile attitude towards every one not of your own nationality and culture. Your old home will suddenly seem like the best place in the world and you may regret ever leaving it.

Strategies to cope with the stress of culture shock
1. Learn some of the local language before you leave home. You’ve signed a contract that means you’re going to be living in your host country for 1-2 years, learning the language will help you get around and make friends. Some great ways to learn the local language while you’re still at home…

2. Take time to get used to the new time zone, the different weather and smells, sounds etc.

3. Begin building friendships as soon as you arrive and meet the other new teachers. You’ll form a bond with these teachers in the first year especially because they’ll be coping with culture shock as well. This will be your support group.

4. Stay in touch with people you’ve left at home. In my most recent move I found the best medicine for the frustration phase was an email from my old colleagues telling me how unsatisfied they were at my previous school.

5. Cut yourself some slack. When you recognise the symptoms of culture shock, give yourself a break, watch a favourite movie, look at pictures from home, have a meal at your favourite restaurant. Revel in the great things you’re experiencing in your new home so that you can put your frustration in perspective.

The Up-Side of the Frustration Stage
Finally you will start to see the funny side of it all and most of the things that made you angry during the frustration stage will either cause you to laugh or you’ll be able to shrug your shoulders and pass it off as being a feature of your new home. When you’re in this stage of the cycle you’ll begin to remember your old home without your rose-coloured glasses again.

You may wonder how I can write with so much confidence about culture shock, and it’s because I’ve experienced it all. I’ve moved country 7 times in the last 11 years and each time I’ve been hit with culture shock. Sometimes only a mild dose, but it’s always there.

Culture shock has never put me off seeking teaching jobs abroad. I recognise it and work with it. In this article I’ve given you 5 methods of alleviating the stress of culture shock. Remember that all international teachers feel culture shock to some degree. You won’t be alone, so don’t let it stop you from enjoying the fantastic experiences you’ll have teaching abroad.

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