Adjusting 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.

It is not something that you will get used to overnight. Usually it takes between six and twelve months. One needs to be patient with themselves. However, it also means that you have to make the effort and work on the various phases. By sitting at home, you are not going to adjust. As you begin to learn the language, put this into action, get out and take part in activities and explore, you will begin to adjust.

Instead of criticizing a person, look at the individual with an open mind once again. Ask them if you are baffled. For example, there are Asians who tend to slurp their soup. To a Westerner, this is plain rude. However, the answer to this is that they are appreciating it. On most occasions, they won't be offended if you ask them why they do this.

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.

Always have something for them to do. Find out beforehand what groups and activities are available for children in the new location. Remember that every country is different. You may have coped well in one area, but going somewhere else may be a nightmare, so don't become too confident. It can depend on a number of factors.

They might say that the local beer is not up to their standard. When talking to the locals, they will continue to talk about their own country, saying how much better it is. A person may find that they are having difficulty embracing the culture, but they decide to take this on. Being positive about this can start by getting to know the community.

In Brazil, a gesture that may seem perfectly acceptable to you is actually a swear word to them. These are things to take note of. It especially applies to when you are in business and you are with clients. The most important aspect of moving somewhere else is that you have to be open minded.

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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