Effects of Culture Shock

 You may find:

• Your health is affected

• You may get headaches or stomach aches

• You may start to worry about your health more than before

• You may find it difficult to concentrate and as a result find it harder to focus on your work

• You may become irritable or tearful and generally your emotions may seem more changeable.

 Remember that these effects can in themselves increase with anxiety.

How to help yourself

 Don’t feel “This isn’t going to happen to me.” Culture shock can hit you no matter what culture you come from and however experienced or well traveled you are.

• Understanding that this is a normal experience. An open mind helps.

• Keep in touch with home. There are several ways you may be able to do this: Telephone, fax, email, newspaper and TV is also an option. See what is available in your camp.

• Have familiar things around you that have personal meaning, photos, etc.

• Find a supplier of familiar food if you can.

• Eat a healthy and balanced diet

• Exercise regularly

• Make friends. Learn from others. Don’t be afraid

• Use the camp resources (health office, counseling, your buddy at camp)

• Going to church, temple or a mosque could be a link to your community back home. See   what is available in your camp community

• While at camp learn a new skill. Take advantage of that

• Find someone to talk to, who will listen uncritically and with understanding

• Don’t isolate yourself. Participate, and talk about it

• Be humorous. Never forget that humor is one of the best remedies for almost any difficult situation

• Lower your expectations and learn how to accept what happens on its own merit. 

Finally, it is important to know that culture shock is very normal, usually unavoidable and not a sign that you have made a mistake or that you can’t manage.

 Think how this could be a significant learning experience, making you more aware of your own culture and a new culture you have entered. It will give you valuable skills that will serve you in many ways, both now and in the future, and will be part of the benefit of your exchange visitor experience.

C) Place the Roman numeral for the stage of adjustment next to the statement you think the person was in who made the remark.

I. Honeymoon II. Initial Culture Shock / rejection phase III. Initial Adjustment / regression/ at ease phase IV. Further Culture Shock V. Further Adjustment / reverse culture shock

1. I'm sick of these bugs. 2. I thought I knew this stuff! 3. You call that a toilet? 4. I'd give anything for a meal without rice. 5. These people are all so nice. 6. Homesick? For what? 7. I'm getting used to these toilets, believe it or not. 8. I'm looking forward to actually doing my job. 9. This language actually makes sense once in a while. 10. I don't believe it! They said I shouldn't jog here. 11. Bugs? What bugs? 12. You know, I actually prefer Turkish toilets. 13. I'll never learn this language. 14. Are you kidding? I can't eat curry (or beans) without rice. 15. No one said my job would be like this? 16. I never thought my problem would be too much free time. 17. I actually prefer soccer to jogging; you meet more people. 18. What a great place