Settling in and Culture Shock while teaching abroad

Getting settled in to a new culture can be difficult, and sometimes downright overwhelming.

The anxiety one experiences when moving to a new place is a bizarre combination of emotions, and often a foreign feeling in itself. This confusing jumble of emotions has been dubbed "Culture Shock" and yes, we all experience it.

Every day we use signs and familiar markings to orient ourselves. The signs often come in the form of interactions with others and with the place we're in. Based on the social standards you adhere to, you use these interactions to appropriately position yourself to function throughout the day.

These cues can be as simple as a waiter nodding his head, indicating he's ready to take your order or the markings on the road that show you where it's safe to cross. It's the accumulation of these small signals that give peace of mind, and suggest that you do in fact understand what's going on in the world around you. But what happens when a nod no longer means "I'm ready," and the markings on the road no longer tell you it's safe to cross?

That's where Culture Shock comes in. After being placed in a foreign culture, the realization of where you are, and how far away from you are from your home will inevitably set in. This is where one begins to experience the symptoms of culture shock.

Culture Shock is often divided into three stages of emotion...

• Commonly known as "The Honeymoon Stage." This is characterized by an embrace and joy towards everything around you that is new.
• Resentment. Feelings of inadequacy, nervousness, anxiety and related emotions lead to a general resentment of the new society and its culture.
• Adjustment. Soon you will be able to recognize cultural signs and symbols and function at a proficient level, near how you functioned back home. This stage shows you are on the path to full immersion and enjoyment of the new culture.

While some would disagree, to say that everyone gets Culture Shock is probably a valid statement. That fact is that some people simply deal with it better than others. Since Culture Shock is not truly a medical condition, it doesn't have any definite remedy. Despite this, there are a number of things you can do to soften the symptoms and begin truly enjoying a new culture more quickly.

One of the main symptoms of culture shock is frustration. Handle this just how you would handle it in your own culture. Pause, take a deep breath, and ask yourself the following questions: What are you are truly frustrated with? Is there any way for you to change that cause of your frustration? Is it really worth being frustrated over?

Some people experience mild panic and anxiety as a result of Culture Shock. In these scenarios, once again take deep breaths and try to look at the broader picture. Sometimes these feelings of anxiety can be triggered by hunger or mild dehydration from travel, and a good preventative measure is to make sure you have are properly nourished before setting out. Remember, Culture Shock is a temporary condition and it will get better.

And one final thought...

If you've taken a TEFL course, jetted out to an exotic destination and taken up a job at a local school then the chances are that you really wanted to explore a new culture! Don't let your fears or anxieties ruin that for you, it the very difference of this culture to your own that will make the experience so special. The trick is to try to embrace it rather than rebelling against it!