"Culture Shock"


What is “Culture Shock”?

“Culture shock” is the name of some and different feelings that a person may have when moves to a cultural enviroment which is different from one’s own. When someone moves to another country to work, study or visit it, his way or life change for a period  of time, and it can produce him desorentation and feelings that never have felt. This phenomenon has four stages:
  1.        Honeymoon: is the most intense period at the beggining of a stay abroad. When we arrive to a new country, we see the new enviroment as an adveture, and we try to take advantage of everything because it is an unic experience.
  2.     Negotation: suddenly, the differences between cultures start to make us sad and angry. We start to feel impatience and anger because there are some culture situatioins that are uncimfortable. It is more common when the language is so different.
  3.     Adjustment: few time later, you start to feel more familiar and comfortable with the people, food and culture, and your friendships help you to feel at home.
  4.     Adaptation: finally, you accept and adopt the customs and habits of your new home. Now you are ready to intergrate yourself in the new culture!



My Culture Shock

When I arrived here I didn’t know anything about this phenomenon. It’s truth that I felt different things, and maybe now I have a different vision of the country if I compare it with the first impressions I had, but I didn’t experimente it so much yet because I only stay here for 1 month.

I think now I’m between two stages: honeymoon and negotation. When I arrived, everything was a honeymoon: I always had a positive feeling, I got up thinking about learning because everything was new and exciting. I thought that it was the best decisión I’ve ever made and I tried to take advantage of everything because it is unic. And nowedays, I still think it! But sometimes I’m a bit more tired that few weeks ago. Before, I thought that darkness was so cool and made Finland interesting; now I think darkness is making me being tired and confused always. The way of thinking change! But I’m not totally in the second stage, I still have energy to enjoy this new adventure.
I hope first stage never ends!







Comentarios

Publicar un comentario

Entradas populares de este blog

Spanish Social and Health Care System

Imagen
In my last entry, I shared with you some information about Finnish Social and Health Care System. Maybe this is not as useful as the information about Finnish system, but now I want to share with you some information about the way of working of these systems in Spain. Maybe someone knows people living in Spain and need it! Social welfare and health care system Spain understands “health” by the same ecological and holistic perspective given by WHO, as Finland, so its main goal is to change and improve environmental conditions for people in risk of get diseases or have an unhealthy routine, to improve their life. The Ministry of Health, Consumption and Social Welfare is the responsible of Spain for proposing and executing the Government policy on health, planning and health care, consumption, cohesion and social inclusion, family, child protection and care for dependent or disabled people. It is the responsible also for exercising the powers of the General State Administratio...
Leer más

Curiosities and tips

Imagen
When you arrive in Finland you think that everything is perfect and beautiful. We idealize so much the new places we go. And it is truth, it is an amazing place to stay, but there are some things that are so different if you compare it with Spain. Some of them are better, but others I think that I prefer the way we do it in my country. Read these curiosities if you will stay here! Maybe can help you. -Free water : one of the things that was more surprising for me was that in bar, cafés and restaurants, there is free water! You can spend your time in this place and drink water for free when you want, I think it is amazing! - Bus stop : about buses I want to say two things, but be careful with both! If you are waiting for a bus, be concentrate because you must do a signal to the bus driver! If you don’t do it, he won’t stop. And another annoying thing for me is that Finnish people don’t respect bus queue! In Spain, when you wait for a bus in a bus stop and it arrives, everybody...
Leer más

Frozen Landscape

Imagen
Winter in Finland is usually so cold and with so much snow, but this year it isn’t in that way! Since I’m here it only snowed twice, but it makes it more especial. When the weather is cold, everything is more beautiful. The landscape turns white, and a magic atmosphere surrounds it. One of the most exciting things I lived in Finland is see these magic landscapes, with snowed trees and frozen lakes. For me, one of the best places in winter is Hirvensalo, an island near Turku. There is a lake in the middle of the forest, and when it is frozen…. you feel free, quite, without stress or any worry. And if you are brave, you can try to walk on the ice! Nature is an awsome paradise that we don’t use to enjoy, but here you have the oportuniity to do it everyday.  
Leer más