Archive for the ‘Reference And Education’ category

Stages of Culture Shock

December 2nd, 2010


Culture shock is the emotional and sometimes even physical discomfort people feel when they have to leave everything familiar behind and have to find their way in a new culture that has a different way of life and a different mindset. Overcoming culture shock takes time and can’t happen over night. It is helpful to know, that adjusting to a new culture occurs in stages and everybody, even the most seasoned traveler, has to go through them to varying degrees. I believe, being aware of the different stages and what you might experience can help you to move through them more quickly and with less stress. Even though you might feel like you are on an emotional roller coaster at times, this can also be a valuable time for personal growth.

The author and psychiatrist M. Scott Peck says:

“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.”

I hope these words will give you courage and energy when you need them most in your adjustment period to your new surroundings.

Four Stages of Culture Shock

The anthropologist Kalervo Oberg (1901-1973) gets credited with naming this adjustment period “Culture Shock”. He identified four stages:

The Honeymoon Stage

As you can already guess from the name, in this stage you feel excited about your adventure. The newness and differences are still a novelty. The day-to-day difficulties haven’t set in yet. Most people feel energetic and enthusiastic during this stage.

The Crisis or Cultural Shock Stage

In this stage, reality sets in as you try to make a new home for yourself and your family. You become aware of the differences between your own culture and the new culture. You try to communicate in a new language you might not know yet. You’re not sure how to interact with people, where to find things, and how to help your children settle in. In this stage many different feelings and emotions may arise, from confusion, anxiety, homesickness, and loneliness, to being unsure of yourself, feeling less competent than in your home country, feeling overwhelmed, and feeling angry for being in this situation.

Please remember – this is a stage and you will get through it! It’s helpful to first acknowledge your feeling and then become pro-active. Participate in your new environment. Start out with small steps, as you feel comfortable. Read a local newspaper to get informed, find others in the same situation, and see what help is available to you. Slowly but surely you will build a new support system and move into the next stage.

The Adjustment or Recovery Stage

After having been in the new country for a while a daily routine sets in. Children have settled into their school, your new neighborhood becomes more familiar, you know where to get all your basic things, and you are able to communicate better. Your sense of self comes back and you even return to the excitement of the “Honeymoon Stage” more often. This stage could be described as an oscillation between the two first stages, from feeling excited to being down. Be patient with yourself. Acknowledge how far you have come, from feeling out of place to being an active participant in your new environment. This is quite an accomplishment! Continue to seek support, as you need it. Community service centers or adult education programs are good place to find courses on language or local culture. Search for support groups to connect with people with same interests. Join or start a playgroup if you have small children. Get involved in school activities of your school-aged children.

The Adaptation Stage

Congratulations, you’ve made it! Your life resumes with a familiar pattern but now has a different background component from the new culture. You’re ready to develop a realistic understanding of the similarities and differences between your own culture and the new culture. By comparing both, you have the unique opportunity to learn about two different approaches and can decide what fits best for you. Remember, it’s not about one approach being right and the other being wrong. It’s about acknowledging that there are cultural differences and that we can learn from each other.

Copyright ? 2009 lisavel.com. All Rights Reserved.

By: Lisa Velazquez

About the Author:
Lisa Velazquez is a certified personal coach specializing in Cultural Transition who helps individuals and families adjust to a new culture through one-on-one coaching, group coaching, and presentations on cultural topics to interested groups. For more information visit http://www.lisavel.com and sign up for your free “Three Simple Techniques for a Successful Adjustment to a New Culture” PDF and for the free monthly newsletter “Building Cultural Awareness”.



Website content

Comments Off »

Posted in Reference And Education

Tags:

Saudi Arabia Culture – The Wedding March

November 27th, 2010


Even though Saudi Arabia takes a starring role on the world stage for both its influence in the politics of the Middle East and in its capacity as a major oil producing nation, most Americans perceive the country as one shrouded in mystery, much as its women are shrouded behind the veils they wear. Most Americans know little of Saudi or Wahhabi history; what information they do have comes from a movie they’ve seen or a novel they’ve read. Maybe it’s because Saudi Arabia culture is so different from ours that we have a fascination with their mores and customs. And, when it comes to customs, few are more compelling than the role of women in marriage.

The Evolution of Choosing a Spouse

It wasn’t that long ago that most Saudi weddings came about as the result of arranged marriages. Often, the betrothed were chosen for one another to shore up tribal alliances or a family’s wealth and power. This is why women are sometimes married to their first cousins. Today, arranged marriages are still within the norm, but the bride-to-be often has the opportunity to meet with her potential mate and provide her assent before the couple is betrothed.

Despite the advances in recent years, Saudi women are still prohibited from marrying a non-Arab unless she has special permission from the King. This holds true if the Arab is not a citizen of a country belonging to the Gulf Cooperation Council. According to the U.S. State Department, Saudi women who do marry Westerners usually come from progressive families and most often live outside of the country after marriage.

American Women as Wives

Although Saudi women rarely marry outside of their culture, it is somewhat more common for Saudi men to do so. After interviewing a number of American women who have married Saudis, the State Department drew up a set of recommendations for women who are considering marrying a Saudi man. They point out that the parents of the husband-to-be have an enormous amount of influence over the couple, and so a woman considering marriage should gauge their attitudes about the activities that she will be allowed to undertake while living in Saudi Arabia.

Similarly, the State Department notes that a newly married couple in Saudi Arabia most often lives with the husband’s parents and extended family inside a family compound. Because women are prohibited from being in the presence of other men, a new bride’s social circle typically consists of her husband’s relatives. For many American women – especially those who don’t speak the language – this can be stifling. It doesn’t help that women in the country aren’t allowed to drive, ride a bike, or take public transportation without being in the company of a relative or her children.

Possibly the most difficult adjustment of American women to Saudi Arabia culture is not being allowed to work outside the home. According to the State Department, there are few job opportunities for women other than teaching other women or the medical profession. However, nursing in Saudi is looked down upon, so women would probably not be allowed to see patients unless she was a doctor.

Not for Everyone

Clearly, the cultural chasm between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia is so vast that it is rarely successfully bridged in marriage. Because the foundations of marriage and of the role of women in Saudi Arabia culture are based on the Quran and on Sharia law, Westerners need more than book notes in order to navigate the society’s cultural waters.

By: Chris Robertson

About the Author:
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the world’s MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.

Learn more about Saudi Arabia Culture: Marriage [http://www.insidesaudi.com].



culture

Comments Off »

Posted in Reference And Education

Tags:

History and Culture of Mexico

November 12th, 2010


Located at the southern areas of North America, Mexico is teeming with a vast array of apparent contradictions. Its ancient historical landmarks are in full view of the seeming hustle and bustle of the big city, a teeming melting pot of people from all walks of life. With a unique mix of the traditional and the modern, Mexico is a result of the influx of external innovations and ideas foreign in origin, but converted and modified into a unique culture inherently their own, and is always a favorite destination spot for tourists and travellers alike, whether enjoying themselves in Mexico’s finest beaches, exploring ancient Aztec ruins, or sightseeing and enjoying the Mexican nightlife.

Most of Mexico is situated within what is known as Middle America, lying south of the United States of America, and northwest to Guatemala and Belize. It is surrounded on its west coast by the Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea on its east coast. Mexico is also crossed by the two mountain ranges Sierra Madre Oriental, and Sierra Madre Occidental.

History

The earliest records of Mexican history start with the beginnings of the Olmec civilization around 1200 BC, in the Veracruz and Tabasco lowlands. They were closely followed by the Zapotecs in 300 BC, and the Mayans in 250 AD, the latter of which became the first of the greatest flourishing civilizations in Mexico.

In 1519, Spanish conquistadors led by Herman Cortes arrived in VeraCruz, conquering the then-thriving Aztecs, who had erroneously believed the Spaniards to be their god Quetzalc?atl. By 1605, only 1 million out of original 25 million natives remained, a victim of the Spaniards’ harsh rule and diseases.

For the next three centuries, Spanish-born colonists were the nobility in what was now called New Spain. However, Napoloeon Bonaparte’s occupation of Spain resulted in a fight for control between the Spanish-born colonists, and the criollos – people born in New Spain to Spanish parents. The beginnings of New Spain’s rebellion and desire for independence began on September 16, 1810, but it would take eleven years of fighting before Spain would grant Mexico its independence.

Over the years, Mexico has seen small yet continuous growth in its economy, although gaps still remain between the rich and the poor. Currently, the government is trying to solve the income inequality and advocate the need for more infrastructure and improvement over obsolete industry policies.

Culture

Mexican culture is the result of centuries of tradition, violently supplanted and enforced in some cases, and peacefully observed in others. Spain has had a major prevailing influence over Mexico, notably in religion. Mexico is predominantly Roman Catholic, and are known for religious festivities including the Day of the Dead and offerings to the Lady of Guadalupe – both using a combination of devout Christian and pagan practices, a legacy of Mexico’s history of injecting Christian themes into pagan customs by their former rulers. Mother’s Day is a major holiday, and globo (homemade hot air balloons) races are a Mexican pastime.

By: Jes B

About the Author:
Thank you for reading my article. Please visit Rustic Coffee Table for more information on Coffee End Table.



Kansieo.com

Comments Off »

Posted in Reference And Education

Tags: