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Tim in Omaha
Posts:682
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| 10/08/2007 7:59 AM |
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Culture shock has been formally defined as “the loss of emotional equilibrium that a person suffers when (one) moves from a familiar environment where he has learned to function easily and successfully, to one where he has not.”
The basic cause of culture shock is believed to be the sudden loss of the familiar. Due to limited language ability and/or unfamiliarity with cultural norms, newcomers to a foreign environment often find it difficult to interact successfully with the rest of society. This difficulty results in feelings of stress, isolation, powerlessness, and diminished self-importance…in other words, culture shock.
Keep in mind that, to some extent, all students abroad go through culture shock. It is a normal part of adjusting to any new environment.
Phases of Culture Shock
Although cultural adaptation is highly individual, research indicates that most people go through similar stages in adapting to a new environment. The following is a brief description of four stages of cultural adjustment that individuals often experience when entering a new culture. It may help you to consider these stages as you prepare for your experience in Germany.
Honeymoon Stage: This stage is commonly characterized by feelings of exhilaration and anticipation. Newcomers are fascinated by the novelty of their experience. People in this stage demonstrate an eagerness to please, a spirit of cooperation and an active interest in conversations they have with others, even if they do not understand everything that is said at first.
Hostility Stage: As the novelty of the experience begins to diminish, newcomers may become frustrated with having to interact in an unfamiliar environment and cope with the pressures of communicating in a second language every day. They may long for familiar foods, smells, sounds, and most of all, familiar faces. Stress levels could rise and sleep patterns may be disrupted. Some may suffer from indigestion or loss of appetite. Frequently, visitors react to this frustration by rejecting the new culture. They may have second thoughts about staying in the new environment and believe their experiences will only worsen. Minor frustrations become magnified, causing newcomers to react with intense emotions such as anger, mistrust, and fear. They may show these feelings by demonstrating apathy, lack of motivation and withdrawal. The range of responses usually varies from one person to another. Most spend several weeks to a few months in this stage. Some move in and out of the stage a few times before finally adjusting. (First 4 games of the year)
Humor Stage: After the hostility stage passes, most visitors realize how intense their reactions were. Being able to review their experiences from a distance allows them to gain a new level of understanding about themselves. Their sense of humor returns. Situations which seemed to be so serious before now appear comical. Visitors in this stage are more relaxed, are able to make friends more easily, understand the language with greater ease and become more productive academically. (Missouri game)
Home Stage: When most people reach the home stage they are adjusted to the point of being able to retain allegiance to their own culture while being able to feel at home in a new culture.
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those who can, do; those who can’t crit
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Crit40
Posts:2600
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| 10/08/2007 1:31 PM |
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probably just "the pressures of having to communicate in a second language everyday." 
Tim, are you suggesting culture shock within the NU football program 4 years in? |
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Counting the Herd one hoof at a time. |
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Logan
Posts:2525
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| 10/08/2007 1:36 PM |
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| the home game this saturday may produce even more culture shock. |
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dwight, refuting reality one post at a time. |
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Tim in Omaha
Posts:682
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| 10/08/2007 2:40 PM |
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| Im at the Humor Stage. |
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those who can, do; those who can’t crit
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Logan
Posts:2525
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| 10/08/2007 4:25 PM |
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| when you reach the home stage will callahan still be coach or will you have moved on? |
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dwight, refuting reality one post at a time. |
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Tim in Omaha
Posts:682
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| 10/08/2007 4:28 PM |
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| He will be at Ohio the short man! |
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those who can, do; those who can’t crit
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Tim in Omaha
Posts:682
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| 10/08/2007 4:29 PM |
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| Cos will be at ND |
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those who can, do; those who can’t crit
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Blackshirt
Posts:607
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| 10/08/2007 7:18 PM |
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Posted By Tim in Omaha on 10/08/2007 4:28 PM
He will be at Ohio the short man!
There already is a short man at Ohio.
Or is it shot man?  |
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"Perhaps the worst thing that can happen is to reach into the refrigerator and come out with something that you cannot identify at all. You literally do not know what it is. Could be meat, could be cake. Usually, at a time like that, I'll bluff. "Honey, is this good?" "Well, what is it?" "I don't know. I've never seen anything like it. It looks like...meatcake!" "Well, smell it." (snort, sniff) "It has absolutely no smell whatsoever!" "It's good! Put it back! Somebody is saving it. It'll turn up in something." Thats what frightens me. That someone will consider it a challenge and use it just because it's in there." -- George Carlin |
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Logan
Posts:2525
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| 10/09/2007 12:42 PM |
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Posted By Tim in Omaha on 10/08/2007 4:29 PM
Cos will be at ND
sorry, charlie's not that stupid. |
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dwight, refuting reality one post at a time. |
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