Leaving home and travelling to study/work in a new country can be a stressful experience. Even though it may be something you have planned and prepared for, the extent of the change and the effects it has on you may take you by surprise.
“Culture shock” describes the impact of moving from a familiar culture to one which is unfamiliar. It is an experience described by people who have travelled abroad to work, live or study; it can be felt to a certain extent even when abroad on holiday. It can affect anyone, including international students. It includes the shock of a new environment, meeting lots of new people and learning the ways of a different country. It also includes the shock of being separated from the important people in your life, maybe family, friends, colleagues, teachers: people you would normally talk to at times of uncertainty, people who give you support and guidance. When familiar sights, sounds, smells or tastes are no longer there you can miss them very much. If you are tired and jet-lagged when you arrive small things can be upsetting and out of all proportion to their real significance.
The following are some of the elements that contribute to culture shock:
Climate Many students find that Canary Islands are too hot and affect them a lot. You may be used to a much colder climate, or you may just find that so many hours of sun, especially during the winter months, are difficult to get used to.
Food
You may find Spanish food strange. It may taste different, or be cooked differently, or it may seem bland or heavy compared to what you are used to. If you are in self catering accommodation and unused to cooking for yourself, you may find yourself relying on “fast” food instead of your usual diet. Try to find a supplier of familiar food, and eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. If you live in a hotel, staff canteens are not always so tasty but it is an easy option if you do not like cooking.
Language
Constantly listening and speaking in a foreign language is tiring. If Spanish is not your first language, you may find that you miss your familiar language which at home would have been part of your everyday environment. Even if you are a fluent Spanish speaker it is possible that the regional accents you discover when you arrive in The Canary Islands (somehow similar to south American accent) will make the language harder to understand. People may also speak quickly and you may feel embarrassed to ask them to repeat what they have said. Do not be shy, talk as much as you can even if you only know a few words in Spanish.
Dress
Dress code in tourism areas is usually much more informal and if you are training you have to get used to wear a uniform at work every day, not always so comfortable. Try to bring always your own comfortable shoes to use at work.
Social roles
Social behavior may be confusing, surprise or offend you. Spanish people are usually very direct, not always using the formal codes, you may find offensive when at work they tell you that you did something wrong, but it will always be to help you do it on the correct way.
‘Rules’ of behavior
As well as the obvious things that hit you immediately when you arrive, such as sights, sounds, smells and tastes, every culture has unspoken rules which affect the way people treat each other. These may be less obvious but sooner or later you will probably encounter them and once again the effect may be disorientating.
For example there will be differences in the ways people decide what is important, how tasks are allocated and how time is observed. Spanish generally have a reputation for the lack of punctuality. Social life is a little more complicated. Arranging to see a film at 8pm means arriving at 8pm. But if you are invited to visit someone’s home for dinner at 8pm, you should probably aim to arrive at about ten minutes after eight, but not later than about twenty past. When going to a student party an invitation for 8pm probably means any time from 9.30 onwards! These subtle differences can be difficult to grasp and can contribute to culture shock.
Values
Although you may first become aware of cultural differences in your physical environment, e.g. food, dress, behavior, you may also come to notice that people from other cultures may have very different views of the world from yours. Cultures are built on deeply-embedded sets of values, norms, assumptions and beliefs. It can be surprising and sometimes distressing to find that people do not share some of your most deeply held ideas, as most of us take our core values and beliefs for granted and assume they are universally held. As far as possible, try to suspend judgment until you understand how parts of a culture fit together into a coherent whole. Try to see what people say or do in the context of their own culture’s norms. This will help you to understand how other people see your behavior, as well as how to understand theirs. When you understand both cultures, you will probably find some aspects of each that you like and others that you don’t.
A model of culture shock Many people go through different phases of the process of adjustment several times, so parts of the curve in the diagram may repeat themselves. For instance, at significant times such as important family dates or festivals you may feel distressed or lonely, while at other times you feel quite settled. However, many people have reported that this model has reflected something of their experience and they have found it helpful to realize they are not the only ones to have had these feelings. The process can be broken down into 5 stages:
1. The “happy” stage When you first arrive in a new culture, differences are intriguing and you may feel excited, stimulated and curious. At this stage you are still protected by the close memory of your home culture.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDy6uKpuI3M
2. The “distress” stage A little later, differences create an impact and you may feel confused, isolated or inadequate as cultural differences intrude and familiar supports (egg family or friends) are not immediately available.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfnmNFJSvyI
3. “Re-integration” stage Next you may reject the differences you encounter. You may feel angry or frustrated, or hostile to the new culture. At this stage you may be conscious mainly of how much you dislike it compared to home. Don’t worry, as this is quite a healthy reaction. You are reconnecting with what you value about yourself and your own culture.
4. “Autonomy” stage Differences and similarities are accepted. You may feel relaxed, confident, more like an old hand as you become more familiar with situations and feel well able to cope with new situations based on your growing experience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGDrLVq_2oI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ovf6xfmevi4&list=FLtkjEzU3SOsSK1cJzHUXk_A
5. “Independence” stage Differences and similarities are valued and important. You may feel full of potential and able to trust yourself in all kinds of situations. Most situations become enjoyable and you are able to make choices according to your preferences and values.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFwJ3d38Sro
Some of the effects of culture shock Some of the symptoms of culture shock can be worrying themselves. For example, you may find your health is affected and you may get headaches or stomach aches or you may start worrying about your health more than previously. You may find it difficult to concentrate and as a result find it harder to focus on your course work.
How to help yourself Though culture shock is normally a temporary phase, it is important to know there are things you can do to help so that some of these worrying effects can be minimized. Don’t feel “this isn’t going to happen to me”. Culture shock can hit you whatever culture you come from and however experienced or well-travelled you are.
Tenerife Job Training works developing Educational Tourism in The Canary Islands, Spain. We offer opportunities to learn by travelling and travelling to learn, hosting travellers here in the Canary Islands and also sending abroad students. We also make teachers and adult learners have adventures believing in the power of travelling: We offer quality internships options for VET and University’s students. We are an experienced Erasmus intermediary organisation. We have experience as partners in KA2 projects for more than 12 years. We organise Erasmus staff training mobility courses in Tenerife, based on non-formal education. We are tourist intermediators for educational trips & experiences in The Canary Islands. Dream of a powerful reason to travel by learning and let us help you.