Don't Fight the Culture– Flex With It!

           This week’s topic in our reading was cultural adjustment when studying abroad.  The reading cited three types of adjustment: physical adjustment– getting used to overt changes such as a new transportation system, different types of food, or changes in weather; social adjustment– a deeper acknowledgement and acceptance of cultural values, beliefs, and way of doing things; and internal adjustment– coming to terms with one's own cultural identity and being able to integrate your own culture with the culture abroad.

Adjustment or "Culture Shock" curve  

          (madridmetropolitan.com)

             

            The idea is that for many experiences abroad, the initial impact of the experience is highly positive upon arrival, then negative as the reality of the differences between one’s own culture and the host culture set in, then increasingly positive as the individual learns how to function with the given cultural adjustment challenges, until finally the person feels as though they have grown as an individual as a result of overcoming those obstacles.  Such a curve can also serve as a model that describes an individual returning home from living abroad I've heard that it can be even harder to come back home than to leave!  Essentially, it stands as a reference that roughly describes one's reaction to significant life changes.

            I completed an activity where I was given statements about personal experiences living abroad and was asked to identify what stage of adjustment each statement represents.  For example: the statement

“I love it here!  I can’t imagine being anywhere else!” 

is representative of the first stage of adjustment because the individual seems overly excited and overwhelmed about arriving in the host country.  Perhaps the statement could also be attributed to an individual who has spent a considerable time abroad and learned how to reconcile the nature of their host culture with that of their home culture, creating a positive experience.  Here's another:

“They always take so long to complete something that could be accomplished much quicker.  It's not very efficient.” 

This one is representative of an individual who has developed a negative perception of the host culture as the visibility of cultural differences s/he encounters increases while the honeymoon period fades into the past.

 

           Thinking about the distinct adjustment periods when living abroad invites reflection about what things might impact my experience abroad.  Here’s a collection of potential low points and potential high points pertaining to a hypothetical personal study abroad experience: 

Low Points:

•    Continuing the tend to business– attending 4-6 hours of classes per day    
•   Missing the comfort of my home life         
•   Losing my belongings 
•    Accidentally offending someone with my actions or words
•   Struggling to maintain a long-distance relationship with loved ones

High Points:

•      Having a productive conversation with a native speaker
•      Visiting a well-known ecological landmark
•      Sharing memories with members of my host family
•      Meeting genuine people my age I can get along with
•    Learning something new and exciting in school

ondmc.com

In an effort to overcome the low points I may encounter while abroad, here are some personal coping strategies that will help me have a better experience:

 

 

 

• Ask for help from peers (both with North Central and others), teachers, and advisors
• Stay physically active
• Socialize...And laugh when I make a mistake or embarrass myself
• Keep a Journal

 warwick.ac.uk

           Finally, the reading elaborated on my understanding of cultural awareness by citing four categories:

1. ·      Unconscious Incompetence– “I don’t know what I don’t know; ignorance is bliss”
2. ·      Conscious Incompetence– "I'm not incompetent but realize my likelihood to make mistakes is high"
3. ·      Conscious Competence– "I know enough to get by as a functioning individual"
4. ·      Unconscious Competence– "I'm so well-prepared/adapted I succeed unconsciously"

           Much like the "Culture Shock" curve, it is plausible I will touch each of these levels of cultural awareness in some capacity, at some point during my 4 months in Costa Rica.  My personal goal is to remain open to the idea that I will not know as much as I do in the U.S. and to continue to learn new things through persistent curiosity.  ¡Pura Vida!