New Zealand Culture Shock

‘Culture Shock’

When a person moves to a new country it is normal for them to experience a level of anxiety that is known as ‘Culture Shock’. This common experience is nearly universal for those people who choose to cross borders and enter into new cultural situations. Culture Shock will usually be felt within the first few weeks of arrival. But it has been known to hit almost instantaneously after someone leaves the airport or terminal. Although Culture Shock is not a particularly heinous condition it can impede a person’s chances of crossing over into the new culture. But for most people Culture Shock is a temporary condition and usually resolved in the first six months of arrival.


So... how do I know I am feeling Culture Shock?

• I will feel irritation and fretfulness.
• I will experience a temporary lack of direction.    
• I will feel ill at ease and ineffectual when trying new things.    
• I will be unsure about what is right or wrong. I may think I am offending people when I am not.

‘Culture Shock’ like many phenomena we experience in life can be disagreeable, but we can learn from it and move forward if we have the right attitude and appropriate assistance. It can provide us with the chance to learn and attain a new outlook on life and live new challenges.


So, here are the symptoms of ‘Culture Shock’?
 

• Feeling mislaid, ignored, oppressed and/or ill-treated
• Worried with health
• Colds, and a feeling of being unwell
• Insomnia: not being able to sleep properly
• Feeling helpless and exposed
• An inability to temporarily solve easy problems
• No confidence
• A general sense of melancholia
• Feelings of insufficiency and/or lack of security
• Indulging in bigotry and believing stereotypes about the new culture
• Becoming obsessive about hygiene
• Longing for family and being home sick
• Annoyance, touchiness, antipathy, reluctance to interact with othersA rose coloured view of the old culture, a loss of identity, and trying too hard to take in everything in the new culture too soon.

 
Now, we have the symptoms out of the way

The Stages of Culture Shock are:

Now, Culture Shock has three specific stages but the stages are erratic and do not necessarily follow any specific pattern.

‘The Honeymoon Stage – This is when everything is amazing about the new culture, and the contrasts between two are romanticised. You are swept up in the newness of everything.

This is followed by the: 

"Everything is Dreadful" stage – This is when the honeymoon is over and you have to deal with the realities of life like you did in the old country. And it is during this stage that you begin to contrast the  new culture with the old culture and find the new is not all it was cracked up to be.

Irritation, annoyance, melancholia and dissatisfaction come to the surface during this time. Difficulties with language, the pace of life and people in general may be in the forefront of your mind. 

And, then there is: 
The "Everything is Cool" stage – This is when you begin to accept the changes as you become acclimatised to the new social environment.  After a while you will grow habituated to the new culture's differences and develop new routines as you gain a deeper awareness of your new surroundings. You may have a feeling of contentment and balance. And, it is at this juncture that you become interested in dealing with daily life. Because you are no longer in a new culture, but a culture you are beginning to be a part of.

That’s all great you may say, but how do you cope with ‘Culture Shock’?

Here are a few pointers:  

• Study up on the new culture before you depart.    
• Get to know the language and local mores.
• Have an attitude of acceptance and be open minded to new things. Be realistic about people in the new culture. And don’t be too hard on yourself while you are at it.        
• Have plenty of ‘me’ time, and plenty of relaxation, sleep and   exercise.
• Keep your confidence and follow your goals, including holidays and trips back home.  
• Join cultural groups that allow you to apply your new language.   
• Read about what ‘Culture Shock’ is and how it affects you.  
• Let yourself be sad, but don’t make a habit of it, and focus your energy on getting through this stage of life.
• And, keep up to date with significant others.
• And, last but not least...Be patient with yourself and others!

 

So, where can I get more help?
 
All universities, polytechnics, vocational and language schools and colleges in New Zealand would have access to these and associated services and professionals for students struggling with ‘Culture Shock’.

Some of those resources are:

• Information given out at Orientation. 
• Seminars
• And, the International Office Staff, whose job it is to take your issues seriously.
• Your consulate
• Health and Counselling services where you can ask for help are:
• Student organisations, life coaches, counsellors, ministers, spiritual leaders and other people in mentoring roles.

So, there we have it, a basic guide to beginning to get assistance with the symptoms, affects and resolution of ‘Culture Shock’. Once again, contact the staff at the ‘International Student Office’ for the best assistance, because it is their job to deal with these and other issues that an international student may have.