INTRODUCTION TO CANADA

Cross Cultural Adaptation

“Culture Shock"

Many new immigrants experience "culture shock". Culture shock is defined as a state of bewilderment and distress experienced by an individual who is exposed to a new, strange, or foreign culture. Culture shock comes in many forms and people experience it in different ways - some with more anxiety than others. Culture shock is a normal reaction to changes in your physical, social, and cultural environment. You are not alone in your feelings of distress.

Cycle of Cross-cultural Adaptation

It might be useful to know that there is a general cycle of emotional states that a person experiences when entering a new culture, especially if the person intends to remain there for a lengthy period of time. Awareness of these stages differs from person to person and some points of the cycle might be higher or lower in intensity and may last longer than others. Understanding the stages in the cycle and realizing that they are a very normal part of this type of experience may help you to adjust to your new environment.

Stages in the Cycle of Cross-cultural Adaptation

The initial period is one in which everything is new, exciting, and interesting. It is fun to explore the new environment.

After a time you realize that you must work hard to adjust to the new culture. This work can prove to be stressful and you may experience a strong reaction living in the new culture. You may not be associating with the host culture as you had originally expected. Also, you may miss certain foods and things you have at home that are not available to you now. You may spend a lot of time daydreaming during this period. Moreover, many new immigrants feel isolated, irritated, bewildered, depressed or generally uncomfortable.

It is common that individuals who start living in a new and different culture come to a point where they reject the host culture and withdraw into themselves. During this period, they make generalizations about the host culture and wonder how the people can live like they do. You may feel that your culture's lifestyle and customs are far superior to that of your host country.

As a more thorough understanding of the host culture is acquired, you will begin to feel more comfortable in your environment. Everything begins to make more sense. You feel more at home and your self-confidence grows.

At this point you are able to interact effectively in the new cultural environment. You find it easy to move between two cultures.