- How are the two cultures different?
- Did you learn anything about your own culture in the process?
- Could you adjust yourself to the new culture, or is it something you could never get used to.
For example, on a ferry traveling from England to Europe, I struck up a conversation with a man from Ghana, Africa. In Africa, people dont' like to raise their voices and they don't feel uncomfortable being physically close to one another. So this man spoke in a low voice and sat with his shoulder touching mine. At first, I leaned away, feeling uncomfortable being so close to a total stranger. Then I remembered how it was in his culture and decided to try it his way. We sat shoulder to shoulder talking about politics and literature. We didn't talk about anything deeply personal, but the conversation had an intimate feel about it and we always knew that we had each other's undivided attention. By adjusting myself to his culture, I realized how Americans can seem loud, abrasive and cold in comparison to softer-spoken Africans.
When I arrived here in San Diego I met an Arabic guy and when I started to talk with him I thought it was strange that he was always touching my arm or my hand. At first, I felt uncomfortable, but after I searched on google about Arabic culture and I found that it is very normal in the middle east physical contact between friends and this is a signal of friendiship. Nowadays, he is one of my best friends here in the USA.
ReplyDeleteI had an experience of culture shock when I was in Thailand in 2008. I was shocked by the kindness and the customs of the Thai people. These people are really friendly. They always come to speak with you even if you don't know them.
ReplyDeleteThey have also many customs. For example, I had the opportunity to visit a temple and to see them praying. Before they begin to pray, they have to take off their shoes outside the temple and then to kneel down in front of the Buddha. It was really interesting to see that.
I learned that in Switzerland the Swiss people are too serious. We have to be more relaxed and open-minded. It would be great if we were more friendly with people we don't know.
Concerning the customs, we don't really have so many customs in Switzerland because there are so many different religions and so many people from all over the world. However, it's really interesting because we can know more about other countries and other cultures.
Of course, I could adjust myself to the new culture. For example, I can be more open-minded with the people I don't know, to speak with them. I think that we must pay more attention to people who surround us.
Last year I was int the Dominican Republic and i had a real culture shock. Everyhing was so diffrent. The people live in houses without walls, they only have a roof and nothing else. When you drive thorugh the countryside you see so many poor and sick people. They have nothing. As I saw this, I had to think about how well we are doing. Everydaz we complain about things, which isn't really neccessary. And these people have big problems. A really strange experience on this vacation was that we once walked out of the hotel and suddenly two little kids came and asked us for money. We didn't want to give them money because we thought more children would come and asked for money. Because of tis we didn't give them money and tried to ignore the kids. But then one of the kids took a stick and threatened to beat us. I was very afraid because he was very serious and the stick was really big. Immediately, the police came and took them away. I was very shocked that little children woul do such things only for money!!
ReplyDeleteOne year ago, I went to Brighton (a small city south of London) and I saw a lot of men kissing each other!! Not only once, I saw them every day!! I was like, what the hell?!! I thought it was strange behavior until my friend told me it happens there all the time because Brighton has the biggest gay community in Europe. What I did was go to a different city the following day because I can't accept this behavior because it is disgusting.
ReplyDeleteDuring my first week in America, people were so kind and nice to me. I was shocked when they talked loudly and sometimes used big gestures. And when I saw them a second time, they hugged and kissed me. At first, I felt a little bit uncomfortable, but now I am used to it and I like the way in which they greet me.
ReplyDeleteAnother shock is about the mass transportation system. In America, people who take bus every day are weird, except students. Some of them looks scary and very poor. And they are also unfriendly. So I was very shocked when I took the bus for the first time. In Taiwan, a lot of people take buses every day, most office workers and students. But it's a weird thing if an office worker takes the bus every day. `I try very hard to get used to it, but sometimes I still feel uncomfortable.
On April, when I just arrived San Diego, I went to PB with my friends. 2 from Germany and 2 from Brasil. There is a main street called Garnet Avenue in PB and we wanted to across that street at that time. The traffic light where we could across from there was not so far. But suddenly one of my Brasilian friend started to across middle of that street without saying anything to us. She didn't seemed to be careful when she acrossed it. Then, so many car tried to go slow down not to run over her. And of course we were so surprised at that situation. I'm surprised at her not saying anything like "Let's across from here." or something like that. My German friend was also surprised at her not being careful for many cars with high speed. And another Brasilian friend was surprised at car went slow down not to run over her.
ReplyDeleteIt was so funny experience, however I can't adjust to her bahavior. Because it's dangerous! But I should admit Japanese people are too careful and conscious about others or risks. And sometimes that makes someone from other country be annoyed. So now I never expect anyone to do anything same as we do in Japan ever. Because I learned it always end up with surprise or disappointed. At first I tried to adjust to other culture or thinking though it was all in vain. Because I don't want to do anything that I think I shouldn't do. I always want to be honest to myself. And I believe if I can be tolerant to some extent, there is no problem to create good relationship with foreign people.
I experience culture shock when I'm in country that is completely different from my home country where I grew up. The big USA cities are usually similar to big cities in Europe, so I don’t get culture shock here in the United States.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I think I would get a culture shock If went to Asia. The behaviors are completely different and I would never know what I had to do to be a polite tourist or business man because I don’t know what is polite and what is not.
Also, I would definitely get a culture shock in Africa. This continent is in most parts very poor and usually most citizens have a different skin color from me. For me, it would be the first time that I was a skin color minority. In Africa and Asia, they eat different food, have a different physicality and other lifestyles, especially in the third world. In the future I will travel to these types of countries because I have to see what different types of lifestyles in this world we have.
If you travel through different countries in Europe, Australia or the United States you can get a culture shock, but I think it’s not as extreme as if you travel to South America, Asia or Africa because you can eat normally the same food in London as in Sydney or Los Angeles. If you go in into a music club, you can hear everywhere the same music in Berlin, Melbourne or Chicago. For sure all countries have special characteristics, but from the main idea Europe, Australia and North America are the same.
When I came to the San Diego I was surprised that so many things are similar to Europe.
Sometimes I miss good quality food, but this is not culture shocks, this is Education First.
When I arrived in the USA, I met a Korean girl. We spoke about our cultures and I discovered that we had lots of differences between our countries.
ReplyDeleteShe was really shy about herself. Her behaviour was very discreet. But after 6 weeks together I discovered someone really nice, friendly and without prejudices.
For me, the most important difference concerns the family. In Korea families are very traditional. In fact, they have a low rate of divorce. In France, maybe 30 years ago, it was similar. But nowadays, divorce is really common. In Korea, a child has to be with his parents until marriage. For example, in France, you can live with your boy/girl friend before the marriage, and this lifestyle shocked her. This was one difference about familial traditions.
There are some differences about work. Korean people work so much and it's really hard and stressfull. I think Korean people work more than French people.
The food is also totally different. I ate Korean food with her, and I discovered new tastes.
This meeting didn't shock me but it was really interesting to discover another culture. And now my friend has left, and I'm sure she wants to adopt European behaviour, because after her trip in San Diego she wasn't shy anymore, she wanted to know lots of things about Europe and my lifestyle in France. Before I didn't really know Korea but now I would like to visit this country.
I'm very courious, so since I'm in SD, I try to learn more about american culture and about the american way of life. I was shocked when I knew about the sixsteen parties... It's called super sweet sixsteen party and is avery big big party whith a lot of people well dressed, famous singer or artists, sometimes there is a theme, so people wear special dresses. Usually the parent's gift is a car...
ReplyDeletei was a little bit shocked because I think that is too much for became 16 years old...
I went to Starsburg four years ago. I was walking and speaking on the street with some of my friends when a woman threw a bucket of water down from the window.
ReplyDeleteI learnt that in Strasburg people are very quiet and that they don't like noises. In Italy it's not a problem if you are on the street and speak with some friends during the night.
Lionel :
ReplyDeleteI was in the US in a fast food joint Cqrl's Jr.
I asked for french fries and the gize asked me which sauce I would like with my french fries.
I answered moyonnaise and he looked at me like I was so strange..
In the US we only eat BBQ sauce or Ketchup with our french fries, but in Belgium it's normal to take mayonnaise..
I learned that the way we are eating depends on our culture.
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ReplyDeleteWhen I came to the USA and went to STARBUCKS, I was very surprised because a worker made a cup of coffee by herself and drunk during a rest time. Exactly, she can take a rest and drink but it's rude to drink in front of us in Japan. If I did it in Japan, my boss would be angry with me. I like the USA's life style so I don't mind this. However, I was very surprised when I saw this for the first time.
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