How to Fight Culture Shock?

The majority of individuals and families that immigrate from other countries have the ability to positively confront the obstacles of a new environment. Some ways to combat stress produced by culture shock are:

Develop a hobby Don't forget the good things you already have! Remember, there are always resources that you can use Be patient, the act of immigrating is a process of adaptation to new situations. It is going to take time Learn to be constructive. If you encounter an unfavorable environment, don't put yourself in that position again. Be easy on yourself. Don't try too hard. Learn to include a regular form of physical activity in your routine. This will help combat the sadness and loneliness in a constructive manner. Exercise, swim, take an aerobics class, etc. Relaxation and meditation are proven to be very positive for people who are passing through periods of stress Maintain contact with your ethnic group. This will give you a feeling of belonging and you will reduce your feelings of loneliness and alienation Maintain contact with the new culture. Learn the language. Volunteer in community activities that allow you to practice the language that you are learning. This will help you feel less stress about language and useful at the same time. Allow yourself to feel sad about the things that you have left behind: your family, your friends, etc. Recognize the sorrow of leaving your old country. Accept the new country. Focus your power on getting through the transition. Pay attention to relationships with your family and at work. They will serve as support for you in difficult times. Establish simple goals and evaluate your progress. Find ways to live with the things that don't satisfy you 100%. Maintain confidence in yourself. Follow your ambitions and continue your plans for the future.

If you feel stressed, look for help. There is always someone or some service available to help you.

Culture Shock Lesson Plan Overview: This lesson asks students to think about how cultural customs differ throughout the world. Students will research a foreign culture's customs and write stories pretending they are on vacation with a friend from the country they have researched. They and their friend will travel to a new country that neither person is familiar with, and students will describe each person's reactions to the new culture and how these reactions differ based on each person's own cultural customs and habits. Connections to the Curriculum: Geography, social studies, history, art Objectives: Students will discuss the topics they would include in a Culture Shock! book for Europe; research other cultures and take notes on their customs; discuss what they have learned from their research; and write stories pretending they are on a trip with a friend from the country they have researched, visiting a country that neither person is familiar with and describing their reactions to the new culture.

Nr 1.

Content
Warm-up. Discussion about imaginary travelling through the different countries

Activity Aim
Research other countries and their customs and traditions

Description
Students prepare some stories about new country and culture.

Time 20

Resources
Power Point presentation

2.

Familiar other students Writing stories pretending they are with a new country (culture) and describe on a trip their reaction to the new country

Participants in groups write stories they would include in a Culture Shock! book for Europe

60

Computer with Internet access Poster paper Markers or coloured pens

Suggested Procedure Opening: Tell the class that there is a book series entitled Culture Shock! (Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company) that describes the cultural characteristics of various countries. The books discuss topics such as how people greet each other, customs used at the dinner table, and business etiquette. This type of book can be helpful for people who are visiting a country for the first time or who have to move to that country for work. Development: Ask students to discuss what they would include in a similar book for the Europe. Would everyone from Europe agree about how our culture "works?" Remind students that Europe is a very diverse continent with many different cultures, and that different people in Europe might have very different ideas about what is culturally acceptable. Have students take notes on the customs they learn about. For each cultural custom, ask them to list the ways in which their own culture does things differently or the same. Have students imagine that they are going to join a person from the culture they have studied on a trip to another country with which neither of them is familiar. Students should decide what that foreign country will be and write stories about their first day in the country. The stories should explain how each person reacts to the new culture and what customs and behaviors each person brings into the new culture. Students may need to conduct some very basic research on the new country to make sure they understand a few things about its culture and the things they would do on their first visit there. Discuss students' stories and the things they have learned from this activity. What is "culture shock," and how do people from different cultures react when they encounter new cultures? Do all people experience new places in the same way, or are there differences in the way people might behave in new places they visit? How does the country and culture one comes from affect the way that person will behave in a new country?

Appendix 1

Cultural diversity CULTURES, HEROES, VALUES

possible tasks for developing students intercultural awareness and tolerance

Nr. 1.

Culture Latvian

2.

Russian

3. 4.

Lithuanian Belorussian

5.

Ukranian

6.

Polish

7.

Estonain

8.

Jewish

9.

Gypsy/Roma

Hero Values Lplsis national (imagined) hero Bravity, courage, devotion to ones own motherland, purposefulness, the strength of mind and soul, selflessness. Putin the president of Russia Stability, self-restraint, selfeducation,objectiveness, devotion to ones motherland, love for ones own nation, showing respect to old people and to ones own family, the strength of mind and soul. Sabonis one of the best basketball Purposefulness, the strengh of players in the world mind and soul, willingness to make ones own motherland world-wide famous. Lukaenko the president of Devotion to ones own Belorussia motherland, love for ones own nation, the strength of mind and soul. Taras Bulba national (imagined) Courage, devotion to ones hero own motherland, to ones own family, the strength of mind and soul. Pope (previous one) Charity, kindness, objectiveness, ability to forgive anybody, love for everything and everybody, compassion, the strength of mind and soul, self-education. Actually he is the hero of almost any culture in the world! Georg Otts The beauty of music, an overwhelming wish to make ones life wonderful by music, willingness to make ones own motherland world-wide famous. Jesus Christ Charity, kindness, ability to forgive anybody, love for everything and everybody, objectiveness, compassion, the strength of mind and soul, self-education, self-sacrifice. Actually he is the hero of almost any culture in the world! Budulay national (imagined, film) Kindeness, devotion to ones own woman, children, family, hero the strength of mind and soul, ability to understand and to forgive, love for freedom, love for nature, showing respect to old people and women.

Appendix 2

How to reduce culture shock? (possible task)

The traveler should know the laws of the country he/she is going to visit. Its not a secret that in each country there are its own laws and traditions. Lets take a look at some of them, just not get into an unpleasant situation and be interculturally competent, showing respect to this or that country and its citizens. Brazil Hungary Being on the beach, men and women are allowed to wear string kind underwear; however, women cannot walk around topless as they can get into the police for that. You should be careful about the head nods for yes and no. They are opposite in this country. Yes horizontal head movements; No vertical head movements. Yes, no, no yes, yes, no, no, yes, no Oh, how to get the point! Tourists, if they want, may put out the flag of Denmark only. The hoisting of the flag of another country is considered to be disrespectable. You could even be regarded a law breaker for that. You mustnt (its really a very strict point) take photos of a woman in a cloth on her face! You also shouldnt play with your finger tips, because its considered to be a rude offence. Sitting in a caf dont put your legs one over another DISRESPECT!!! Frenchmen dont really understand when chicken is eaten using ones hands. Lettuce isnt cut, thats why you have to fold it with a fork. And remember that you have to be a little bit late for an appointment. Shocked? Dont worry, nobody will punish you for that, just because its considered to be very polite. Dont fold you thumb and forefinger making a circle that way. You will offend a Greek badly if you show him such a gesture. You shouldnt caress a baby on the head, because the citizens of India believe that the soul of anyone is in ones head. Food is taken by the right hand only as the left hand is considered to be dirty/ evil. The cook in the restaurant will be offended much if you offer only pizza or some other simple dish. Thats why you have to offer the 1-st and 2-nd dish as well. Remember that Italians are usually treated with 7 dishes. Dont leave the chopsticks put into rice up, because its considered to be a part of dead culture. There are separate slippers for each guest, but you cannot go to the toilet having these slippers on. The thing is that there are another toilet slippers. How many pairs of slippers do they have at all? The number 2 for Chinese is lucky, thats why when visiting somebody you should have 2 presents (not very convenient, isnt it? ). However, you shouldnt be too generous as number 4 goes for DEATH. Filling in the glasses, you shouldnt do it over you hand. Believed it brings some bad things to the person who does it. Dont show the sign of Victory when saying Hello. It will offend even a British child. If you are invited somewhere, dont think that everybody will be amusing you all the time you are there. According to this particular culture you have to amuse yourself. You shouldnt call the Spanish women senjora. This word is used only for very old ladies. Thats why senjorita is that particular word which could be rewarded by a womans smile. Being late either for work or a picnic is a real offence for Germans. You shouldnt say any compliments to the people about the jewellery or clothes they have on. If you do so, they would think that you prompt them to give the thing you admire to you. (Well, its not so bad for us as guests, isnt it? ) Dont stretch the hand across the threshold and dont whistle at home. Its believed that if you whistle at home you wont have money. The question is: But if you have no money, can you whistle then?

Denmark Egypt France

Greece India Italy Japan

China

Russia Great Britain Finland Spain Germany South America

Latvia

The material is translated and adapted from the article written by Aivars Mackevis ( mackevics@europatourismus.de), Dienas Bizness 2002

Appendix 3

Tasks on Cultural Diversity Matching exercise

Match the countries from the column A to the specific cultural descriptions in the column B: A Brazil a) B People of this country dont really understand when chicken is eaten using ones hands. Lettuce isnt cut, thats why you have to fold it with a fork. And remember that you have to be a little bit late for an appointment. Shocked? Dont worry, nobody will punish you for that, just because its considered to be very polite. The cook in the restaurant will be offended much if you offer only pizza or some other simple dish. Thats why you have to offer the 1-st and 2-nd dish as well. Remember that Italians are usually treated with 7 dishes. Dont fold you thumb and forefinger making a circle that way. You will offend a citizen of this country badly if you show him such a gesture. Filling in the glasses, you shouldnt do it over you hand. Believed it brings some bad things to the person who does it. If you are invited somewhere, dont think that everybody will be amusing you all the time you are there. According to this particular culture you have to amuse yourself. Dont stretch the hand across the threshold and dont whistle at home. Its believed that if you whistle at home you wont have money. The question is: But if you have no money, can you whistle then? You mustnt (its really a very strict point) take photos of a woman in a cloth on her face! You also shouldnt play with your finger tips, because its considered to be a rude offence. Sitting in a caf dont put your legs one over another DISRESPECT!!! Dont show the sign of Victory when saying Hello. It will offend even a child. You shouldnt say any compliments to the people about the jewelry or clothes they have on. If you do so, they would think that you prompt them to give the thing you admire two you. (Well, its not so bad for us as guests, isnt it? ) You should be careful about the head nods for yes and no. They are opposite in this country. Yes horizontal head movements; No vertical head movements. Yes, no, no yes, yes, no, no, yes, no Oh, how to get the point! Being late either for work or a picnic is an real offence for the people there. You shouldnt call the women senjora. This word is used only for very old ladies. Thats why senjorita is that particular word which could be rewarded by a womans smile. Being on the beach, men and women are allowed to wear string kind underwear; however, women cannot walk around topless as they can get into the police for that. Dont leave the chopsticks put into rice up, because its considered to be a part of dead culture. There are separate slippers for each guest, but you cannot go to the toilet having these slippers on. The thing is that there are another toilet slippers. How many pairs of slippers do they have at all? You shouldnt caress a baby on the head, because the citizens of India believe that the soul of anyone is in ones head. Food is taken by the right hand only as the left hand is considered to be dirty/ evil. Tourists, if they want, may put out the flag of this country only. The hoisting of the flag of another country is considered to be disrespectable. You could even be regarded a law breaker for that. The number 2 for them is lucky, thats why when visiting somebody you should have 2 presents (not very convenient, isnt it? ). However, you shouldnt be too generous as number 4 goes for DEATH.

Hungary Denmark

b) c)

Egypt France Greece

d) e) f)

India Italy Japan

g) h) i)

China

j)

Russia Great Britain Finland Spain

k) l) m) n)

Germany South America Latvia

o) p) q)

KEYS Brazil - m Hungary - j Denmark - p Egypt - g France - a Greece - c India - o Italy - b Japan - n China - q Russia - d Great Britain - h Finland - e Spain - l Germany - k South America - i Latvia - f

Appendix 4

INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE possible tasks for developing students intercultural competence (empathy) and the ways of assessment of the mentioned tasks

Nr. 1. 2. 3.

Tasks Texts (on two or more different cultures); Students opinions (discussion). Essays on traveling (analyzing the facts observed, specific features of the representatives of certain cultures). Tourism matters (reading, matching); Adding some points one knows about Latvian culture; Adding some more specific one has observed being abroad or has heard about. Role-plays (Italian, Japanese, Latvian, Russian, etc. meeting together, observing each other actions, asking why, explaining why).

Assessment Cognitive (knowledge, understanding) Cognitive (knowledge, understanding) Cognitive (knowledge, understanding)

4.

Behavioral (the ability to apply the knowledge gained) Affective (reflection about feelings) (when reflecting about the feelings one had before the explanation and after the explanation)

The mentioned set of ideas is supposed to be applied during 5-7 lessons.