Culture Shock Of Studying Abroad Cultural Studies Essay.
Culture shock in Spain explained by an exchange student. This article was written by Rachel German, published on 9th September 2010 and has been read 43437 times.
We’re in Spain now. I was prepped for sticker shock after living for almost 2 years in Latin America, but I wasn’t prepared for culture shock. I guess one might call it reverse culture shock since I’m returning to a developed, “first world” environment, but whatever you want to call it I’m a bit caught off guard.
Culture shock is one of the very common problems many face, especially when travelling abroad. For the purpose of this essay, the term “culture shock” refers to the unfamiliar feeling of a new atmosphere when in another country.
Culture shock is the period of change that people go through when they move from a culture they know to a culture they are not used to. According to Ting-Toomey and Chung (2012), it is usually a short-term phenomenon, although it varies from person to person.
Culture shock takes place when someone enters into an unfamiliar culture due to a vacation, humanitarian project, study abroad opportunity, etc. Barna (1976) explains culture shock as being a type of disease that many do not understand they have, yet it handicaps people and prevents them from knowing that they are acting unusual compared to their normal selves.
When we asked an expat living in Barcelona, Spain what he appreciates about the culture there, he said. Some of the things that frustrated me are now what I appreciate I enjoy the conversation I have with the people at the fruit store or the post office while I am waiting in line I like the reliance on our own two feet and not using the car I appreciate that the family is VERY important and.
The culture shock stages. For some people, they experience culture shock symptoms right from touchdown at the airport, and then maybe not again until a month later when they are trying to buy feminine products at the corner market and the man behind the counter yells at them.