8 reactions to this article

Anastasia posted: 24-02-2008 | 11:21 PM

Why do English Expats simply not believe in Culture Shock, refuse to learn the local language and express outrage, calling you xenophobe and racist for suggesting learning about local social etiquette. English always says they cannot learn foreign languages in adulthood and look upon fellow English who pronounce a foreign word correctly as 'showing off'. They ask each other in forums the most basic of questions in life abroad and not the locals, the authorities nor professional support from locals. Why do they believe that when a person speaks English they think in English culture, when that is not their birth culture. Why do they reply with such vitriol to forums where the mild suggestion is put forward of basic social etiquette training. Why is there no interest by English expats in cultural awareness, when they are asking each other basic cultural awareness question and react to each other such as 'What are those locals doing' about public behaviour and react with confusion 'They don't do that in England' you remind that they 'Are not in England' and they explode in reply 'What!" Whhy do English expats believe that abroad think like the English, have legal systems like England, customs and traditions and land systems like England and so on and so forth. Why do they demand an English foreign property specialist, an English lawyer, an English plumber, an English electrician, with supplies to UK standards, and seek such things as Coronation Street in English on local TV. Why do they complain of being ruled by foreigners in England and say they have had enough and will go abroad, and look puzzled when you gently remind that the solution to this is to go live in a foreign country amongst a different culture, under jurisdiction of different laws and so on and so forth. Why the attack and vitriol that denies the existence of Culture Shock, that indeed there is any cultural differences between peoples. Why do English glare at the back of foreigners's heads abroad for speaking their own language in their own country. Why sneer at the local mentality instead of 100% accepting that you are in someone else's country and how they do things is how they do things. Now doesn't feel better and dissipate the stress? Why do young men come about a restaurant and hear the local language and recoil away saying, Oh it's only the locals! When in fact it was the locals and a multitude of other nationalities in an airport!? Why do foreigners not believe that the English do not think like them? Why do Germans misunderstand English amongst a third culture/in a third country? Why do Americans recoil from local food because it is not exactly like home - no matter how young? Observed by me is a globe that just is not aware of cultural differences, not open to change, inflexible, believe if you learn another culture you have to lose your own, confused, perplexed, lost, and very sad to watch. The crowds out there have never heard of Culture Shock and yet expat forums are full of negative views of the locals demanding they change to their ways as back home and asking each other questions like small lost children. Sadder still is that those who live for years abroad and yet know absolutely nothing about the country they now live in and remain stuck in a negative loop. The stories keep coming in as my observations in life continue - sat watching this Greek Tragedy around the globe unfold. I bet this is the one and only reaction you gain to your article, but I would fascinated to hear from the professionals in culture shock mentioned. Not from an enraged culture shock sufferer, denying the existence of a scientific fact of human existence.

Expat coach posted: 07-08-2008 | 12:31 PM

Interesting and I guess angry response, Anastasia. Seeing as you set the ball rolling, let me ask for some clarification of what you have written.

How long have you lived abroad and where? Or how have you been able to observe such reactions and in what capacity?

Culture shock happens to all - no matter which country or which region of the same country they live in. It is a natural change / grieving process (Kubler Ross etc). Individuals can become stuck in position if they are not given support during the process.

Another point to understand in this psychology is based on scientific experiments conducted (some years ago) with animals - rats and monkeys for example, to understand "natural physiological and neurological effects" to change and the capacity to cope, accept or fear it. For instance, rats were given small electrical shocks when they ventured outside of their normal area of cage. They quickly learnt to not move from the "safe" area. Same with chimpanzees: several were in a cage and a banana was dangled from the top - they went to get the banana, even though one got it all received a shock. A new chimpanzee was introduced to the cage after several days of this treatment. The others had learnt not to go for the banana. The new one did not know this culturally information and of course went for the banana ensuring the others received a shock. He was of course punished by the rest of the group.

Why do I write of these experiments - assimilation, adoption of cultural norms, information to understand what's happening, stepping beyond learned behaviour knowing one will get hurt - this is often the cycle that an expatriate will find themselves in.

I don't have the answers, there is a range of solutions and support systems but I predict no full answer as individuals are different to each other no matter what background, circumstances, and therefore there is no one answer and no one response to culture shock. There are english and other nationalities expats who are thriving here and integrated. However, there are others who don't and find it difficult to do so.

I also am aware that local cultures aren't often prepared to support an immigrant of what ever status during the time of their assimilation - support such as time, sympathy/ empathy, respect, learning from each other and enabling/ facilitating communication and learning in any language. I know in my home country prior to any of my moves, would I have gone out of my way to help an expat who had arrived to live in my neighbourhood - I doubt it, I had my own life to lead. That is part of the learning for all of us. Put yourself in each others shoes and appreciate each others frustrations, respect and learn and share information and support.

Stephanie posted: 07-08-2008 | 12:32 PM

I am in Netherlands for about 4 years and my beggining here was difficult. I am from Canada.My first job here to start was in a call center. Marvellous I thought!... I got really depress quickly. I was sitting with the french team and my "Mentor" was a guy from France his style was weird but I said to myself that he is performant and accept the culture changed. Not long time after my training i asked him a question, he said to come back later because he went out last night (with almost closed red eyes). After a while a complaint to the top manager and he bring him into the office to have a talk.I was never expected a reason like this, The mentor said, Welcome to Europe you are not in Canada :S eh, if you answer this in Canada you are kicked out. In that office Scandinavian people were walking on theirs socks and that was fine !!!! Eh Cultural ??? I quit the job and found something in the total opposite way for a American company thinking that I would fit better there.....
NO!!! People were so fake and pretend to be smily everyday and the Supervisor always saying "Keep positive guys!" " We can make it" positive is fine but there is some limits. So I found now a good job where I fit.

I am actually working as a Service Ressources Coordinator. I have interaction with Italian, Spanish, English, Dutch and Germans. I think I have reached another level because the etiquette in this office is much better. People wear clean clothes, no dreads, no grunch, no blue hair. People respect each other whitout exagerating on the politeness.

In conclustion I think everyone has their place, you only have to find where you fit.

Good luck for the new expat!

Stephanie

ian posted: 07-08-2008 | 12:59 PM

i think the author has mixed up 'universalistic' and 'particularistic'. France is the home of universalism, which is linked to egalitarianism and enlightenment ideals of civilisation. Germanic countries and northern Europe are particularistic, accentuating difference accross peoples..

Anastasia posted: 08-08-2008 | 12:01 AM

The considered and scientific responses are excellent about Culture Shock, which is a topic many expats react angrily and unbelieving. My background is a global living individual always in local neighbourhoods for years at a time, born dual cultured, living amongst a world community of cultural inter-marriage with persons from around the globe and a life-time of experience, and someone with one of my cultures that always integrates into the local culture while retaining their own home culture among themselves. And been doing so for thousands of thousands of years. They live worldwide and describe themselves as the Diaspora. The English and Anglo American seem to be the least believing in Culture Shock and Culture Integration. But again excellent that have found a forum of considered belief in the social psychology of cultural differences. As Marcel Proust, the French philosopher said, the voyage of (self) discovery, is not in seeking new landscapes, but in seeing with new eyes.

Anastasia posted: 08-08-2008 | 12:01 AM

The considered and scientific responses are excellent about Culture Shock, which is a topic many expats react angrily and unbelieving. My background is a global living individual always in local neighbourhoods for years at a time, born dual cultured, living amongst a world community of cultural inter-marriage with persons from around the globe and a life-time of experience, and someone with one of my cultures that always integrates into the local culture while retaining their own home culture among themselves. And been doing so for thousands of thousands of years. They live worldwide and describe themselves as the Diaspora. The English and Anglo American seem to be the least believing in Culture Shock and Culture Integration. But again excellent that have found a forum of considered belief in the social psychology of cultural differences. As Marcel Proust, the French philosopher said, the voyage of (self) discovery, is not in seeking new landscapes, but in seeing with new eyes.

Expat Coach posted: 08-08-2008 | 9:25 AM

I think the difference in the experience between disapora and anglo-us living outside their own environments is key.

Disapora term means to disperse and live amongst others. Reasons for moving for many dispora have been due to war, famine, attacks, etc hence the need to make another life somewhere else is necessary.

The Anglo US cultures have not experienced this phenomenon in their shared historically psyche and there is in psychology/ science an acceptance of a remembered history stored in generations who come later.

The British Empire was about going out and turning the rest of the world into Britain.

The US is an immigrant nation who accepted dispora to become part of its cultural psyche, yet created a world of its own making and that it was in the middle part of 20th Century able to lay or impose or influence other countries and cultures across the world.

I wonder if these are factors that have laid the foundations for the attitudes you have seen / perceived amongst expats with UK/ US backgrounds/ heritage - their belief that their way is the best is inherent in their historical memory?

Its all fascinating stuff isn't it!

Expat Coach posted: 08-08-2008 | 9:28 AM

By the way Anastasia that quote is one I use in my work! I wholeheartedly agree.

I interpret this quote in the expat environment too -

"The opportunity to experience yourself differently is always available" Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche