dennis white, ph.d. dkwhite@itol yeoresources

The Rotary Youth Exchange The Rotary Youth Exchange Experience: Experience:

Culture Shock Culture Shock andand

Reverse Culture Shock Reverse Culture Shock Dennis White, Ph.D.Dennis White, Ph.D.

[email protected] [email protected]

www.yeoresources.orgwww.yeoresources.org

CultureCultureAn integrated system of An integrated system of learned behavior patterns learned behavior patterns that are characteristic of that are characteristic of any given society. It refers any given society. It refers to the total way of life, to the total way of life, including how people think, including how people think, feel and behave.feel and behave.

Culture ShockCulture Shock

The profound sense of The profound sense of disorientation and discomfort that disorientation and discomfort that comes with extended travel or comes with extended travel or living in a foreign culture markedly living in a foreign culture markedly different from one’s own.different from one’s own.

Culture Shock.doc The Middle Wave of Culture Shock.doc Culture Shock.doc The Middle Wave of Culture Shock.doc

Metaphorically, Metaphorically, culture is the lens culture is the lens through which we through which we

view the worldview the world..

You can’t trust your You can’t trust your eyes when your eyes when your

imagination is out of imagination is out of focus.focus.

Mark TwainMark Twain

• What is culture?What is culture?

• An integrated system of learned An integrated system of learned behavior patterns that are behavior patterns that are characteristic of any given society. characteristic of any given society. It refers to the total way of life, It refers to the total way of life, including how people think, feel and including how people think, feel and behave.behave.

Ethnocentrism:Ethnocentrism:

The universal The universal tendency for any tendency for any culture to see its own culture to see its own values and practices values and practices as natural and correct. as natural and correct.

Ethnocentrism:Ethnocentrism:

All cultures are All cultures are ethnocentric - and ethnocentric - and must be to impart must be to impart their values to their their values to their members.members.

The most common ethnocentric assumption is that we can translate literally from one language to another, which leads to both humorous and serious mistakes.

What do they mean?

• In a Bangkok dry cleaner's:• Drop your trousers here for best results.• In a Norwegian cocktail lounge:

• Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar.

Dr. No

We don’t want a doctor

Titanic

Ship Outta Luck!

• In Mexico it was translated as “The Rebel Novice Nun”

• The Sound of Music• In the Czech Republic it was translated as

“Santa Is A Pervert”• Bad Santa• In China it was translated as “One Night,

Big Belly”• Knocked Up• In Venezuela it was translated as “Vaselina”• Grease

Advertising translations:

• In China, Pepsi’s slogan “come alive with Pepsi” became

• “Pepsi will bring your ancestors back from the dead”. • In Latin America Chevrolet’s new car the “Nova”• Translated into Spanish as “No Va” (doesn’t go)• And my favorite, the Swedish maker of the vacuum

Electrolux came up with the American slogan…

“Nothing sucks like Electrolux!”

At first we will be dependent At first we will be dependent upon translators – sometimes a upon translators – sometimes a risky businessrisky business

Sometimes, even when we are Sometimes, even when we are trying, pronunciation leads to trying, pronunciation leads to

problems!problems!

• What is Ethnocentrism?What is Ethnocentrism?• The universal tendency for any culture to The universal tendency for any culture to

see its own values and practices as see its own values and practices as natural and correct.natural and correct.

• What is Ethnorelativism?What is Ethnorelativism?• The acquired (learned) ability to see many The acquired (learned) ability to see many

values and behaviors as cultural rather values and behaviors as cultural rather than universal. Not right, not wrong, just than universal. Not right, not wrong, just different.different.

One World or Many.doc One World or Many.doc

In a new culture everything is In a new culture everything is harderharder

Our own culture, or sub-culture, comes to us as Our own culture, or sub-culture, comes to us as naturally and unconsciously as our handedness. naturally and unconsciously as our handedness.

We generally don’t think about what hand we We generally don’t think about what hand we will use to write our names. will use to write our names.

Changing our cultural point of view is about as Changing our cultural point of view is about as hard as changing our handedness. Both are hard as changing our handedness. Both are possible, but neither is easy. possible, but neither is easy.

Handwriting exerciseHandwriting exercise

The Cultural IcebergThe Cultural Iceberg

1/81/8thth above above the surfacethe surface

7/87/8thths below s below the surfacethe surface

Conscious Conscious behaviorsbehaviors

Unconscious Unconscious beliefs and beliefs and

valuesvalues

Advice often mistakenly given to Advice often mistakenly given to American Outbound students American Outbound students (from an ethnocentric point of (from an ethnocentric point of

view):view):

Just be yourself!Just be yourself!

Consider the new culture to Consider the new culture to be an icebergbe an iceberg

You are the Titanic!!!You are the Titanic!!!

(Ship Outta Luck!)(Ship Outta Luck!)

““Culture Shock takes me Culture Shock takes me outside my comfort outside my comfort

zone.”zone.”

Exchange student journal, 2 monthsExchange student journal, 2 months

Personal ExamplesPersonal Examples

• Holding handsHolding hands

• Crossing the streetCrossing the street

• Uneven floor surfacesUneven floor surfaces

Culture ShockCulture Shock

The profound sense of The profound sense of disorientation and discomfort that disorientation and discomfort that comes with extended travel or comes with extended travel or living in a foreign culture markedly living in a foreign culture markedly different from one’s own.different from one’s own.

Stages of Culture Shock:Stages of Culture Shock:

• Initial enthusiasm and excitementInitial enthusiasm and excitement

• Irritability and negativismIrritability and negativism

• Gradual adjustment and adaptationGradual adjustment and adaptation

• Integration and bi-culturalism Integration and bi-culturalism

Culture Shock.doc Culture Shock.doc The Middle Wave of The Middle Wave of Culture Shock.doc Culture Shock.doc

TypicalTypical Culture Shock CycleCulture Shock Cycle

Pre-Departure Months

Normal Level of Feelings

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Return …...

Rotary Youth ExchangeRotary Youth Exchange

Adapted from a model by Robert KohlsAdapted from a model by Robert Kohls

11

22

33

44





• Integration and bi-culturalismIntegration and bi-culturalism

Examples ofExamples of Initial Enthusiasm and ExcitementInitial Enthusiasm and Excitement

• Trying any food (once!)?Trying any food (once!)?• Saying “yes” to almost any suggested activitySaying “yes” to almost any suggested activity• Wanting to go and see as many places as possibleWanting to go and see as many places as possible• Finding many similarities with things back homeFinding many similarities with things back home• Politely and pleasantly smiling and saying “yes” Politely and pleasantly smiling and saying “yes”

whether you understand or notwhether you understand or not• Taking lots of picturesTaking lots of pictures• Frequently sharing your new and exciting Frequently sharing your new and exciting

experiences back homeexperiences back home

Examples ofExamples of Irritability and NegativismIrritability and Negativism

• Why don’t they ever hug or touch one another?Why don’t they ever hug or touch one another?• Why do they always hug and touch one another?Why do they always hug and touch one another?• Why don’t they make their street signs easier to read?Why don’t they make their street signs easier to read?

Examples ofExamples of Irritability and NegativismIrritability and Negativism

• If they mean “no” why don’t they say “no”?If they mean “no” why don’t they say “no”?• Why don’t they just tell me what something costs?Why don’t they just tell me what something costs?• Why can’t anyone stand in line?Why can’t anyone stand in line?• Why do they drive so fast?Why do they drive so fast?• Forcing a smile with clenched teeth when you don’t Forcing a smile with clenched teeth when you don’t

understand what is going on.understand what is going on.• Complaining about your discomfort to sympathetic Complaining about your discomfort to sympathetic

people back home, or other inbounds in countrypeople back home, or other inbounds in country• WithdrawingWithdrawing

If the easiest response to the If the easiest response to the

Irritability and negativism Irritability and negativism stage is stage is

to find comfort with other Inboundsto find comfort with other Inbounds

or electronically with friends and family or electronically with friends and family

at home, the student may get stuck going at home, the student may get stuck going

back and forth from stage one to two, back and forth from stage one to two,

back and forthback and forth

Stages of Culture Shock:Stages of Culture Shock:• Initial enthusiasm and excitementInitial enthusiasm and excitement




Examples ofExamples of Gradual Adjustment Gradual Adjustment and Adaptation and Adaptation

• Learning the language.Learning the language.• Finding yourself dreaming in the host language.Finding yourself dreaming in the host language.• Finding yourself unable to precisely explain a concept you Finding yourself unable to precisely explain a concept you

have learned to someone back home using English.have learned to someone back home using English.• Insisting people speak to you in the host language rather Insisting people speak to you in the host language rather

than Englishthan English• Going to host parents and local Rotarians with problems Going to host parents and local Rotarians with problems

rather than people back home.rather than people back home.• Speaking with other Inbounds in the host language rather Speaking with other Inbounds in the host language rather

than Englishthan English• Becoming involved in school or community activitiesBecoming involved in school or community activities

Enculturation:Enculturation:

The successful adoption of the The successful adoption of the behavior patterns and customsbehavior patterns and customs of the surrounding culture. of the surrounding culture.

(also called acculturation, (also called acculturation,

immersion, assimilation, adaptation) immersion, assimilation, adaptation)

Examples ofExamples of Integration and Integration and Bi-Culturalism Bi-Culturalism

• Not having to translate in your head first.Not having to translate in your head first.• Traveling across town by bus, making a purchase, meeting friends Traveling across town by bus, making a purchase, meeting friends

in the host language and no one asks “where are you from”?in the host language and no one asks “where are you from”?• Engaging in host culture practices without thinking:Engaging in host culture practices without thinking:

- Eating with fingers, or a knife and fork or chop sticks - - Eating with fingers, or a knife and fork or chop sticks - Standing close, or distant, in line with host customs andStanding close, or distant, in line with host customs and

feeling comfortable.feeling comfortable.• Accepting and appreciating fundamentally different cultural values Accepting and appreciating fundamentally different cultural values

as just that – different not right or wrong.as just that – different not right or wrong.• Telling people back home – I’m not ready – you can’t make me Telling people back home – I’m not ready – you can’t make me

come back!come back!

11

22

33

44

Culture Shock CycleCulture Shock Cycle

Pre-Departure Months

Normal Level of Feelings

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Return …...

Rotary Youth ExchangeRotary Youth Exchange

Adapted from a model by Robert KohlsAdapted from a model by Robert Kohls

What are theWhat are the Stages of Culture Shock?Stages of Culture Shock?





Most people anticipate Most people anticipate some degree of culture some degree of culture shock. Very few people shock. Very few people believe they will experience believe they will experience reverse culture shock.reverse culture shock.

Reverse Culture ShockReverse Culture Shock (Re-entry Shock) (Re-entry Shock)

The often unexpected and difficult period of The often unexpected and difficult period of disorientation and readjustment experienced disorientation and readjustment experienced after returning to one’s own culture after an after returning to one’s own culture after an

extended period of living abroad. extended period of living abroad.

So You Think You're Home Now.doc So You Think You're Home Now.doc

Going Home.doc Going Home.doc

The Stages of Reverse Culture Shock The Stages of Reverse Culture Shock are almost the same as those of are almost the same as those of Culture ShockCulture Shock

• Initial Euphoria (may be very brief or not Initial Euphoria (may be very brief or not happen at all)happen at all)

• Irritability and Negativism ( may be very Irritability and Negativism ( may be very lengthy)lengthy)

• Gradual AdaptationGradual Adaptation• True Bi-CulturalismTrue Bi-Culturalism

The Wizard of Oz - The Wizard of Oz - revisitedrevisited

Culture Shock and Reverse Culture Shock and Reverse Culture Shock are not just Culture Shock are not just unpleasant side effects of unpleasant side effects of

international living.international living.

They are the necessary They are the necessary ingredients that bring about ingredients that bring about

quality intercultural education. quality intercultural education.

What did you learn today?What did you learn today?

The entire presentation is accessible at Dropbox at the following link:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/c4mlvmqd08wz0ol/gNSPIl5e0d

Click here to view CSRCS.

Dennis White, Ph.D.Dennis White, Ph.D.207 S. 4th Ave.207 S. 4th Ave.Sturgeon Bay, WI. 54235Sturgeon Bay, WI. 54235Telephone 920-746-1346Telephone 920-746-1346Fax 920-746-1347Fax 920-746-1347Email [email protected] [email protected]

For more information, For more information, visit visit www.yeoresources.org www.yeoresources.org

dennis white, ph.d. dkwhite@itol yeoresources

Documents

new culture

foreign culture

middle wave of culture

ethnocentric point of

cultural point of view

universal tendency

given society

learned ability