If you have ever moved to another country, you will have heard about this fancy term 'culture shock' and know a bit about it. If you haven't, its about time you learned, because we as EVS have to go through this rigmarole every day.
So here is my adaptation of what some Sociologist somewhere said about it. I am also technically an (albeit only bachelors clad) Sociologist, FYI, so that wasn't a sneering introduction.
Culture Shock
WHAT?!: Culture shock is the holistic reaction to displacement from one’s familiar environment. Common symptoms of culture shock include:
Feelings of frustration, loneliness confusion, melancholy, irritability, insecurity, and helplessness (our house is awash with melancholy feeling, we often cry and fall over, then get back up and wonder where the bloody hell we are)
Unstable temperament and hostility (say WHAT?!?! Oh no, its okay. *sobs*)
Paranoia (*shifty look from side to side, locks front door*)
Criticism of local people, culture, and customs. (Why do Danish people eat MEAT AND POTATOES - EVERY...damn.....DAY??)
Excessive concern over drinking water, food dishes, and bedding (OKAY BUT..is there such a thing as excessive concern over drinking water? I'd say its pretty important *clutches bottle of Kildevand*)
Fear of physical contact with locals - don't touch me!
Oversensitivity and overreaction to minor difficulties
Changes in eating and sleeping habits
Loss of sense of humour.
(................my sense of humour is just fine thanks. MATE.)
WHEN?!: So sometimes it's all immediate. An American tourist travelling to a developing country might be like WOOOAH - e.g. where is my McDonalds? Why don't we have a proper bed? I can't find a toilet seat for the life of me, and somebody over there doesn't use a real toothbrush etc etc. Ok, so this is not a real problem in Denmark. There is a McDonalds really close to our house. And most people use a toothbrush (or so I've heard..)
Much more common, however, is delayed culture shock. -
“Often when a person takes up residence in a foreign country there’s a period of excitement and exhilaration when everything seems new and challenging and fascinating… It is not until this honeymoon period ends that the newcomer begins to realize that there are endless subtle differences that leave him facing a host of perplexing problems.”
Cultural Adjustment
Even though it's a complex little phenomena, it's actually remarkably predictable (kind of like humans). There are some distinct phases, in a 'U-shaped curve beginning with a high, then sinking into shock, and finally recovering to understand and enjoy the new culture' (yeah alright, I couldn't be bother to paraphrase that one).
The Honeymoon Phase: After months of excitement, anticipation, and preparation, you finally arrive at your destination. Its like when you get married and your happy, but then you realise your husband is a bit of a dick (no not really...that hardly ever happens.) Everything is way exciting and special and you think it is just wondrous. Denmark is like heaven.
The Crisis Phase: In this phase, you will experience the brunt of the symptoms of culture shock. Everything becomes a bit annoying. Communicating is really difficult and you always forget things or lose stuff. This happened to me all the time (albeit not this time in Roskilde, but last time I came to DK in 2009. HOWEVER - I did lose an alarming amount of items in the first few weeks in Roskilde, but that probably has more to do with alcohol intake than culture shock. Anyway..I digress).
Frustration gives way to irritability, depression, and other symptoms of culture shock. You feel like a total outsider and you can't understand why nobody wants to kiss you on the cheek. You look for pals from similar cultures to yours so you can cheer up a bit.
The Recovery Phase: You get into a routine and the humdrum and suddenly everything isn't so weird any more. You stop tearing up Danish flags and start to put them on birthday cakes.
The Adjustment Phase: You become a 'bicultural' person. Not the same as 'bisexual', probably.
(You can read all this in much more sensible and boring terms at - http://www.uniteforsight.org/cultural-competency/module2)
So after that brillo lesson in CS I would like to tell you about some funky times when we got totally bungled about something, that Danish guys and gals probably think is really normal.
Foreigner in Netto: (hands money over)
Danish Person: You have to put it there
Foreigner: Where?
Danish Person: In the grey thing.
Foreigner: What?
Danish Person: The change counter! (sighs) Here - (takes change, puts it in the slot)
Forigner: Oh...(leaves feeling ridiculous).
Foreigner: I can't fix my bike.
Danish Person: Are you totally stupid? Bikes are really easy to fix. You just get this spanner and pull this whilst holding that then take that off then patch that up then put it back on and reattach that whilst holding this and tightening that over there - Voila!
Foreigner:...I can't fix my bike.
Foreigner: I'm going to get the deposit back on my bottles! Whoopdidoo, life is dandy (etc etc.)
*puts bottle in machine*
Danish Bottle Machine: BLEURGH (spits it out)
Foreigner: YOU DON'T LIKE COCIO BOTTLES?!
Foreigner: I met this guy four or five times. We got drunk together. We talked about LIFE. But when I hugged him yesterday, he looked like I was trying to kill his children.
Danish Person: YOU DON'T HUG SOMEBODY YOU DON'T KNOW!!
But of course, in the end, we learn all these quirky things. We can now fix a puncture super duper quick. I love the change thing in Netto (actually, that still is a bit difficult for me to understand, especially when it malfunctions.) And I only hug Danish people who hug me first.
And one day, maybe you too will be an EVS, and you will go through some mad culture shock drama. Just remember - like Michael said - you are not alone.
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