Culture shock is the feeling of disorientation people often get when they move to a new environment. We compiled 15 of the biggest culture shocks non-Americans experienced in the US. They include Americans' habit of making small talk and smiling, their obsession with guns, and the variety of products at grocery stores
Culture shock happens to just about everyone visiting a foreign country for the first time.
For people coming to the United States, culture shock can be caused by many things: the way Americans communicate with each other, the country’s obsession with guns, or even the variety of milk and butter at American grocery stores.
What is culture shock for immigrants?
The process of culture shock is a normal phenomenon that happens when you leave your home country and go to a foreign country where the customs, and usually the language, is different.
Factors causing culture shock :
1. A different way of living
You realize it fairly quickly that your way of life has completely changed. This newfound independence can be very overwhelming. With a sudden change in your routine life, it can get difficult to understand how to cope without it. Since every decision you make will impact your life directly, it is important to be responsible and take control. For instance, if you do not cook your meal or do your laundry or buy groceries or finish your projects, nobody else will.
2. Language
Despite having a good grasp over the language spoken in your study country, it will be a new experience altogether when you interact with the locals in real-life. The country may have some local slang as part of their daily language which you will get used to over time. For example, Canadians call $1 a loonie and $2 a Toni; and one of the most common coffees here is a Double-Double.
3. Weather conditions
In Canada, you might experience a new degree of cold during winters. Similarly, in the UK, you’ll experience more rains than you expected, while in Australia, you’ll experience winters and summers at different times of the year than what you are used to. Such factors can also be stressful as any change in climate may impact your health when you are least expecting it. You’d be surprised however, that life in these countries never stops because of the weather conditions and neither should you.
4. Academics
Every country has a different education system and with it comes a new structure, teaching methodologies, scoring patterns, project works, deadlines, scholarships, etc. Sometimes, there is just too much information to put together and get used to at once. Don’t get overwhelmed with this new information and try to understand each slowly to be able to adapt to it.
5. New societal rules
There are always some unspoken, well-understood rules in every society, such as your new environment. These rules have a direct impact on the day-to-day functioning of the society. For instance, when in Canada, it is common to say “thank you” or “sorry” too often at very minuscule of things. If not, you might be considered rude, despite you not intending to. In Australia, a stranger may call you a mate, even if meeting for the first time.
6. Missing home or food
It is obvious to miss home or your cuisine you’ve grown on. The best way to deal with it is to find shops or restaurants that offer the things you like. You can also learn to cook and invite friends over so it doesn’t make overly homesick. Better still, pick up your phone and make those calls home.
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