Culture Shock

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Culture Shock
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A True Story

• A professor went to Germany on sabbatical leave.
• In Germany he had difficulty finding a mentor for
  his project.
• He became discouraged and blamed discrimination
  because he was American.

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A True Story

• He started to eat alone and brood in his room.
• One day his path was blocked by a German lady
  with a baby carriage.
• Another German out to get him!

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A True Story

• Enraged he almost struck the lady with his
  briefcase
• Unnerved by his reaction, he locked himself in
  his hotel for the rest of his sabbatical.
• Although he was fluent in German he was unable to
  complete his task.

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What is Culture Shock?

• Interaction between cultures causes stress.
• Dealing with a myriad of cultural differences on
  a daily basis causes fatigue.
• Excess stress and fatigue can lead to irrational
  responses.

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Culture Shock is

• a strong emotional reaction,
• perfectly normal,
• different for everyone!
• also known as
• Culture clash
• Culture fatigue

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Stages of Culture Shock

• Honeymoon stage
• Disintegration stage
• Reintegration
• Autonomy
• Interdependence

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The U Curve
Interdependence
Honeymoon
Autonomy
Reintegration
Disintegration
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Your Spaces

• Work space
• Community space
• Home space

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Symptoms

• Anxiety
• Sadness
• Depression
• Pain, despair, and disorganization
• Anger, confusion, loneliness
• Loss of appetite, changes in sleep
• Tired, loss of enjoyment in daily activities,
  withdrawal from others

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Coping With It

• Know that your reactions are normal
• Stay in touch with family and friends
• Talk to other expatriots
• Join a community group
• Talk to colleagues and superiors about
  expectations and goals

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Coping With It

• Get to know the country
• Meet locals who can explain the culture
• Show your appreciation be honest
• Eat well and get your sleep
• Learn the basics of the local language

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Impact on Business

• Loss of productivity
• Success factors at home may be distress factors
  abroad
• A-type personality
• High motivation to achieve
• Competitiveness
• High level of time consciousness
• Impaired decision-making

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Impact on Management

• Be aware of differences in management style
• Understand the importance of the cultural details
• Respect local practices even if you dont
  understand them

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The W Curve
Return Home
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Re-entry Shock

• Successful adaptation may increase Re-entry Shock
• Return home may seem boring
• Difficulty in finding a new niche
• Exaggerated nostalgia for home
• Reduced standard of living
• Intolerance to domestic minutia
• Lack of psychological support

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Your Assignment

• Keep a journal of your daily experiences
• Note feelings and responses to your surroundings

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Your Assignment

• Based on your journal notes, write a 1000 word
  report on your experience interacting with the
  Spanish culture.
• Include references to your understanding of
  culture shock, why differences exist and how to
  deal with them.

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Your Assignment

• I expect a personal report not a generic report.
• Submit your report by email no later than Aug 26

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The End
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