INTEGRATING YOURSELF INTO THE HOST CULTURE
One of the ways that your experience may be described is in terms of general patterns of behavior: 1) culture entry adjustment; 2) culture learning, and 3) the re-entry process. Amore detailed sequence of these same development stages is:
1) Culture Entry Adjustment:
Stage I: Spectator
Stage I: Spectator
Stage II: Defensive Contact
Stage III: Recovery
2) Culture learning:
Stage IV: Establishing bona fide contacts
2) Culture learning:
Stage IV: Establishing bona fide contacts
Stage V: Sorting out meaning
Stage VI: Establishing a role
Stage VII: Knowledge of Self
Stage VIII: Development of Needed Attributes and Skills
Stage IX: Development of Meaningful Relationships
3) Re-Entry:
Stage X: Post-sojourn Re-entry
3) Re-Entry:
Stage X: Post-sojourn Re-entry
As you enter a new culture a period of adjustment is needed. All your familiar signs and symbols of social interaction are gone and you may begin to feel disorientated and anxious. In your journey overseas and as you read through and progress through these stages, it is important to remember the following points:
1) Development can be described in terms of a progression through a sequence of stages.
2) A stage is identified by a task or tasks which must be negotiated.
3) While the theme of one stage always predominates, several stages may be negotiated simultaneously as you shift back and forth within a certain range of exploration.
4) Your process will proceed at its own pace though norms may prescribe a time frame for negotiating individual stages or the entire developmental sequence.5) Although a specific task is identified with each stage in a developmental sequence, you will solve the task problem in your own unique way.
STAGE I: Spectator
During your first few days or weeks in a foreign culture you may be insulated from in-depth contact with host nationals and the new cultural environment. You may associate with people who speak your language and as a guest and tourist you may feel special and elated by the sights and newness of it all.
1) Development can be described in terms of a progression through a sequence of stages.
2) A stage is identified by a task or tasks which must be negotiated.
3) While the theme of one stage always predominates, several stages may be negotiated simultaneously as you shift back and forth within a certain range of exploration.
4) Your process will proceed at its own pace though norms may prescribe a time frame for negotiating individual stages or the entire developmental sequence.5) Although a specific task is identified with each stage in a developmental sequence, you will solve the task problem in your own unique way.
STAGE I: Spectator
During your first few days or weeks in a foreign culture you may be insulated from in-depth contact with host nationals and the new cultural environment. You may associate with people who speak your language and as a guest and tourist you may feel special and elated by the sights and newness of it all.
In addition to the cultural insulation which others provide, you too may be fascinated will all the new sights and attractions while inwardly you may be more attuned to noticing the similarities with home than perceiving the differences that contrast with your home culture. These similarities reinforce your sense of cultural identity. Your language facility may be minimal but perhaps adequate for the superficial interactions that are necessary.
STAGE II: Defensive Contact
After you have been in the new culture for a period of time and are less insulated and no longer treated as a guest there may be increasing demands on you to interact with host nationals and to find ways to cope with daily needs. At this point you will begin to notice differences between the home and host culture, your initial observations, excitement and curious interest now with more in-depth involvement in this second stage results in reactions of disbelief, alarm and amazement.
STAGE II: Defensive Contact
After you have been in the new culture for a period of time and are less insulated and no longer treated as a guest there may be increasing demands on you to interact with host nationals and to find ways to cope with daily needs. At this point you will begin to notice differences between the home and host culture, your initial observations, excitement and curious interest now with more in-depth involvement in this second stage results in reactions of disbelief, alarm and amazement.
The new culture may appear strange, bizarre and incomprehensible and social transactions may become confusing and ambiguous. The continual uncertainty regarding cultural norms and expectations may cause you to feel disorientated and personally inadequate and just when you need help in establishing interpersonal bonds your language fluency may decline and your ability to solve problems can be at a minimum.
As it becomes more difficult for you to cope will all these unpredictable and meaningless events you may develop a growing sense of being different and isolated. And you may reluctantly assume the role of “foreigner” with all the negative connotations of ostracism and loneliness that role signifies.
STAGE III: Recovery
Before entering this stage you are confronted with a choice, either reduce tension by involving yourself in the culture or reduce tension through retreat to more superficial levels of contact. If you choose to become more involved, then this stage is a period of intense emotions. Things which previously frustrated you and which you blamed on others must now be renowned as your own inner conflicts.
STAGE III: Recovery
Before entering this stage you are confronted with a choice, either reduce tension by involving yourself in the culture or reduce tension through retreat to more superficial levels of contact. If you choose to become more involved, then this stage is a period of intense emotions. Things which previously frustrated you and which you blamed on others must now be renowned as your own inner conflicts.
Also, you may begin to rely less on fantasy reunion with those you love in your home culture and begin to acknowledge the gulf that accompanies the painful separations. As this mourning process occurs you will begin to re-examine relationships with your family and the meaning of previously unquestioned cultural values.
In contrast to the first three stages of cultural entry or “cultural shock” the six following stages of culture learning are an adaptive response which requires your active commitment and participation within the host culture. In general, culture learning refers to your process of evolving a new cultural identity as a result of integrating aspects of a new culture while retaining core aspects of your primary cultural identity.
STAGE IV: Establishing bona fide contacts
Once your basic survival needs are met your focus will shift to building relationships and social affiliations. You may experience a strong need to find a friendly host figure that accepts you despite your differentness and provides empathy, feedback and guidance. This feeling of belonging may cultivate a sense of willingness and optimism to initiate new behavior and sustain your morale in the face of failure and ridicule.
In contrast to the first three stages of cultural entry or “cultural shock” the six following stages of culture learning are an adaptive response which requires your active commitment and participation within the host culture. In general, culture learning refers to your process of evolving a new cultural identity as a result of integrating aspects of a new culture while retaining core aspects of your primary cultural identity.
STAGE IV: Establishing bona fide contacts
Once your basic survival needs are met your focus will shift to building relationships and social affiliations. You may experience a strong need to find a friendly host figure that accepts you despite your differentness and provides empathy, feedback and guidance. This feeling of belonging may cultivate a sense of willingness and optimism to initiate new behavior and sustain your morale in the face of failure and ridicule.
You need to feel worthy of friendship and take risks in reaching out to strangers.
STAGE V: Sorting out meaning
At this stage you become involved in the activities of the new culture and begin the slow process of developing an understanding of the host culture from the perspective of an insider. With the hope of gaining an inside perspective of an insider you deliberately enter new social interactions which may precipitate anxiety, failure and censure.
STAGE V: Sorting out meaning
At this stage you become involved in the activities of the new culture and begin the slow process of developing an understanding of the host culture from the perspective of an insider. With the hope of gaining an inside perspective of an insider you deliberately enter new social interactions which may precipitate anxiety, failure and censure.
To cope with the social blunders and errors which will inevitably occur, you’ll need humility, a sense of humor and self-confidence.
STAGE VI: Establishing a role
In order for you to become a participating member of the new culture you must assume a social role and this must be one acceptable within the new culture. To take on such a role you need to learn the appropriate behavior of that role and are forced with acquiring a new repertoire of behavior appropriate for the role you will assume.
STAGE VI: Establishing a role
In order for you to become a participating member of the new culture you must assume a social role and this must be one acceptable within the new culture. To take on such a role you need to learn the appropriate behavior of that role and are forced with acquiring a new repertoire of behavior appropriate for the role you will assume.
For example, as a participant in a homestay foreign exchange program you are faced with having to learn the appropriate behavior associated with being a son or daughter, and sister or brother, while living within the particular family system. You will also need to learn to cope with uncomfortable feelings associated with assuming new behaviors and with social pressure to conform as well as feelings of in-authenticity associated with unfamiliar behavior.
Aside from the difficulties associated with adopting a new role within the role structure of the second culture, you must also contend with the bi-cultural role. As you integrate aspects of the second culture and relinquish aspects of your native culture you may lose the ability to fit completely into any one culture for the moment and feel like a hybrid.
STAGE VII: Knowledge of self
Your advancement toward greater cultural learning at this point depends upon your ability to experience in depth personal growth. The following areas are components of this growth.1) Growth in awareness of a personal identity.
2) Growth in self awareness.
3) Growth in cultural self awareness.
4) Growth in personal responsibility.
STAGE VIII: Development of Needed Attributes and Skills
Once you are self-aware and able to function within the new culture, the next step is to begin internalizing attributes from the second culture which will facilitate participation. First you need to become aware of the skills that are needed and next, committed to the conscious development of the needed attributes and skills.Perhaps the most obvious of these skill areas might be the language dimension. You may need to progress in language fluency from a serviceable plateau into a realm where you can truly appreciate very subtle nuances.
STAGE IX: Developing Meaningful Relationships
Here you are aware of being the product of one primary culture while also being aware of being affected and enlarged by participation in a second culture. Your new skills and adaptive behavior become spontaneous, you feel as if you “belong” and you experience independence. You are able to accept and be nourished by the cultural differences and similarities and are able to view yourself and others as individual human beings who are influenced by culture and upbringing.
Your advancement toward greater cultural learning at this point depends upon your ability to experience in depth personal growth. The following areas are components of this growth.1) Growth in awareness of a personal identity.
2) Growth in self awareness.
3) Growth in cultural self awareness.
4) Growth in personal responsibility.
STAGE VIII: Development of Needed Attributes and Skills
Once you are self-aware and able to function within the new culture, the next step is to begin internalizing attributes from the second culture which will facilitate participation. First you need to become aware of the skills that are needed and next, committed to the conscious development of the needed attributes and skills.Perhaps the most obvious of these skill areas might be the language dimension. You may need to progress in language fluency from a serviceable plateau into a realm where you can truly appreciate very subtle nuances.
STAGE IX: Developing Meaningful Relationships
Here you are aware of being the product of one primary culture while also being aware of being affected and enlarged by participation in a second culture. Your new skills and adaptive behavior become spontaneous, you feel as if you “belong” and you experience independence. You are able to accept and be nourished by the cultural differences and similarities and are able to view yourself and others as individual human beings who are influenced by culture and upbringing.
Most importantly, you are capable of undergoing further transition experiences which enable you to continue exploring the diversity of human life.
STAGE X: Re-entry
You enter this stage at the point in your overseas experience, in which plans to return to your home culture become imminent. Because this re-entry phase is contingent upon departure plans, it will typically interrupt other stages.Upon returning home, you may experience an increase in self confidence combined with an inability to utilize or apply much of what was learned aboard. In re-adjusting to your native lifestyle you may experience role conflict, feelings of aimlessness, sense of disillusionment and inner discontent with popular culture values in your home country.
STAGE X: Re-entry
You enter this stage at the point in your overseas experience, in which plans to return to your home culture become imminent. Because this re-entry phase is contingent upon departure plans, it will typically interrupt other stages.Upon returning home, you may experience an increase in self confidence combined with an inability to utilize or apply much of what was learned aboard. In re-adjusting to your native lifestyle you may experience role conflict, feelings of aimlessness, sense of disillusionment and inner discontent with popular culture values in your home country.
Your re-entry period may be slightly more difficult than the initial entry adjustment and you may devise similar strategies to cope with the stress and the feeling “I’ll never fit in here again”.
The following issues or tasks might be areas of difficulty for you:
a) Cultural identity,
a) Cultural identity,
b) adjustment to changes in lifestyle,
c) Pressures to conform,
d) feelings of superiority due to international experience,
e) uncertainty in interpersonal relationships,
f) social alienation as a result of the sojourn,
g) dissatisfaction with local customs and ritualized patterns,
h) frustrations as a result of conflicting attitudes,
i) feelings of strangeness,
j) feelings of isolation,
k) unfamiliarity with new styles,
l) inability to communicate or apply what has been learned while overseas.
Perhaps those skills which you developed in adjusting to the new culture overseas are just the skills you need to help you re-adjust to your home culture.
ADJUSTING TO THE HOST CULTURE
Your experiment is made up of a series of ups and downs, highs and lows. Knowing that this is part of the experience may make it easier to understand. It is important to remember that the ups and downs are normal and healthy. Everyone has some problems. The important thing is to learn and deal with those problems. Not everyone experiences all of the stages or in the same intensity. Your own adjustment cycle may look much different from the one below.
The Honeymoon
· The newness is exciting. It’s all an adventure. Optimistic.
Culture shock
· The excitement is gone. School and family life are so different. Questions about how to relate to the opposite sex, to the host family, to people in general.
Surface Adjustment
· It’s starting to make sense. Can communicate basic ideas and feelings. Making some friends and feeling more comfortable with family.
Unresolved problems
· The year seems so long. Unresolved problems with friends or family may surface or there may be conflicts about activities, may feel bored, frustrated and isolated.
I feel at home
· Accept new culture as just another way of living. May not approve of it always but accept and understand differences. Have made real friends.
Departure concern
· Begin to sense personal changes. Mixed feelings about returning home –excitement and concern.
Think about your own ups and downs while you are in the host culture. What caused them? How did changes come about? What personal changes were involved? What could you have done to turn a low into a high? In the space which follows try to graph your experience, labeling your highs, lows, emotions, reactions, changes, growth, events, disappointments, successes, problems, etc.
ADJUSTING TO THE HOST CULTURE
Your experiment is made up of a series of ups and downs, highs and lows. Knowing that this is part of the experience may make it easier to understand. It is important to remember that the ups and downs are normal and healthy. Everyone has some problems. The important thing is to learn and deal with those problems. Not everyone experiences all of the stages or in the same intensity. Your own adjustment cycle may look much different from the one below.
The Honeymoon
· The newness is exciting. It’s all an adventure. Optimistic.
Culture shock
· The excitement is gone. School and family life are so different. Questions about how to relate to the opposite sex, to the host family, to people in general.
Surface Adjustment
· It’s starting to make sense. Can communicate basic ideas and feelings. Making some friends and feeling more comfortable with family.
Unresolved problems
· The year seems so long. Unresolved problems with friends or family may surface or there may be conflicts about activities, may feel bored, frustrated and isolated.
I feel at home
· Accept new culture as just another way of living. May not approve of it always but accept and understand differences. Have made real friends.
Departure concern
· Begin to sense personal changes. Mixed feelings about returning home –excitement and concern.
Think about your own ups and downs while you are in the host culture. What caused them? How did changes come about? What personal changes were involved? What could you have done to turn a low into a high? In the space which follows try to graph your experience, labeling your highs, lows, emotions, reactions, changes, growth, events, disappointments, successes, problems, etc.
