Have you ever experienced a Cultural shock?

[bika]

Once I had been to India. Nice place but it was very irritating when there was no one who could speak my language. Everyone was speaking Hindi and that was just noise for me. I missed my home very much. When I told all about it to my friend, she said that was cultural shock. Is it so?

[maryelser]

Hmm, I don't know. I do know that it would hard for me to not be able to communicate with anyone in another country, especially since I love to talk! :p

[Gloria]

May be that is just a piece of a "cultural shock". Nigeria in West Africa has over 521 languages and imagine if you can only speak your native language in Nigeria..

[bika]

521 language? Amazing! So one should know at least 10? Isnt there any common language that everyone speaks?

[Gloria]

English is now the official language but how many people can speak English in Nigeria? .. only the few educated people. For those in the rural areas, that is another question. "Broken English" is now the main language on the streets of the big cities like Abuja and Lagos. Even for the Broken English, how many people can understand it?.. at least that is better than speaking just your native language.

[keeper]

I think that I would feel the same if ever I’m in the same position. It is really hard to adapt on something you aren’t familiar at. I think that it would be better to travel with someone besides you.

[Gloria]

Originally Posted by keeper

I think that I would feel the same if ever I’m in the same position. It is really hard to adapt on something you aren’t familiar at. I think that it would be better to travel with someone besides you.

of course that's the normal way.. you are welcome!

[Liberty Bell]

Culture shock is typically considered to be a more significant experience than what you have described. It may very well have been culture shock though. Culture shock can be accompanied with sadness and depression, frustration, anxiety and a sense of missing home. Typically it isn't considered culture shock if you are just 'home sick', sadness, anxiety and depression contribute to culture shock.

Liberty Bell

[Gloria]

Originally Posted by Liberty Bell

Culture shock is typically considered to be a more significant experience than what you have described. It may very well have been culture shock though. Culture shock can be accompanied with sadness and depression, frustration, anxiety and a sense of missing home. Typically it isn't considered culture shock if you are just 'home sick', sadness, anxiety and depression contribute to culture shock.

Liberty Bell

great answer! you are welcome Liberty Bell !

[LydiaB]

Originally Posted by bika

Once I had been to India. Nice place but it was very irritating when there was no one who could speak my language. Everyone was speaking Hindi and that was just noise for me. I missed my home very much. When I told all about it to my friend, she said that was cultural shock. Is it so?

As far as I know, your friend is right. If you could have understood Hindi things might have been easier, but then there would have been the added challenges other day to day living issues that would have still been rather unnerving.

[jimmys devoted]

I found culture shock here in teh US. Growing up in upstate NY we moved ot Denver where teh culture there was still pretty much wild. To be able to buy a stick of synamite beer and donut at a gas station was unerrving. very different in schoosl as well.
Coming down here the southern culture was even more different. teh foods and terminology and attitude was very different as well. dinner was lunch, supper was the evening meal. people stop dead on highways or roads if a herse goes by and funeral procession. The language is even different. You dont have to go far to experience culture shock. INa ocuntry as large as ours we have so many cultures within our american cultre thatits a shock just going from one area to another.

julie

[LydiaB]

Originally Posted by jimmys devoted

I found culture shock here in teh US. Growing up in upstate NY we moved ot Denver where teh culture there was still pretty much wild. To be able to buy a stick of synamite beer and donut at a gas station was unerrving. very different in schoosl as well.
Coming down here the southern culture was even more different. teh foods and terminology and attitude was very different as well. dinner was lunch, supper was the evening meal. people stop dead on highways or roads if a herse goes by and funeral procession. The language is even different. You dont have to go far to experience culture shock. INa ocuntry as large as ours we have so many cultures within our american cultre thatits a shock just going from one area to another.

julie

I have always lived in Denver or the Denver metro area.

I just know that going to New York would be traumatic for me. Just the sheer number of people would make me incredibly nervous!

Where did you see people stop for a funeral procession?

Originally Posted by Gloria

May be that is just a piece of a "cultural shock". Nigeria in West Africa has over 521 languages and imagine if you can only speak your native language in Nigeria..

521 languages?.. now I see another problem facing Africa..

[Indiescribe]

If I go to another country of course I would have a difficult time understanding the language and culture. But these days because of the media and cross-tourism a lot of people in India understand English, if not speak it. We have an English system of education here. What is important though is to go to another country with an open mindset and to imbibe the nation's culture and variety.

[GlobalWarrior]

I agree with Indiescribe's mentality on culture-shock and travel attitudes. It's incredibly important to travel to other cultures and be open to the experience without judgement or bias and try to experience a different way of life however hard it may be to get used to.

[Indiescribe]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, GlobalWarrior. In support, I can recollect one of my own experiences. Two years back, I had traveled to Spain. I had the experience of eating cocidos (or stews). It was one of the most mindblowing experiences of my life. We may not understand the language or the culture or the films, but we our tongues and eyes can certainly understand the beauty of cuisine and country. And sometimes, its enough.

[keeper]

Good thing I haven’t been there or I will also experience that. It must have been difficult conversing on some local folks. Maybe it would be better if you will learn a few words of their languages before you go there next time.

[master]

That's their mother language so they feel comfortable to speak in hindi.It's definitely not a cultural shock.Indian people are very cooperative,they'll not hesitate to speak with you in English if they're habituated with this language.Normally 50-60% people in India are poor in speaking English.So you face this type of problem.