Years ago I was hired as an HR Administrator working at a unionized plant, an environment I had never experienced before. To make matters worse, I was the first person to be hired in three years; there was virtually no turnover or growth at that location. It took me several months to acclimate, and I did not realize until many years later that I went through culture shock. Did you know that culture shock is a common occurrence among new employees and new students?
“Culture shock” is used to describe the temporary confusion or loss of stability felt when one lives in a culturally and socially unfamiliar environment. Signs include mild uneasiness or homesickness, or strong unhappiness and even panic. Thankfully with time most people overcome the discomfort and restore their sense of balance and well-being. Look at the four stages of culture shock that the University of Wisconsin-Madison identifies in foreign exchange students and see if you can relate them to any of your experiences:
- Honeymoon phase – the adventure is exciting, as everything is new and ready to be discovered. The energy is high.
- Cultural stress – as the excitement wears off, the unfamiliarity and differences begin to be overwhelming. Students express irritability, hostility, and feelings of alienation.
- Adjustment – once students make friends and learn new how to do things, they begin to acclimate and the stress lessens. Their sense of humor returns.
- Adaptation and biculturalism – Students accept and adapt to the new culture, while retaining their own cultural identity. A sense of confidence and well-being returns.
A colleague of mine that I highly respect recently changed employers after 15 years to accept a well-deserved promotion. It was clear from the discomfort she expressed that she has progressed to the second stage of culture shock. I have no doubt that she will navigate successfully through the entire process, although it may take longer than she would like. I’ve noticed that longevity has its downside, making change, when it does come, a bit more challenging. Next time I’ll give you the details of my union experience, as it fits the four-stage model to a t.
Adapted by Crossroads of Learning from:
UW Board of Regents International Engineering Studies & Programs (n.d.). International Engineering Studies & Programs – UW-Madison. Retrieved March 15, 2012, from http://international.engr.wisc.edu/preparing/cultureshock.php