Dennis White, Ph.D. dkwhite@itol yeoresources

1. The original presentation of this Powerpoint had video clips which could not be incorporated into this version. To obtain instructions as to how to obtain the full version contact Dennis White at dkwhite@itol.com

2. The Rotary Youth Exchange Experience: Culture Shock and Reverse Culture Shock Dennis White, Ph.D. dkwhite@itol.com www.yeoresources.org

3. Culture An integrated system of learned behavior patterns that are characteristic of any given society. It refers to the total way of life, including how people think, feel and behave.

4. Culture Shock The profound sense of disorientation and discomfort that comes with extended travel or living in a foreign culture markedly different from one’s own.

5. Metaphorically, culture is the lens through which we view the world.

6. You can’t trust your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. Mark Twain

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11. Ethnocentrism: The universal tendency for any culture to see its own values and practices as natural and correct.

12. Ethnocentrism: All cultures are ethnocentric - and must be to impart their values to their members.

13. The most common ethnocentric assumption is that we can translate literally from one language to another, which leads to both humorous and serious mistakes.

14. What do they mean? In a Bangkok dry cleaner's: Drop your trousers here for best results. • In a Norwegian cocktail lounge: • Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar.

15. Dr. No We don’t want a doctor Titanic Ship Outta Luck!

16. In Mexico it was translated as “The Rebel Novice Nun” The Sound of Music In the Czech Republic it was translated as “Santa Is A Pervert” Bad Santa In China it was translated as “One Night, Big Belly” Knocked Up In Venezuela it was translated as “Vaselina” Grease

17. Advertising translations: In China, Pepsi’s slogan “come alive with Pepsi” became “Pepsi will bring your ancestors back from the dead”. In Latin America Chevrolet’s new car the “Nova” Translated into Spanish as “No Va” (doesn’t go) And my favorite, the Swedish maker of the vacuum Electrolux came up with the American slogan…

18. “Nothing sucks like Electrolux!”

19. At first we will be dependent upon translators – sometimes a risky business

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21. Sometimes, even when we are trying, pronunciation leads to problems!

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23. In a new culture everything is harder

24. Our own culture, or sub-culture, comes to us as naturally and unconsciously as our handedness. We generally don’t think about what hand we will use to write our names. Changing our cultural point of view is about as hard as changing our handedness. Both are possible, but neither is easy.

25. Handwriting exercise

26. The Cultural Iceberg Conscious behaviors 1/8th above the surface Unconscious beliefs and values 7/8ths below the surface

27. Advice often mistakenly given to American Outbound students (from an ethnocentric point of view):Just be yourself!

28. Consider the new culture to be an iceberg

29. You are the Titanic!!! (Ship Outta Luck!)

30. “Culture Shock takes me outside my comfort zone.” Exchange student journal, 2 months

31. Personal Examples • Holding hands • Crossing the street • Tripping on uneven floor surfaces

32. Culture Shock The profound sense of disorientation and discomfort that comes with extended travel or living in a foreign culture markedly different from one’s own.

33. Stages of Culture Shock: Initial enthusiasm and excitement Irritability and negativism Gradual adjustment and adaptation Integration and bi-culturalism Culture Shock.doc The Middle Wave of Culture Shock.doc

34. TypicalCulture Shock Cycle Rotary Youth Exchange Months Pre-Departure 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Return …... Normal Level of Feelings Adapted from a model by Robert Kohls

35. 4 1 3 2

36. Stages of Culture Shock: Initial enthusiasm and excitement Irritability and negativism Gradual adjustment and adaptation Integration and bi-culturalism

37. Examples ofInitial Enthusiasm and Excitement • Trying any food (once!)? • Saying “yes” to almost any suggested activity • Wanting to go and see as many places as possible • Finding many similarities with things back home • Politely and pleasantly smiling and saying “yes” whether you understand or not • Taking lots of pictures • Frequently sharing your new and exciting experiences back home

38. Stages of Culture Shock: Initial enthusiasm and excitement Irritability and negativism Gradual adjustment and adaptation Integration and bi-culturalism

39. Examples ofIrritability and Negativism • Why don’t they ever hug or touch one another? • Why do they always hug and touch one another? • Why don’t they make their street signs easier to read?

41. Examples ofIrritability and Negativism • If they mean “no” why don’t they say “no”? • Why don’t they just tell me what something costs? • Why can’t anyone stand in line? • Why do they drive so fast? • Forcing a smile with clenched teeth when you don’t understand what is going on. • Complaining about your discomfort to sympathetic people back home, or other inbounds in country • Withdrawing

42. If the easiest response to the Irritability and negativism stage is to find comfort with other Inbounds or electronically with friends and family at home, the student may get stuck going back and forth from stage one to two, back and forth

43. Stages of Culture Shock: Initial enthusiasm and excitement Irritability and negativism Gradual adjustment and adaptation Integration and bi-culturalism

44. TypicalCulture Shock Cycle Rotary Youth Exchange Months Pre-Departure 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Return …... Normal Level of Feelings Adapted from a model by Robert Kohls

45. 4 1 3 2

46. Stages of Culture Shock: Initial enthusiasm and excitement Irritability and negativism Gradual adjustment and adaptation Integration and bi-culturalism

47. Examples ofGradual Adjustment and Adaptation • Learning the language. • Finding yourself dreaming in the host language. • Finding yourself unable to precisely explain a concept you have learned to someone back home using English. • Insisting people speak to you in the host language rather than English • Going to host parents and local Rotarians with problems rather than people back home. • Speaking with other Inbounds in the host language rather than English • Becoming involved in school or community activities

48. Enculturation: The successful adoption of the behavior patterns and customs of the surrounding culture. (also called acculturation, immersion, assimilation, adaptation)

49. Stages of Culture Shock: Initial enthusiasm and excitement Irritability and negativism Gradual adjustment and adaptation Integration and bi-culturalism

50. Examples ofIntegration and Bi-Culturalism • Not having to translate in your head first. • Traveling across town by bus, making a purchase, meeting friends in the host language and no one asks “where are you from”? • Engaging in host culture practices without thinking: - Eating with fingers, or a knife and fork or chop sticks - Standing close, or distant, in line with host customs and feeling comfortable. • Accepting and appreciating fundamentally different cultural values as just that – different not right or wrong. • Telling people back home – I’m not ready – you can’t make me come back!