Culture Shock

Culture Shock

         

          Psychologists tell us that there are four basic stages that human beings pass through when enter and live in a new culture. The process, which helps us to deal with culture shock, is the way our brain and our personality reacts to the strange new things we encounter when we encounter when we move from one culture to another. If our personality reacts to the strange new things we greet someone, we may feel very uncomfortable in a culture that does not involve bowing. If the language we use when talking to someone in our own culture is   influenced by levels of formality based on the other person’s age and status, it may be difficult for us to feel comfortable communicating with people in the new culture.

         

          Culture begins with the “ honey moon stage’’ This is the period of time when we first arrive in which everything about the new culture is strange and exciting. We may be suffering from “ jet lag’’ but we are thrilled to be the new environment , seeing new sights, hearing new sounds and language, eating new kinds of food. This honeymoon stage can last for quite a long time because we feel we are involved in some kind of great adventure.

         

Unfortunately, the second stage of culture shock can be more difficult. After we have settled down into our new life, working or studying, buying groceries, doing laundry, or living with a home-stay family, we can become very tired and begin to mill sour homeland and our family, girlfriend/boyfriend, pets. All the little become that everybody in life has seem to be much bigger and more disturbing when you face them in a foreign culture. This period of culture adjustment can be very difficult and lead to the new arrival rejecting or pulling away from the new culture. This “ rejection stage’’ can be quite dangerous because the visitor may develop unhealthy habits ( smoking and drinking too much, being too concerned over food or contact with people from the new culture). This can, unfortunately lead to the person getting sick or developing skin affections or rashes which then make the person feel even more scared and confused and helpless. This stage is considered ac crisis in the process of cultural adjustment and many people choose to go back to their homeland spend all their time with people from their own culture speaking their native language.

The third stage of culture shock is called the “ adjustment stage’’. This is when you begin to realize that things are not so bad in the host culture. Your sense of humor usually becomes stronger ad you realize that you are becoming stronger by learning to take care of yourself in the new place. Things are still difficult, but you are new a survivor! 

Shock shock /ʃɒk/ /ʃɑːk/ noun SURPRISE

1. [ C or U ] (the emotional or physical reaction to) a sudden, unexpected and usually unpleasant event or experience

Her mother's death came as a great shock - it was so unexpected.

It was such a loud crash - it gave me/I got quite a shock.

It was a shock to see her looking so ill.

I was in (a state of) shock for about two weeks after the accident.

UK The French suffered a shock defeat (= completely unexpected defeat) by the Italian side at the weekend.

2. [ C ] an electric shock

Ow! - I got a shock from that lamp!

Psychologists

psychologist /saɪˈkɒl.ə.dʒɪst/ /-ˈkɑː.lə-/ noun [ C ]

someone who studies the human mind and human emotions and behaviour, and how different situations have an effect on them

a child psychologist

an educational psychologist

She spent 15 years as a clinical psychologist with the Northumberland Health Authority.

psychology /saɪˈkɒl.ə.dʒi/ /-ˈkɑː.lə-/ noun [ U ]

the scientific study of the way the human mind works and how it influences behaviour, or the influence of a particular person's character on their behaviour

She studied psychology at Harvard.

a lecturer in psychology

child psychology

the psychology of the soldier

Compare psychiatry

 enter

enter /ˈen.tə r / /-t ̬ɚ/ verb GO IN

1. [ I or T ] to come or go into a particular place

The police entered (the building) through/by the side door.

You will begin to feel sleepy as the drug enters the bloodstream .

enter /ˈen.tə r / /-t ̬ɚ/ verb COMPETITION

2. [ I or T ] to be included in a competition, race or examination, or to arrange for someone else to do this

Both men have been entered for/in the 100 metres in Paris next month.

All three companies have entered the race to develop a new system.

Are you going to enter the photography competition ?

 brainbrain /breɪn/ noun

brain

1. [ C ] the organ inside the head that controls thought, memory, feelings and activity

Doctors tried desperately to reduce the swelling in her brain.

The accident left him with permanent brain damage .

His wife died from a brain tumour .

2. [ C ] used to refer to intelligence

Marie has an amazing brain (= is very intelligent) .

That can't possibly be the right way to do it - use your brain!

The poor child inherited his mother's brains and his father's looks.

He's got brains but he's too lazy to use them (= He is clever but lazy) .

 reacts react /riˈækt/ verb [ I ]

to act in a particular way as a direct result of something else

She slapped him and called him names, but he didn't react.

The judge reacted angrily to the suggestion that it hadn't been a fair trial.

Many people react (badly) to (= are made ill by) penicillin.

specialized Potassium reacts (= changes when mixed) with water.

 encounter

encounter /ɪnˈkaʊn.tə r / /-t ̬ɚ/ noun [ C ]

1. a meeting, especially one that happens by chance

I had a rather alarming encounter with a wild pig.

This meeting will be the first encounter between the party leaders since the election.

2. an occasion when people have sex, usually with someone they have not met before

3. an occasion when two teams play against each other

In their last encounter with Italy, England won 3-2.

encounter /ɪnˈkaʊn.tə r / /-t ̬ɚ/ verb [ T ] MEET

1. formal to meet someone unexpectedly

On their way home they encountered a woman selling flowers.

 greet

greet /griːt/ verb

1. [ T ] to welcome someone with particular words or a particular action, or to react to something in the stated way

He greeted me at the door.

The teacher greeted each child with a friendly 'Hello!'

The unions have greeted the decision with delight/anger.

2. [ T often passive ] If you are greeted by a sight, sound or smell, you notice it immediately when you arrive somewhere

As we walked into the house, we were greeted by a wonderful smell of baking.

greeting /ˈgriː.tɪŋ/ /-t ̬ɪŋ/ noun

1. [ C or U ] something friendly or polite that you say or do when you meet or welcome someone

They briskly exchanged greetings before starting the session.

He nodded his head in greeting.

   
 involve

involve /ɪnˈvɒlv/ /-ˈvɑːlv/ verb [ T not continuous ]

to include someone or something in something, or to make them take part in or feel part of it

The second accident involved two cars and a lorry.

I prefer teaching methods that actively involve students in learn ing .

[ + -ing verb ] The operation involves putt ing a small tube into your heart.

Research involving the use of biological warfare agents will be used for defensive purposes.

She's been involved with animal rights for many years.

It would be difficult not to involve the child's father in the arrangements.

involved /ɪnˈvɒlvd/ /-ˈvɑːlvd/ adjective DIFFICULT

1. complicated; not simple and therefore difficult to understand

an involved reason/excuse/argument

The plot of the film was too involved - I couldn't understand it.

 bowing bow /baʊ/ verb [ I or T ]

to bend your head or body forward, especially as a way of showing someone respect or expressing thanks to people who have watched you perform

They bowed to the Queen.

We bowed our heads in prayer.

He bowed down (= very low) before (= in front of) the king and begged for mercy.

Compare curtsy

See picture bow

formality

formality /fɔːˈmæl.ə.ti/ /-t ̬i/ noun ACTION

1. [ C ] something which has to be done but which has no real importance

You'll have to sign the visitors' book, but it's just a formality.

2. formalities

something that the law or an official process says must be done

We'll have to observe the formalities (= do what is expected) .

formality /fɔːˈmæl.ə.ti/ /-t ̬i/ noun SERIOUSNESS

3. [ U ] when something or someone is serious and correct

She found the formality of the occasion rather daunting.

A note of formality in his voice alerted her to the fact that others were listening.

 statusjet

stardust /ˈstɑː.dʌst/ /ˈstɑːr-/ noun [ U ] literary

(something which causes) a pleasant dream-like or romantic feeling

stare /steə r / /ster/ verb [ I or T ]

to look for a long time with the eyes wide open, especially when surprised, frightened or thinking

Don't stare at people like that, it's rude.

Chuck sat quietly for hours staring into the distance, thinking of what might have been.

During the press conference, each boxer tried to stare the other down / UK also out (= force the other to look away by continual staring) .

 lag

lag /læg/ verb -gg- MOVE SLOWLY

1. [ I ] to move or make progress so slowly that you are behind other people or things

He's lagging behind a bit - I think we'd better wait for him to catch us up.

Sales are lagging at the moment.

lag /læg/ verb -gg- COVER

2. [ T ] to cover something with a thick layer of material in order to stop heat from escaping or to stop water from freezing

to lag pipes

thrilled

thrilled /θrɪld/ adjective

extremely pleased

[ + that ] I was thrilled that so many people turned up to the party.

thrilled to bits informal

extremely pleased

She was thrilled to bits with her present.

thriller /ˈθrɪl.ə r / /-ɚ/ noun [ C ]

a book, play or film which has an exciting story, often about solving a crime

It's described here as a taut, psychological thriller.

thrilling

 sights sight /saɪt/ noun VIEW

2. [ C or S or U ] something that is in someone's view

The flowers at the annual flower show were a beautiful sight.

You should always keep sight of your bags (= have them where you can see them) while you're at the airport.

informal You can't go out in those clothes - you look a real sight (= look untidy or silly) !

The child laughed at the sight of (= when she saw) the clockwork toy.

formal The lawyer requested sight of (= to see) the papers.

I dare not let the children out of my sight (= go where I cannot see them) in this park.

The police officer was hidden out of sight (= where he could not be seen) behind a tree.

The castle came into sight (= started to be able to be seen) as we went round a bend in the road.

We're looking for a house which is within sight of (= from which it is possible to see) the mountains.

figurative After three years of campaigning, the end is finally in sight (= will happen soon) for Jon.

I caught sight of (= saw for a moment) my former teacher while I was out shopping today, but she turned a corner and I lost sight of (= could no longer see) her.

"Do you know David Wilson?" "I haven't met him, but I know him by sight (= I recognize him, but do not know him) ."

informal She hated/loathed the sight of (= hated) her former husband.

informal They used to be very good friends, but now they can't bear/stand the sight of (= hate) each other.

The question seemed easy at first sight (= when they first saw it) , but when the students tried to answer it, they discovered how difficult it was.

settled

settled /ˈset.l ̩d/ /ˈset ̬-/ adjective COMFORTABLE

1. [ after verb ] if you feel settled in a job, school, etc., you have become familiar with it and are comfortable and happy there

Now that the children are settled at school, we don't really want to move again.

Although I worked there for over a year, I never really felt settled.

settled /ˈset.l ̩d/ /ˈset ̬-/ adjective HOME

2. living somewhere, especially permanently

After many years of travelling around, we're now enjoying a more settled life.

settled /ˈset.l ̩d/ /ˈset ̬-/ adjective QUIET

3. Settled weather is calm and unlikely to change.

It looks as if we are in for a settled spell this week.

 groceries

grocery /ˈgrəʊ.s ə r.i/ /ˈgroʊ.sɚ-/ noun SHOP

1. [ C ] ( UK also grocery shop , US also grocery store ) old-fashioned a grocer's

grocery /ˈgrəʊ.s ə r.i/ /ˈgroʊ.sɚ-/ noun FOOD

2. groceries

[ plural ] the food that you buy in a grocer's shop or supermarket

 laundrylaundry /ˈlɔːn.dri/ /ˈlɑːn-/ noun

1. [ U ] the dirty clothes and sheets which need to be, are being or have been washed

I've got to do (= wash) my laundry.

2. [ C ] a business which washes clothes, sheets, etc. for customers

 pets

pet /pet/ noun [ C ] ANIMAL

1. an animal which is kept in the home as a companion and treated kindly

They have several pets - a dog, two rabbits and a guinea pig.

a pet snake

pet /pet/ noun [ C ] PERSON

2. be sb's pet

disapproving to be the person that someone in authority likes best and treats better than anyone else

The other children hated her because she was the teacher's pet.

disturbing 

disturbing /dɪˈstɜː.bɪŋ/ /-ˈstɝː-/ adjective

making you feel worried or upset

The Home Secretary described the latest crime figures as 'disturbing'.

The following programme contains scenes that may be disturbing to some viewers.

disturbingly

adjustment

adjustment /əˈdʒʌst.mənt/ noun [ C or U ] CHANGE

1. a small change

She made a few minor adjustments to the focus of her camera.

adjustment /əˈdʒʌst.mənt/ noun [ C or U ] BECOME FAMILIAR

2. the ability to become more familiar with a new situation

He has so far failed to make the adjustment from school to work.

 rashes

rash /ræʃ/ noun SKIN CONDITION

1. [ C or U ] a lot of small red spots on the skin

I've got an itchy rash all over my chest.

He came out/up in a rash after he fell in a patch of nettles.

If you stay in the sun too long you'll get (a) heat rash.

rash /ræʃ/ noun LARGE NUMBER

2. a rash of sth

a large number of unpleasant events of the same type

There has been a rash of robberies/accidents/complaints in the last two months.

rash /ræʃ/ adjective

careless or unwise, without thought for what might happen or result

That was a rash decision - you didn't think about the costs involved.

[ + to infinitive ] I think it was a bit rash of them to get married when they'd only known each other for a few weeks.

 host

host /həʊst/ /hoʊst/ noun PERSON WITH GUESTS

1. [ C ] ( female also hostess ) someone who has guests

We thanked our hosts for the lovely evening.

The local language school is advertising for host families (= families with whom people stay when they are visiting another country) .

host /həʊst/ /hoʊst/ noun ON TELEVISION

2. [ C ] ( female also hostess ) a person who introduces guests and performers, especially on television or radio

Our host for tonight's show is Terry Wogan.

 humor

humour UK , US humor /ˈhjuː.mə r / /-mɚ/ noun AMUSEMENT

1. [ U ] the ability to find things funny, the way in which people see that some things are funny or the quality of being funny

He's got a great sense of humour (= he is very able to see things as funny) .

I must say I find his schoolboy (= childish) humour rather tiresome.

humour UK , US humor /ˈhjuː.mə r / /-mɚ/ noun MOOD

2. [ C or U ] formal the state of your feelings; mood

You seem in a very good humour today.

 survivorsurvivor /səˈvaɪ.və r / /sɚˈvaɪ.vɚ/ noun [ C ]

1. a person who continues to live, despite nearly dying

He was the sole (= only) survivor of the plane crash.

She's a cancer survivor/a survivor of cancer.

2. a person who is able to continue living their life successfully despite experiencing difficulties

He's one of life's survivors.

3. US A person's survivors are the members of his or her family who continue to live after he or she has died.