CULTURE

CULTURE is the beliefs, customs, and social norms of a group of a people. When you move overseas, CULTURE suddenly becomes more obvious, more mysterious, and more important. We read books titled, “CULTURE Shock.” We sometimes feel as though no CULTURE really fits us completely.

While I know first hand that immersing yourself in a new CULTURE can indeed be frustrating and uncomfortable, I would like to suggest that you stop fighting or judging the CULTURE, and get curious about it instead, like an anthropologist. 

Here are ten questions about CULTURE that could be helpful to explore in your new country. 

1. What behaviors are rewarded? Which are punished?
2. Where and how are people spending their resources (time, money and attention)?
3. What rules and expectations are followed, enforced and ignored?
4. Do people feel safe and supported talking about how they feel and asking for what they need?
5. What are the sacred cows? Who is most likely to tip them? Who stands them back up?
6. What stories are legend and what values do they convey?
7. What happens when someone fails, disappoints, or makes a mistake?
8. How is vulnerability perceived?
9. How prevalent are shame and blame and how are they showing up?
10. What’s the collective tolerance for discomfort? Is the discomfort of learning, trying new things, giving and receiving feedback normalized or is there a high premium put on comfort?

Once you have really investigated these questions in your new CULTURE, it may be revealing to really reflect on the same questions for your home CULTURE. You may find some answers you really value in the new CULTURE, and some you may want to hold on to from your home CULTURE too. You may clearly see where the vast differences lie and know that these areas may be the ones you will spend the most time trying to bridge the gap. 

Take this as a real opportunity to learn about a new CULTURE, but also about yourself.