Every meeting and orientation we have had since coming here has mentioned this at least once. It’s the big bad, the dreaded, the inevitable CULTURE SHOCK! It’s almost like a rite of passage- an ordeal we all need to get through in order to fully appreciate life Dominican style.
Here’s what one of our many, many packets had to say about it: “As we grow up we are exposed to an endless amount of signs and symbols that as we grow allow us to interact with others in a way that is socially accepted. We can’t remember learning these ‘rules’ we ‘just know.’ These cues are just as important as the language we speak or the beliefs we live by. They allow us to interact with others without having to concentrate on our every move. We learned these cues unconsciously and we use them the same way.”
There is definitely a point to be made about all the little things that make up our lives and how we interact with each other. By moving to another country, all the rules and actions I took for granted are moot. Well, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. Common courtesy and looking both ways before I cross the street and cleaning up after myself will come in handy.
Basically the advice we’ve been given to survive culture shock is to get out there. The best way to understand a new place is to experience it. The more people we talk to and places we visit, the better we will be able to appreciate the cultural references and attitudes of the locals.
Side note- I got my first sunburn today. Nothing shocking about that.
Sounds like you are a woman on the move, Rose... moving with a great deal of ease and grace into your new surroundings. Your many experiences to date have served you well!
ReplyDeleteI imagine that some people have a much more difficult time of it, and may appreciate all of the information on culture shock. (But oh heavens, the sample you sent was dense!...)
Ade lante!