Pre-Departure Orientation: Culture

Learning Outcomes

1. Explore the many dimensions of the concept of culture.
2. Develop a greater understanding of own cultural identity.
3. Understand the process of culture adjustment.

Understanding Culture

What is culture?

According to Nevadomski Berdan, Goodman, and Taylor (2013), "Culture is much more than food, sports and art. Culture is a system of shared values, beliefs and attitudes that are learned by a group of people who primarily work and socialize together" (p. 150).

The four images below are analogies for understanding culture. Do you see a similarity between the images and the concept of culture?

Iceberg

When we think of culture, we tend to think of only the visible aspects like food and dress (surface culture) yet the majority of culture is hidden beneath the surface (deep culture). Deep culture elements are those that are hidden from view and are grounded in the values, beliefs, and history of the people. The deeper the cultural element the harder it is to adapt or shift. For many, it is easier to adapt to a new style of clothes or to eat new foods than it is to change their way of thinking. “The goal of learning about cultures is to continue to probe the depths of an iceberg to seek to understand the drivers behind the actions and behaviors of another” (Berardo & Deardorff, 2012, p. 62).

Onion

Like an onion, people can have layers of culture. An individual’s culture can be layered with elements influenced by religion, race, gender or even geographic location. However, we often identify individuals by a single layer. For example, we may say “that, French person” or “that women.” This type of thinking creates a division between them and us. “When we think of or see only one layer of an individual, we are not seeing that person for the complex individual that they are and what they bring to a situation. We want to be recognized as being complex individuals shaped by a number of layers and we need to do the same for others" (Berardo & Deardorff, 2012, p. 62).

Fish in Water

Berardo and Deardorff (2012) describe culture to be like a fish in water. “Like water to a fish, the influence of our own culture is often invisible to us; it is simply what we know and what we depend on for survival. It is not until we become a fish out of water that we may realize our dependency on our own cultural environments or be able to see clearly what the water was that we lived in. Often the first step in working across cultures is to discover your own ocean and understand your own cultural influences" (p. 62).

Lenses

Our perception of the world and our reaction to it is influenced by our culture. Because we are all individuals with unique experiences and backgrounds, each person will view the world through a different filtering lens. According to Berardo and Deardorff (2012), "Culture is a system for making meaning of things, and as a result, we all wear cultural lenses or filters when we interpret a situation. This may lead to different concepts about everything, from what makes a good meeting to the role of a teacher or leader. The goal of working across cultures is to recognize our own lenses or cultural filter we are wearing in any situation and learn to put on the lenses of someone from a different cultural background" (p. 62).

How do we learn culture?

Most people grow up immersed in their culture. They absorb it from their family through rituals and customs, language, arts, social habits, and a shared history. People also learn about culture through school, relationships, television, and books.

What are your cultural norms?

In order to learn another culture, it is imperative that you recognize and understand your own cultural values and norms.

Americans, like any other cultural group, are a collection of individuals and we are extremely diverse. However, as a group, Americans tend to hold the following cultural values, some of which are very different from other cultures.

Individualism & Independence

We see ourselves as individuals, responsible for our own situations. We emphasize self-fulfillment. We give choices even to very young children and believe that it is wrong to expect individuals to always sacrifice their wants and needs for the good of the group. We admire individuals who fought their way to the top, do something first, or are the best. We define ourselves by what we do, not by our birth situation.

Privacy

We assume that everyone needs time alone. In some cultures, one is rarely alone and many translations of the word “privacy” carry a negative connotation of being isolated. U.S. children often have their own rooms and their own possessions. We have rules about confidentiality and personal property/ownership.

Egalitarianism

We generally express strong belief in the principle that all people are created equal with equal opportunities; yet, most Americans will admit that discrimination (e.g. racism & sexism) still exists in the U.S. We tend to enjoy stories of “self-made” individuals who rise from poverty to riches through hard work and initiative. Most Americans believe that individuals control their own destinies; children are told, “You can be whatever you want to be.” We generally do not like displays of social status (e.g. being bowed to, deferred to, etc.) nor do we have noble titles. We show respect in more subtle ways, like in the tone of our voice, order of speaking and seating arrangements (e.g. getting the most comfortable chair). Children are often allowed or encouraged to question their parents and “discuss” their parents’ decisions. Questioning professors is often highly valued and bosses often go out of their way to seem like “one of the gang." We chitchat with taxi drivers, waiters, bellmen, doctors, and lawyers. We give respectable titles to all jobs (e.g. sanitation worker).

Time

We are very concerned with time and efficiency and look for faster and more efficient ways of doing things. We talk about not “wasting time” or about “saving time.” In many cultures, time just is. We value organization and punctuality. We make “to do” lists, plan our leisure time, and carry calendars and schedules.

Informality

We use first names, even with people older than us and who have more social status. We use idiomatic speech, prop our feet up on desks, and wear informal clothing on many occasions.

Future-Oriented

We are less concerned with history than other cultures with regard to explaining conflicts (people from other cultures may go back several centuries). We value new things and ideas more than the old. Products are advertised as “new and improved." We believe we can and should improve our situation as in, “Don’t just stand there, do something.”

Achievement & Action-Oriented

We value hard work and continually want to improve our situation. We feel that we never achieve enough and should always keep bettering ourselves. We are always doing something and we feel bored or guilty after “doing nothing” for several hours.

Honesty & Directness

We value “getting to the point” more than maintaining “face” (prestige or dignity). We look up to the person who tells us directly and honestly when he is upset about something. We do not like to have a third person mediate. We believe it is important to tell the truth even though it may put us in an unfavorable light. In contrast, we also value giving positive feedback with the negative. Some other cultures are more concerned with “saving face” and may say something indirectly or put a more positive spin on a situation in order to save face.

Exercise 1:

Try listing all the cultures and identities with which you belong. Below are some suggestions to get you started. Add as many as you think describe you.

Did this help you think about your own culture or identity? How have your cultures and identities affected your life?

Prepare for Stereotypes

Nevadomski Berdan, Goodman, and Taylor (2013) state the following:

"What does an American look like? What do Americans think? What do they feel? How do they act? There is no one answer. The U.S. is home to a vast array of racial and ethnic backgrounds not to mention the individual differences influenced by geography, socioeconomic conditions, education, vocation, religion, and cultural heritage. Our diversity is one of our strengths, yet stereotypical perceptions of Americans persist. Stereotypes sometimes contain a grain of truth but they prevent us from getting to know people. They can also be really unfair. You will be confronted with stereotypes and you will be judged by those stereotypes—not by who you are. It is important that you understand what some of these stereotypes are. Start thinking about issues of race, wealth, poverty, gender, religion, and politics here in the U.S. At some point you will probably find yourself serving as a cultural ambassador, explaining, for example, that not all Americans are rich, not all own a gun, and what they see of Americans on television and in the movies may or may not be accurate but is hardly typical" (p. 156).

Anti-American Sentiment

There may be times, for reasons of personal safety, that you do not want to be marked as an American or otherwise identified as an easy target for victimization. If you are concerned about anti-American sentiment, refer to the Glimpse Foundation's cultural acclimation guide below called “American Identity Abroad,” which “aims to help study abroad students navigate the sticky issues that surround being a citizen of the world’s only superpower.”

Racial and Ethnic Concerns

Nevadomski Berdan et al. (2013) state the following:

"No two students studying abroad have exactly the same experience, even when they are in the same program in the same country at the same time, and this is true for students of color and those from U.S. minority ethnic or racial backgrounds. While abroad, you may find yourself part of an ethnic minority or majority for the first time in your life. For instance, if you’re visiting a country where you have ethnic or racial roots—an American with Chinese roots studying in Shanghai, a Puerto Rican studying in Spain, or an African-American studying in Ghana—you may have to consider the local norms and expectations in ways that other students with different backgrounds may not. You may inadvertently be identified with one group or another simply based on your appearance. Know what you're getting into and prepare yourself for it" (p. 159).

Exercise 2:

Step 1: Just by looking at you, what do you think people will observe about you? Write as much as you can in just a few minutes.

       For example:

• They will see I am a college student.
• They will see I am not from host country.
• They will see I am tall/short.
• The will see my arms have tattoos.

Step 2: What do you think people will ASSUME about you based on what they see? Take a few minutes to consider the perspective of another culture.

Step 3: Consider some of your hidden identities that you wrote down in exercise 1 and finish the sentence: Just by looking at me, people won’t be able to tell that I am...

Activity reproduced from: Kurtzman, Rich. (2022). Like a Fish in Water: How to Grow Abroad When You Go Abroad. Lioncrest Publishing.

Research Your Host Culture

Seek Out Information from Others

Nevadomski Berdan et al. (2013) suggests that study abroad returnees or other people with experience in your host country will prove to be valuable resources in preparing for your time abroad. "Remember: the more you know before you go, the less you'll have to learn after you arrive" (p. 152). Here are a few tips to get you going:

• Read about the everyday behaviors and practices of the people from your host country before you depart.
• Talk to people who either grew up in or spent a considerable time in your host country.
• If you do not meet a returnee at your country-specific pre-departure orientation, ask your study abroad advisor to help you connect with someone.
• Seek out students like you and ask about their experiences with stereotypes abroad and what they did to deal with them.
• Read student evaluations from those that studied abroad in your host country before you depart. If possible, email the student. Study Abroad 101 contains thousands of reviews from students that participated in study abroad programs at many UCEAP partner institutions (p. 152). UC Merced student stories can be found on the study abroad website.

Familiarize Yourself with Local Laws

As stated by Nevadomski Berdan et al. (2013), "Once you are actually on foreign soil, you are subject to that country's laws. To be sure, many of the laws will be similar to the ones you have learned to abide by in the United States. But some will be different (some stricter, others more lenient) and some will apply to situations that you just don't encounter back home. Pleading ignorance may get you off the hook in some minor cases, but you can't count on it. Therefore, before you go, learn as much as you can about the local laws of the places you plan to visit (Nevadomski Berdan, Goodman, & Taylor, 2013, p. 185)."

Exercise 3:

The goal of this activity is to write three lists of six adjectives describing cultures. Imagine you are on a plane flying home from abroad and you’re sitting next to a person from your study abroad country and that person turns to you to say, “I have never been to your country before, and I don’t really know much about it. Tell me what the culture is like. What are the people like?”

Step 1: Write down six adjectives that describe YOUR culture.

If you’re struggling with this, that’s ok! It’s really hard to describe our own cultures when we haven’t been confronted with a different way of doing or seeing things.

Step 2: Write down six adjectives that describe your HOST culture.

How did you come up with your answers to this question? Have you been to your host country before? Do you know someone from your host country? Or have your ideas come from classes, movies, or someone else you know who gave their opinions? It’s normal to generalize. This is how we make sense of something we don’t fully understand. But making a judgement about a group of people can be damaging if we aren’t willing to change our ideas. So that’s why you’re writing down your ideas now. Write what you think you know about your host culture so you can fill in the gaps of your knowledge and modify your generalizations.

Step 3: Write down six adjectives that people from your host culture would use to describe your culture.

When we met new people, it is never a blank slate. Everyone comes with their opinions and bias. If the six adjectives you wrote down do not describe you personally, you will have to work harder to overcome their perception of who they think you are.

Activity reproduced from: Kurtzman, Rich. (2022). Like a Fish in Water: How to Grow Abroad When You Go Abroad. Lioncrest Publishing.

In the video below, former Peace Corp Deputy Director Jody Olsen outlines 14 examples of cultural slip ups abroad and how to avoid them.

Culture Adjustment

Culture Shock

The process of mentally, physically, and emotionally adjusting to a new environment is commonly known as “culture shock” or "culture shift." It is a response to being in a situation where everything is different from your previous experiences, including languages/slang, food, transportation, body language, and everyday activities. Culture shock covers a wide range of reactions from mild annoyance to frustration, depression, fatigue, and excitement.

Honeymoon

The first few hours, days, or weeks abroad are often characterized by the excitement of sensory overload. Both adrenaline and expectations are running high and everything seems new and intriguing.

Hostility

Once the initial honeymoon phase subsides the dissonance between native and host cultures begins to seem more pronounced and a sense of alienation can set it. Curiosity and enthusiasm about-face, transforming into frustration, insecurity, negativity toward local culture, glorification of home culture, exaggerated responses to minor problems, withdrawal, and/or depression.

For tips to cope with loneliness abroad, check out the blog post “ Abroad but not Alone: How to Cope with Loneliness” in The Californian Abroad.

Gradual Adjustment

With time, you will begin to orient yourself to a different set of cultural practices and feel increasingly comfortable and confident in your new surroundings. Your sense of humor, which may have been lying dormant for a while, will reemerge.

Reentry or Reverse Culture Shock

Upon returning home, you will be faced with integrating your abroad experience with life in the United States. You may feel disorientated, out of place or changed by your experience in a way that makes relating to family and friends difficult.

For a more detailed look at reverse culture shock and what you can do to overcome it, check out the blog post “Reverse Culture Shock: Adjusting to Life at Home After Study Abroad” in The Californian Abroad.

Watch this video to hear how other students around the world adapted to a foreign culture.

To cope with culture shock Nevadomski Berdan et al. (2013) suggest the following:

• Maintain the ability to laugh at your mistakes. We learn by making mistakes.
• Self awareness is crucial; remember, your reactions and emotions are normal.
• Look for positive aspects of every experience.
• Be open to learning about your host culture, ask questions, and attempt to understand behaviors instead of judging them
• Set small goals for yourself initially. Your adjustment should be gradual.
• Take care of yourself physically; make sure you get enough sleep and keep a proper diet.
• Adjust your schedule to the rhythm of the host culture (i.e. meal times, study habits, time off) (p. 175).

It may also help to:

• Reflect on your experiences by keeping a journal or a blog.
• Try not to label things as “good” or “bad” but merely “different” and do not blow things out of proportion.
• Develop habits or join organizations that will help you interact regularly in the host campus and city.
• Remember that you are the foreigner and that people will expect you to adapt to their expectations.

The feelings of culture shock are unavoidable but recognizing their existence and knowing about them in advance will help you prepare yourself to accept the temporary discomfort and learn more from the experience. Everyone experiences culture shock and adjustment differently. Do research before leaving and try to understand what to expect. Utilize the resources provided at the end of this module but also talk to study abroad returnees and others who have been abroad. Do not forget to enjoy the journey!

In the TED Talk below, Krisofer Gilmour discusses how someone can embrace culture shock in just three steps.