For Field Personnel

THE FOUR STAGES
OF CULTURE SHOCK

Most people have experienced culture shock. Going away from your parents’ home for the first time, getting married, moving into a new town, house or job all will create culture shock.

Stage One: Honeymoon On The Mountain

• This period is an emotional high.
• It begins as you prepare to go and continues until you hit the first of the worldview collisions that take place throughout your time overseas
• Volunteers experience stage one and some stay in this stage throughout the mission trip.
• If volunteers remain in this stage they will not see the reality of missionary service or the lostness of the world.
• This the time to take pictures and write postcards home. Everything is quaint, charming or picturesque.
• During this stage we fail to see the dirt, poverty, chaos, or
  anything negative.

Stage Two: Loneliness In The Valley

• Is an emotional low.
• It seems that the community you are in is impossible to understand.
• You are under utilized and unappreciated.
• You may feel anger at the local residents or at fellow team members or even God who called you here.
• Rising stress, short temper, physical illness, withdrawal, homesickness, worry and spiritual depression mark this stage.

Practical ways to climb out of the valley

• Increase your quiet time and let God show you what He is doing.
• Focus on similarities rather than differences. (If the smells bother you think about the local dump back home. If the food seems monotonous, remember college dorm food. If the worship forms seem too formal or too lively think about the God whom is being worshipped.)
• Measure success in little things (ex. you got a smile from the taxi driver).
• Talk and pray your feelings out with someone who is not in the valley.
• Find your sense of humor and laugh at yourself.
• Write in your journal including at least one positive experience daily. Re-read the good parts.
• Keep busy; concentrate what you have done; not on what you cannot or have not done.

Stage Three - The Slow Climb

• Time of relief that allows you to see some good in the host community. You may not embrace the habits and customs but you appreciate its good points. Sometimes this may not happen at all or it may happen after the trip is over and you reflect on the ministry.
• If you reach this stage on the field begin your good-byes to the people with whom you have been working and living. Make no promises of on-going communications if you cannot keep them.
• Avoid any entanglements that would create problems for the local pastors, church or missionaries.
• If you do not reach this stage then begin your goodbyes with the same guidelines.

Stage Four - Integration partway up the mountain
Time to enjoy the community with understanding.
This stage is probably not attainable during the first volunteer trip. The local missionary has usually entered this stage.

FINAL WORDS ABOUT THE STAGES OF CULTURE SHOCK

• No one has ever died from culture shock
• The stages of culture shock are not progressive but rather cyclical. You can fall back or forward at any given worldview collision event.
• It is normal to experience culture shock

Local field personnel will also be in one stage or another; be sensitive

TRIGGERS OF CULTURE SHOCK
There are some basic factors that in a new setting trigger culture shock. These factors are usually seen as different from that which is “normal.” The hardest concept for a traveler to accept is that what is done, seen, observed is “normal” and what the traveler is accustomed to is different. The following are factors that often trigger culture shock.

1. The Language Barrier

• A traveler is accustomed to being understood and understanding
• When confronted with new sounds and inability to communicate the traveler is fearful, threatened and frustrated.
• Learning key words and phrases before going to a new place can offset this fear.
• Remember a smile goes a long way toward communicating Christ’s love.
• Review the seven tips for language learning

1. Show your willingness to learn. You are vulnerable, but make such a positive statement when you are a learner. 2. Listen a lot! Listening and observing will help you avoid cultural faux pas and teach you body language. 3. Memorize basic phrases and mimic them. Do not seek a word for word meaning, but grasp the idea of the phrase (ex.” Hello” in English is a greeting. It is not really definable) 4. Have fun as you learn; play games with counting, naming etc. Be ready to laugh at yourself. 5. Learn power tools that will aid language learning. Memorize the equivalents of “Thank you” Basic greeting” “What is this called”, “I don’t understand”, “speak more slowly,” “repeat that, please,” “ etc. 6. Keep your learning to the most commonly used words and phrases that cover a broad concept (ex. “tool” instead of “micro-electronic balanced adjuster”). 7. Show appreciation for the new language even when you are confused.

2. Space – Americans have a lot of personal space. In other cultures personal space is often non-existent. Sharing of space is normal. Personal space may not exist on transportation, in cafes or even in restrooms.

• In our culture there are different behavior norms for men and women, friends and strangers
• In new situations we seek our comfort zone.

3. Time

• Unlike most other cultures Americans are time conscious.
• The successful cross-cultural worker leaves the daytimer at home.
• Do not be annoyed when events do not start on time.
• Relax and enjoy the situation.
• On time but flexible should be the standard for the volunteer.

4. Variety – Many cultures do not have the abundance of consumer goods Americans take for granted. Toothpaste, shampoo, bread, automobiles may not be available in multiple brands or 12 sizes.


5. Comfort and Convenience – Millions of people live without air conditioning, microwaves, personal automobiles and a myriad of small appliances. Comfort can be defined not only in terms of physical comfort but also of emotional comfort. There has been a recent revival in US restaurants of “comfort food.” Our belief system defines comfort food. Meatloaf and mashed potatoes, fried chicken, grits and sweet tea are comfort food for many Southerners. Overseas you may encounter some comfort food from other cultures.

6. Cleanliness — Standards of what is clean and not clean are highly cultural. In some cultures people are appalled that Americans wear their street shoes inside the house — a rude and filthy habit. .

A personal anecdote of learning about differences in what is clean:
While I was living in Asia, I was horrified one day in the market when my good friend wiped her dripping nose and slung the mucus onto the street. It actually fell onto my shoe. We were good enough friends that I asked her why she did that. She laughed and explained, “Americans are the ones with the dirty habit. You blow your nose into a Kleenex and carry it around in your pocket until you find a wastebasket.” — Corella Ricketson, retired IMB missionary

Cleanliness is determined by cultural norms
A few basic rules followed strictly will allow you to present yourself as a successful and healthy cross-cultural witness.

These rules are:
1. Water needs to be boiled.
2. Avoid use of ice.
3. Remember: if it is stove-hot or can be peeled it is edible.

7. Poverty – Although America has poverty, many Americans never see the actual face of poverty. Overseas poverty is often so prevalent that Americans are overcome with grief at its sight.

Steps in Dealing with Poverty
1. Try to acknowledge the person of the beggar.
2. Give smiles, kindness, and encouragement.
3. Check with the local missionaries about what you should do.
4. Give whatever you give without strings.
5. Acknowledge in your heart that you have done all you can do.