Transcript Slide 1
Adjusting to a New Culture UMass Dartmouth International Student & Scholar Orientation What is Culture? • A cultural group has a common understanding of how to think, feel, believe, and act. • It can be cognitive and abstract, for example ethics, values and religion. • You can sense it physically, for example in the foods eaten, verbal language, and body language. • Culture tells us who “we” are and gives us attitudes about “them” or people different from us. Only 1/8 is visible A much larger invisible part is hiding below!!! How cultures evolved... Humans create culture. Many different cultures have evolved over the centuries, and sometimes in isolation. Each cultural group found ways to meet their different needs. That’s why different cultures may handle the same situation differently. However, THERE ARE NO ABSOLUTE RIGHT OR WRONG when it comes to cultural diversity!!!!!!!!!! What happen when two different cultures come together? Culture Shock • “Culture Shock” is a stressful period of adjustment that occurs when a person from one culture stays in another culture for an extended period of time. Four Stage of Culture Shock Adaption Gradual Adjustment Irritation and Hostility Withdrawal-such as excessive hours sleeping..unexplained sadness...Increase in physical illness or complaints such as headache or sick stomach Initial Excitement We can help! American Sports • Soccer vs. Football • Baseball Let us tell you about our culture..... Personal Hygiene Classroom setting Slang Social Time Gender and Appropriate Behavior Alcoholic Beverages Body Art