Four Ways to Handle Culture Shock

I just moved back to the US after nearly five years in India. I am surprised to admit that I am experiencing a slight degree of culture shock, despite having been born in the US myself. However, it is nothing compared to what I went through when arriving in India in 2006.

The first time I visited India was in the summer of 2005, for my wedding. Although I was pretty determined never to live in India--or even to return back--I found myself joining my husband there the following year. I had found a job at an NGO in Bangalore, which I had heard was progressive and women-friendly. Nonetheless, I severely struggled with many aspects of life and work there, which even moving to the smaller, calmer city of Jaipur could not cure.

It was not until I took the Inner Engineering program in September 2008 that I began to learn how to cope with, and even enjoy, life in India. After attending this program, my perspective on life hugely shifted; the small things that used to bother me simply did not get to me in the same way. I became much calmer, happier and balanced.
Based on these experiences, here are the following tips I can offer about adjusting to life abroad:
1. Take time for yourself
For me, this came through the form of a daily yoga and meditation practice. It may also mean doing some sort of exercise. Previously, I had relied on dance, but I found that for many reasons (like harsh climate and lack of accessibility) I could not follow the same kind of coping mechanisms that I had in the past.
2. Find what resonates
This follows from the first point, that you should pursue your interests. Some people are drawn to India because of its rich cultural heritage and learn music or dance from the experts, or they are there for business in textile, fashion, jewelry, etc. Seek out that which exhilarates you and ignore the rest!
3. Write in a journal or blog
This form of travel writing is not just about cataloging your sightseeing tour, but rather your inner journey. Explore your thoughts and emotions in the safe form of a journal, without running the risk of insulting your hosts. Or share your adventure with those back home in a semi- or fully-public blog. It can be hugely rewarding.
4. Connect online & offline with locals & expats
Carrying on from number three, the ability to stay connected can help keep you grounded. Expat groups can be a great source of support, but connecting with locals can be an even richer experience. Don't just keep yourself at a distance from those around you; dive in and begin to learn what the place is really about through the people who live there.

What tactics have helped you to adjust to a new setting? Let me know in the comments below!
Author, Becky is a nonprofit communications specialist and blogs at BeckyBlab. She spent the last five years living in India. She's now based in New York and looking forward to new adventures. She's a a dedicated Isha yoga and meditation practitioner, and is passionate about nonprofits and new media.



Related Posts (Last four guest blogs):
Getting Into the Groove of Life In India: Three Pieces of Friendly Advice (by Vidya Hebbar and Jennifer Kumar)
Going Home Again – Three Tips on Moving Back in With Parents as an Adult by Carolyn Sperry
Few Ways to Make Your Long Distance Move Smooth and Efficient by Jeremy Heyes
Three Tips for Overcoming Culture Shock by Jessica Kumar


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Cross-Cultural Skills Resolve Conflicts In Daily Life

Did you know cross-cultural skills are helpful for understanding abroad and at home?

When I say ‘at home’ I do not only mean in your own country of origin but literally at home- in your home among your family and friends.

How can this be so? Well, let’s take a look at three cross-cultural skills:
Don’t rely on stereotypes (preconceived notions and assumptions).
Be patient and empathetic.
Communicate clearly and simply.

How can we utilize these cross-cultural skills at home?
It becomes easy to communicate with our family, friends and loved ones out of habit rather than being present in the now. This can especially be true in situations of misunderstandings and even heated conflicts. In these and even daily situations we can combine these skills in a possible combination like this:

 Steps:
Listen to the other person. -->
Do not react, think, be patient and empathetic. -->
Use active listening skills to enhance communication. -->
Take time to respond with paraphrase for understanding, using ‘I language’ and being non-defensive. -->
This will help with clear communication and demonstrate empathy.

Doing these steps will automatically help not relying on stereotypes, which will increase understanding, intimacy and a more peaceful resolution of the situation at hand.

Testing the Process:
Review recent personal conflicts in your mind.
How could this process have helped resolve the conflict differently?
Which of these skills were used successfully or unsuccessfully?
How can used skills be improved?
What skills were not used that could have helped?
How can those skills be learn and integrated into behavior?

Human relationships are complex and overlapping in nature. This exercise proves that skills we learn to help us interact more successfully with those abroad who “are different than us” can help us at home to improve communication and relationships with our loved ones also.

Have you utilized cross-cultural skills at home? How was it helpful?


Thank you for reading.

Jennifer Kumar, author of this post is a cross-cultural coach in Kochi, India who offers group and individual services. Click here to learn more about services offered.


Related Posts:
Why Should I Attend Cross-Cultural Coaching or Training?
Will I Benefit from Cross-Cultural Coaching?
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Tackling the Issues of Hiring NRIs


Jennifer Kumar, Cross-Cultural Coach
This is the first article I have had professionally published. This is co-authored with Aseem Juneja.

From slow economic growth in the West to a burgeoning Indian economy, there are a litany of reasons to explain the trend of non-resident Indians (NRIs) desiring to venture to India in search of employment, Juneja and Kumar outline four challenges Indian employers face when hiring NRIs and offer tips for applicants on how to overcome the pitfalls inherent in the hiring process. See this article in the August 2011 issue of Mobility. Other articles are listed below the article embed here.



Click on the article box to see it in a bigger size.
Other articles from this issue of Mobility-DOA: Death on Assignment By Erin Fitzgerald
Moving Families to Asia? Caution: Think Schooling First By Liz Perelstein
The Case for Cross-cultural Training By Brenda Bellon
Leveraging Effective Communications in Multiple-culture Business Environments By Lorelei Carobolante, GPHR, SCRP, SGMS
BRICs? So What? What Now? By Gary Dittrich, GMS
Destination Profile: India By Anne Dean, GMS, and Anita Krishnaswamy
Recruitment and Retention in India: Finding Snakes and Ladders in the Darkness By Ranjini Manian
Smart (and Smarter) Communications By Tabitha Parker


Related Posts:Outsourced to India: Factors that can Influence Types of Accommodations
Outsourced to India: Specific Conditions of Accommodations


==article concluded===
Author of this post, Jennifer Kumar has recently moved from U.S. to India for a second time. If you're looking for coaching around making a short or long term move abroad [to India] or have any other cross-cultural concerns you need coaching on, don’t hesitate to contact Jennifer at authenticjourneys@gmail.com. Thank you.


Copyright © 2011, Jennifer Kumar. All Rights Reserved. Do not reprint.
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