Cultural Shock Reflection: Studying in Canada

Introduction to Culture Shock

Culture Shock refers to the "trauma" that an individual experiences when transitioning from their home culture to a different one. This transition often leads to uncertainty and stress. There are five recognized stages of culture shock: the Honeymoon Stage, Crisis Stage, Adjustment Stage, Acceptance or Adaptation Stage, and Reentry Shock. The impact of culture shock varies significantly among individuals (Oberg, 1960).

Cultural Shock Reflection: Studying in Canada

When I planned to go abroad for my further studies, I was a little worried about how things were going to work out for me. I prepared myself for this challenge, took the IELTS, and began applying for courses at various colleges related to my undergraduate studies. Eventually, I received an offer letter from Conestoga College for the Global Hospitality course. I was overwhelmed with joy at the prospect of attending this school. My mother, however, was quite worried about sending me alone to a new country, as she is very protective of me.

After applying for my study visa, I was excited to discover that my course included a mandatory co-op, which would be advantageous for my career. Once I received my visa, everyone was thrilled, and then I embarked on my journey to Canada. It took me about a month to become comfortable with this new culture, environment, and people. Initially, it was challenging to make friends because, for the past 20 years, I had always been with my family and had never done everything on my own. Here, I had to prepare my own meals, complete college assignments, and find a part-time job to pay for my tuition and living expenses. It took me a month to make good friends and three months to secure a job.

The first month was the most difficult for me. I often cried alone in my room and felt lonely all the time. However, I gradually adapted, and now I am very happy and eager to explore this culture with increased interest and enthusiasm.

Experiencing Culture Shock in Canada

I came across various aspects of education in Canada and began to notice how they affected my mental and physical well-being. During the first month, I experienced major symptoms of culture shock, including homesickness, irritability, excessive sleep, family tension and conflict, loss of ability to work effectively, psychosomatic illness, boredom, and unexplainable fits of weeping (Ward et al., 2001).

I personally went through the first four stages of culture shock: the Honeymoon Stage, characterized by fascination and excitement with the new culture; the Crisis Period, where excitement turned into disappointment; the Adjustment Phase, where I began to accept the new culture and engage in its activities; and finally, the Adaptation or Acceptance Phase, where I felt at home in the new culture.

Lessons Learned

Living in this new country with its unique culture taught me many valuable lessons. I learned how to earn money for myself, how to be independent, and how to balance studies with work. I also learned how to make good friends and adapt to a new culture, taking into account both the positive and negative aspects of life.

Advice for Others

I would advise others to always surround themselves with good company and never let anyone overpower them. It is important to remain optimistic and overcome all hurdles with a positive mindset. If you experience culture shock in a new culture, try to cope with positive thoughts. This may involve non-acceptance of the host culture, substitution, addition of behaviors from the host culture, synthesis of the two cultures, and resynthesis, which means integrating ideas found in both cultures (Pedersen, 1995).

References:

• Oberg, K. (1960). Culture Shock: Adjustment to New Cultural Environments. Practical Anthropology, 7, 177-182.
• Ward, C., Bochner, S., & Furnham, A. (2001). The Psychology of Culture Shock. Routledge.
• Pedersen, P. (1995). The Five Stages of Culture Shock: Critical Incidents Around the World. Greenwood Press.