Culture Shock

According to a quote by Henri Cartier-Bresson, "Culture shock is often felt sharply at the borders between countries, but sometimes it doesn't hit fully until you've been in a place for a long time."

                               Photo from: Quora

Did you know, just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, she became a butterfly?

 Culture shock is the feeling of disorientation and confusion that people experience when they are exposed to a culture that is vastly different from their own. This might happen when someone travels to a foreign nation or moves to a new location where the culture, customs, and social standards are not what they are used to.

Culture shock can present itself in a variety of ways, including homesickness, anxiety, irritation, and even melancholy. Adapting to a new setting can be difficult, especially when there are substantial cultural differences. People may become overwhelmed by the new culture and find it difficult to communicate effectively, interpret social signs, or adapt to new practices. 

                                                 Picture by: International Student Blog

People must strive to study as much as they can about the new culture, be open-minded, and eager to adjust in order to avoid culture shock. They should also try to engage with people, make friends, and participate in cultural events to better understand their new surroundings. It may take time, but people may learn to welcome and enjoy different cultures with patience and an open mind.

Assume you are a visitor from a Western country visiting Namibia for the first time. When you arrive, you discover that the culture, food, and social conventions differ greatly from what you are used to. For example, individuals in Namibia may greet each other with a handshake rather than a hug, and they may consume a lot of meat, especially game meat such as Kudu or Oryx, which may not be typical in your native country. 

    Photo by: Xinhua 

Additionally, you may experience a language barrier if you don't speak any of the local languages, as English is not the first language for many Namibians. You may struggle to communicate with locals or to understand signs and directions.  To overcome culture shock in Namibia, it is necessary to be open minded, patient, and eager to learn about the local culture. Try to acquire a few simple words or phrases in one of the local languages, and take the time to observe and respect the local customs and traditions. You can have a more fun and meaningful trip in Namibia by accepting differences and respecting local culture.

Do you agree that a number of factors influence the way people handle their culture shock ?

Intercutural Empathy

It is safe to state that intercultural interaction is crucial in both daily life and work. This short story shows the difficulties of coexisting with people of different cultures and languages in a small Namibian village, as well as the need of effective communication in overcoming these difficulties

American high school teacher, Sarah arrived in a rural Namibian village to work as a volunteer at a local school Onawa Secondary School, she knew it would be difficult. She was not prepared, however, for the cultural difference that promised to keep her isolated from the community. Sarah was assigned to teach English at the local school for six months. She couldn't wait to become totally absorbed in the community and learn from her students..Sarah soon realized, however, that the cultural divides were far bigger than she had anticipated. She struggled to communicate with her students and the other villagers since they spoke a dialect she didn't understand. She also struggled to blend in with the community's diverse traditions and customs. Sarah's dissatisfaction and homesickness grew with time. She felt isolated and isolated from the inhabitants, and she wondered if her arrival in the village had been a mistake.

 

                                             Picture from: Google

Sarah made the decision to seek assistance from the community elders one day. She asked that they organize a get-together with the other residents so she could introduce herself and get to know them better. The elders of the village held a gathering there since they were happy to help. At the event, Sarah was able to introduce herself and share her travel goals. She also overheard the people discussing their traditions, dialects, and customs. Because of this chat, Sarah learned more about the neighborhood and its residents

As a consequence of this honest and open dialogue, Sarah was able to overcome her communication issues and interact with the group. She was able to become a more successful teacher as a result of her enhanced understanding of her students' needs. She learned the importance of effective cross-cultural communication as well as the importance of respect and understanding for all parties involved, even in a small Namibian village

                                             photo from: Google

What other ways do you think Sarah could have possibly overcome this challenge ?

Cultural Identity

According to Mahatma Gandhi, "Culture is a way of coping with the world by defining it in detail."

 

                                   Picture by: Namibia Economist

The sense of connection and belonging to a specific cultural group is referred to as cultural identity. Cultural identity can have a significant impact on how people interact with one another and view themselves in a cross-cultural environment, where people from various cultural backgrounds come together.

Cross-cultural cultural identity is a challenging subject that needs careful consideration. In today's globalized society, people from different cultural origins are constantly interacting and speaking with one another. These discussions can be insightful and enlightening, but they can also be challenging and full of power battles.

One of the primary challenges to intercultural communication is the power imbalance. This is a reference to how, in a specific circumstance, some individuals or groups are more powerful or influential than others. This may be influenced by a variety of factors, including racial or ethnic background, gender, social standing, and ability to speak the language. Communication and understanding between cultures can be challenging when there is a power imbalance. An individual who belongs to the dominant culture, for example, can unconsciously assume that their manner of thinking and speaking is the norm and that other people will follow suit. Miscommunications and frustration may result for those from non-dominant cultures who may not be used to communicating in the same manner. People from non-dominant societies may experience discrimination and stifling due to power relations. The ideas and conditions of the group with less weight may not be as well-received or taken into consideration when one group has more influence and heft than the other. This could lead to a vicious cycle of oppression and exclusion.  

                                               Picture from: WordPress.com

In Intercultural communication situations, cultural identity plays a significant role. People who are conscious of their own cultural identity and receptive to learning about others can foster a more peaceful and courteous atmosphere. 

 

                                              Picture from: The Namibian.

Identity cards can be useful in establishing one's identity and cultural background, which can be crucial for intercultural communication. Identity documents, like passports and national identity cards, can provide vital details about a person's nationality, race, and other vital cultural traits. Identity cards can also be used to lower barriers and enhance intercultural communication. Presenting a passport or other kind of identification, for instance, might act as a beginning point for a conversation and the development of relationships with people from other backgrounds when visiting another nation.

Identity cards can also be used to encourage inclusion and diversity in society. We can make a more inclusive and welcoming workplace for everyone by acknowledging and celebrating all cultures and identities.
 

Multiculturalism and Commnunication

We share this planet with over 7 billion people who belong to thousands of cultural groups and speak thousands of different languages.

Communication Barriers 

When lecturers communicate with students in the universities, they frequently run into people from diverse cultures and linguistic origin. Due to these disparities miscommunication may occur during the communication process, which could have a detrimental impact on others nearby." According to Jeong,2008 there are often considerations that a person needs to take about cultural differences when speaking with students from diverse backgrounds,which can lead to communication breakdowns". In academic settings the problem of cultural boundaries is crucial, particularly in cross cultural encounters. Cultural barriers do exist when people from various cultures communicate  which may lead to conflicts and misunderstandings while exchanging ideas since the students lack pragmatic ability according to a study conducted by Wang and Gu in 2005.

Communication barriers such as anxiety, poor listing skills, nun verbal gestures and language were identified as communication barriers most students face . However most of the barriers are not directly related by cultural differences.

Photo from: google

There are noticeable gender-based disparities in many aspects of communication, including the classroom atmosphere, the communication medium students responses and their motivation, interest and competence. This may be a result of women's overall temperament and conduct, which is reported to be enthusiastic, kind and engaging with students.

The communications originator and recipient are separated by a number of factors. A communicator needs to be aware of the nature and implications of these intervening variables because, when used effectively, they can transform from being obstacles to communication into facilitators. The effectiveness of communication can be increased by providing a serene environment opportunities for relaxed interpersonal connection and enough multimedia facilities.

 

 

The importance of Intercultural Communication

Human beings draw close to one another by their common nature, but habits and customs keep them apart (Mhene,2022).

Intercultural-ism and Education 

Want to know a simple truth?" According to a Namibian case study of December, 2020 that was conducted at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), investigated that the challenges of intercultural communication between lecturers and first year students in the faculty of Human Sciences" hence, it was suggested that all first-year students in the Faculty, regardless of program, should have access to English with intercultural communication material.The study showed the age and gender composition of the students, whereby 20 % were male students between the age of 18-25 and 5% were between the age of 36-49 years old. Female students were 32% between the ages of 18-25, while another 5% were between the age of 36-49 and 10% of the females were between the age of 26-35. However, because NUST offers language programs for foreigners and beginners students who have trouble communicating and learning in English are encouraged to sign up for additional language sessions to improve their ability to interact with lecturers and fellow students. It was further suggested that lecturers and students should broaden their knowledge to enable them to accept cultural diversity in order to improve the competence of students and teachers in intercultural communication and inter language pragmatics.  The complexity of academic communication is far greater than generally believed, especially in intercultural interactions." According to Elze and Podlesny (2014), different cultures gather and interpret information differently. Since that NUST has culturally diverse academic community, communication problems are prone to occur, especially when cross cultural interactions are involved."

 

Photo from: Nust website.

The world is rapidly transforming into a small overlapping community as a result of rapid development in the global economy, technology systems and immigration laws. We frequently deal with individuals from various cultural backgrounds. Students will gain the information and dynamic skills necessary to manage cultural differences properly and effectively via the study of intercultural communication. It also entails cultivating a creative mindset to view things objectively from various perspectives. Listening to what John Lennon , a wonderful vocalist had to say in his outstanding song "Imagine" is of the utmost significance. The line "the world will live as one",  is emphasized a lot in his song. Living as an one human being is the goal of intercultural communication. Also, it was summed up in the song " Together as one," performed by the late South African artist Lucky Dube.

 Photo from : Nust website, Be a buddy poster.

International students and NUST students are connected by the NUST buddy system . The goal is to make sure that international students are successfully assimilated into Namibia University of Science and Technology as well in the Namibian society at large. Knowledge of other cultures provides access to the enormous diversity of human experience.It broadens out perspective and helps us see the reasoning behind acts and behaviors. 

 

People from many cultural backgrounds converse with one another on a daily basis in the faculty of human sciences, making intercultural communication a frequent activity. While interacting with students from other cultures, most people take their cultural background into consideration. The teaching and learning process in the university is not significantly impacted by the cultural difference, nevertheless. Listening and showing empathy is crucial in intercultural communication.

 

  

 How does cultural difference influence the teaching and learning process ?