tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post6854389962252817141..comments2024-03-13T03:59:42.108-05:00Comments on Daily Blog: Why Culture is ExhaustingWendi Kitsteinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515018912328000746noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-46994106393695375202011-03-20T15:37:51.790-05:002011-03-20T15:37:51.790-05:00This was great to read Wendi. Just to comment on ...This was great to read Wendi. Just to comment on the stages of culture stress. You folks at Incirlik certainly have your own special set of challenges since you're in the "so close to turkey but so far away" situation for most of your week. I totally get the stages of culture shock, but I don't know if "Mastery" is even attainable for people who are fully immersed in the host culture in a two year period. I'd suggest a fourth stage in between adjustment and mastery which would be something like "Content engagement". At this stage, the person has lost the "everything is awesome" goggles of the honeymoon phase long ago, and has had enough experiences to see the dark underbelly of the host culture and know that there are some things that really suck about the place they currently live. The person at this stage learns to maximize, enjoy and engage in the aspects of life abroad that they enjoy, and live with the difficult things that can't be avoided; all the while acknowledging that life wasn't perfect back home either.<br /><br />I see a lot of people at that stage who haven't totally mastered their new home. I think that's where I've spent most of my past 6 years have been spent. <br /><br />That's just my two cents. <br /><br />Keep engaging with the culture you're doing such a great job. Remember that the cards are stacked against you living on the base. You've already experienced 100 times more of TUrkey than many people who've been here every will.<br /><br />(btw, I always flush TP.)Jakehttp://foreignperspective.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-48453600930307551412011-03-20T09:36:55.758-05:002011-03-20T09:36:55.758-05:00Ok, well not at all to the extent that you have be...Ok, well not at all to the extent that you have because I've lived in the USA almost my entire life (Guam when i was a kid, some culture shock there). Anyway, when I moved from Michigan to Arizona, I remember going to the grocery store and crying. Even the grocery stores down here aren't the same as home and I felt so out of place and lost! I definitely had to grieve and accept this new place, and that took a long time for me. There is a good reason I always said I wouldn't marry someone in the military - I don't adjust to change well:). Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience.Faithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03064955747540959696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14468282.post-7779003541457252162011-03-20T02:59:49.958-05:002011-03-20T02:59:49.958-05:00Hey Wendi,
Yep, that list is very accurate!
My c...Hey Wendi, <br />Yep, that list is very accurate!<br />My culture shock happened in Russia. It's not Asia, but it's not Europe either (even though it's lumped into Europe). It can be an all consuming thing! Once I moved to Czech Republic I didn't have any culture shock. Life there was much easier and I've had none in Spain (although I've had what I call language shock, where hardly anyone speaks English and you really need Spanish to get around (so you've got culture AND language shock! =P).<br />I'm not sure if I've moved to mastery. Maybe I have in some ways, but after over 11 years away from the US, I still get homesick, I still have moments of language/culture shock and I still have moments of wanting to fall into a pool on the floor because I miss my family or my favorite restaurant! But I love our host culture of where we are now and feels more like home than anywhere else I've lived. <br />I think you are doing a great job acclimating! You are doing the best things you can do, learning the language and embracing the culture as much as you can. <br />You are not alone! And it sounds like you've made some good friends on base that you can relate to and share in the struggles. THAT helps a lot!! Blessings!Tina @ Girl Meets Globehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08587907664334608623noreply@blogger.com