Is Culture Shock Real?

 Is Culture Shock Real? - by Dawn Lwakila, Seawood

I think it is time that we debunked the notion that culture shock is an intrinsic part of travel. Being a Canadian, settled in India since 2015, I get asked about this all the time, both by other foreigners and by Indians. “How do you handle the culture shock of living in India?” There is an assumption that moving to a new country entails a certain level of emotional and physical distress. I beg to differ.

Having lived on four continents and travelled to over 30 countries I feel that culture shock is not something that automatically diminishes as the number of stamps increase in our passports. I think it has more to do with understanding our conditioning. With just the slightest paradigm shift we can gain a new perspective.

We are encouraged to believe that there is hardship in travel when it comes to adjusting to a new environment. I think this happens when we impose our own cultural norms and particular values on others. We feel frustrated and confused when things don’t function the same way they do in our home country. We don’t understand people’s reactions or we anticipate results that do not fit into our new context.

I once had a European friend who got so frustrated by the fact that many Indians ate dinner later in the evening than they were used to. In their home country they would eat at 5pm. They found that in India, for a weekend party the food may not be served until 10pm, which was unheard of in their culture context. This created tension for them which caused them to reject many dinner invitations. Perhaps instead of comparing the situation to what they felt was right and proper, their attention could have been put on the joy of making new friends, the pleasure of sharing a meal or the chance to experience something new.

When our focus is on otherness it is hard to feel that we belong. I find it much easier to concentrate on what unites us, on the values that we hold in common and what gives us a shared sense of purpose. Everything else is just decoration. Language, religion, customs, food, etc, these are the adornments that make a place unique and beautiful. There are many common values that transcend culture and customs of any particular group of people. I am a mother thus there is an understanding and connection I can make with other mothers regardless of where we come from. I am a trekker. A love of exploring exists in every corner of the world.

Everybody has their own preferences and we each are following a unique path. I find that being relaxed and open has allowed me to feel very much comfortable in India. Friends, family, love and laughter, these are universal. When we allow ourselves to experience these things in all of their myriad forms we can instantly feel at home and connect to a new place.