I think there are about four basic steps to adjusting to a new culture. Read over these and then check out the questions at the end.
1) Honeymoon - everything is great and wonderful.
2) Hostility - opposite of honeymoon. Everything sucks. All the locals are annoying. The language is frustrating. Buying bread is exhausting.
3) Humor - this new culture is just plain funny.
4) Home - ahhh… home sweet home. Now it feels natural to be here.
So without going into too many boring details, those are the basic steps to adjusting in a cross-cultural setting. I also don’t think you just cruise through these steps in a logical order. Some days you might be a #1, then #3 for a while, but then for about a week you could really be feeling #2. And then, on the really good days, you just know you’re at #4. However, after a while, despite the bad days and communication breakdowns, i think #4 becomes an everyday reality.
Based on your observation of me through blogging and conversations we’ve shared where would you say i’m at with the 4 H’s? I’ll give you my opinion later, but first i want yours.
So, where am i? Honeymoon? Hostility? Humor? Home?
Question #2: If you currently live overseas, (China or elsewhere), where are you on the scale of H’s?
Michael
November 20th, 2008
i think that you are hostile as to why your new home is so humorous.
Scott Fillmer
November 20th, 2008
I am going to go with 3 1/2 (1/2 being half way to 4)
Mom
November 20th, 2008
A little of 2, more towards 3, with a definite push towards 4.
m@
November 20th, 2008
hm, seems you’re at this humorous hybrid of humor and home.