Culture shocks?
Dec 7th 2008, 10:01 pm
#526
Nuts and Bolts
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: Palm Tree in the Snow
Posts: 2,116
Re: Culture shocks?
Culture shocks? Let me ponder............... bloody everything. I hate it here so far, keep trying but miss everything about Australia, the people, the humour, the weather, the beach, our FANTASTIC friends and social life. I have one friend here so far (thank GOD for her, she's a brit who arrived in Utah a month or so before us, from Pennsylvania), neighbours aren't very welcoming, the school is not that welcoming to parents, the kids get loads of homework and it's all so different to Oz that we spend almost all of every evening doing homework. Dread growing old here cos of the health insurance thing, hate the obsession with grades at school. I'm lonely, sad, unhappy and having a very bad day. Why on earth did we leave a good life to move to this place!!!!!
Jan 15th 2009, 1:56 am
#528
Nuts and Bolts
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: Palm Tree in the Snow
Posts: 2,116
Re: Culture shocks?
Alrighty young lady, where are you lot? Not heard a squeak. Need to know how things are going? 
May 20th 2009, 2:03 am
#529
Look at moi!!!
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: Magnolia, TX
Posts: 2,762
Re: Culture shocks?
Culture shocks? Let me ponder............... bloody everything. I hate it here so far, keep trying but miss everything about Australia, the people, the humour, the weather, the beach, our FANTASTIC friends and social life. I have one friend here so far (thank GOD for her, she's a brit who arrived in Utah a month or so before us, from Pennsylvania), neighbours aren't very welcoming, the school is not that welcoming to parents, the kids get loads of homework and it's all so different to Oz that we spend almost all of every evening doing homework. Dread growing old here cos of the health insurance thing, hate the obsession with grades at school. I'm lonely, sad, unhappy and having a very bad day. Why on earth did we leave a good life to move to this place!!!!!
May 20th 2009, 2:40 am
#530
UNFORGIVABLE
Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Erie PA - From Ipswich England
Posts: 381
Re: Culture shocks?
There a lots of things that come to mind, and I'm sure you'll get a great list here.
...but what really shocked me was how serious "culture shock" actually is.
Read about the four stages of culture shock (and Google for more articles). The first weeks and months are wonderful, during the Honeymoon phase. It's after that that the real trouble can start, and you'll be much better off if you're ready for it. The Rejection stage, for me, lasted nearly 3 years, and I'm still not completely out of it. A strong, even aggressive dislike of many aspects of the host culture can lead to very tough times, sometimes resulting in real depression.
You'll get through it, and come to accept and appreciate your new home, but it can take a surprisingly long time.
In the meantime, enjoy your honeymoon period when you arrive - it really is a blast!
...but what really shocked me was how serious "culture shock" actually is.
Read about the four stages of culture shock (and Google for more articles). The first weeks and months are wonderful, during the Honeymoon phase. It's after that that the real trouble can start, and you'll be much better off if you're ready for it. The Rejection stage, for me, lasted nearly 3 years, and I'm still not completely out of it. A strong, even aggressive dislike of many aspects of the host culture can lead to very tough times, sometimes resulting in real depression.
You'll get through it, and come to accept and appreciate your new home, but it can take a surprisingly long time.
In the meantime, enjoy your honeymoon period when you arrive - it really is a blast!
That is so true. I think I'm in the Regression & Isolation stage .
Thanks for that link mate
May 20th 2009, 1:30 pm
#531
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Vermont
Posts: 3,264
Re: Culture shocks?
Just thought I'd give those of you who were kind enough to give me some support when I was so miserable a few months ago an update. Well, after a few ups and downs I'm very glad to say I'm pretty much over all that. I'm feeling much more settled and enjoying life again finally. It did take a bit of a crisis for me to really realise I had to just get on with it to make me actually do it but I did and I am. Just thought I'd give an update for other new people suffering from culture shock to give them hope that it will pass.
May 20th 2009, 8:02 pm
#532
Nuts and Bolts
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: Palm Tree in the Snow
Posts: 2,116
Re: Culture shocks?
Any new place has it's challenges but I think Utah offers a special one since it is controlled by the LDS church. Makes the rest of us feel like we have sprouted horns for being a bit different. 
Still, once you work yourself around the obvious obstacles you do find some great folk and it is a beautiful place to live. Takes time and a lot of effort. Glad to hear things are getting better for you L.
Still, once you work yourself around the obvious obstacles you do find some great folk and it is a beautiful place to live. Takes time and a lot of effort. Glad to hear things are getting better for you L.
May 25th 2009, 3:00 am
#534
Just Joined
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 9
Re: Culture shocks?
I have been living in new york now for a year and a half and I am actually from newcastle in the uk. The biggest culture shocks for me are:
1. health insurance- i miss the uk health system so much
2. tv- its terrible- full of adverts
3. racism definitely- for the first time in my life i have experienced people making judgements abt my behaviour and attitudes based on my colour
4. People seem to think more about money- how to make it and spend it. It feels more precious here.
5. People seem more into their family and less into their friends. The work place is not that friendly.
This is my experience of new york.
Hope this helps. (-:
May 25th 2009, 3:11 am
#535
Arrogant ****
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Plano, TX
Posts: 4,323
Re: Culture shocks?
Hello,
I have been living in new york now for a year and a half and I am actually from newcastle in the uk. The biggest culture shocks for me are:
1. health insurance- i miss the uk health system so much
2. tv- its terrible- full of adverts
3. racism definitely- for the first time in my life i have experienced people making judgements abt my behaviour and attitudes based on my colour
4. People seem to think more about money- how to make it and spend it. It feels more precious here.
5. People seem more into their family and less into their friends. The work place is not that friendly.
This is my experience of new york.
Hope this helps. (-:
I have been living in new york now for a year and a half and I am actually from newcastle in the uk. The biggest culture shocks for me are:
1. health insurance- i miss the uk health system so much
2. tv- its terrible- full of adverts
3. racism definitely- for the first time in my life i have experienced people making judgements abt my behaviour and attitudes based on my colour
4. People seem to think more about money- how to make it and spend it. It feels more precious here.
5. People seem more into their family and less into their friends. The work place is not that friendly.
This is my experience of new york.
Hope this helps. (-:
May 25th 2009, 3:19 am
#536
Just Joined
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 9
Re: Culture shocks?
It is true not every place or person in new york fit this. I think my experience of new york might be different to someone who comes from london as I come from a smaller city in the uk.
