Culture Shock!!!

[size=3]Welcome to your new country.  You’ve come here for fun, excitement, change, challenge, and perhaps money.  Will the locals speak your language?  I’m not trying to scare you, but perhaps they won’t.  Will some people there speak your language, oh most definitely.    This is only one of the things that you may have to think about when you plan on going to a new country.  [/size] [size=3]            Culture shock is an interesting phenomenon that doesn’t affect everyone the same way.  Some just can’t understand it when the locals don’t speak English.  Some can’t comprehend why there aren’t any English signs anywhere to be found.  Why are things done this way, and not that way?  Why am I even in this situation?  It would never happen in my home country.  Questions like these can cause people to get stressed out and want to go back to their own countries.  People can get frustrated when faced with change.  Many people deal with it their own way, head back home.  [/size] [size=3]            In 1998, I traveled to Taiwan.  I never once felt that I suffered from culture shock, personally.  I always felt it was more like culture fascination rather than culture shock.  I was amazed with everything that I saw and encountered.  But I still had many questions.  For instance, why aren’t there English street signs on the corner of every intersection?  I felt that they would be very helpful for me and also for other people from English speaking countries.  What I didn’t think about was that the people that live there can read the signs just fine, and it certainly isn’t necessary for them to change them all just for me.  A friend of mine had a girlfriend that hated everything about Taiwan and couldn’t understand why it was different from her home in San Francisco.  She hated the people, hated the food, hated the smells, hated the transportation, all because it was different from San Francisco.  I asked her if she hated everything so much, why doesn’t she just leave.  I cared about Taiwan and its people and to be completely honest, I didn’t want to hear any more of her complaining.  She ended up leaving eventually, but after many more complaints.  This is what happens to some people, they can’t adjust to their new environment properly.  [/size] [size=3]            Others suffer from a much more realistic and understandable reason, homesickness.  It’s easy to miss your family, your friends, and your familiar stomping grounds.  For people that decide to go overseas, they have to stay focused, enjoy themselves, and be strong.  Yes, this new place isn’t like home.  Yes, this new place is strange and different.  No, your friends and family aren’t here.  This was one of the biggest challenges that I had ever faced and I thrived on it.  [/size] [size=3]            Another factor involved can be diet.  The foods that you’re used to eating may not be available in this new location.  You may have to actually try something different.  Believe me, this is a good thing.  Trying new things will also be a

China's vast and intricate, that's why you need to turn to tour operators for help.

I really appreciate the active attitude of Keryn. It is much esaier for Keryn to learn the local culture and to know the people there.