The Importance Of Culture Shock

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Alervo Oberg was the first to apply the term culture shock to the tension and anxiety combined with feelings of isolation, sensations of loss, confusion and powerlessness, associated with entering a new culture (A.K. Eckermann 2006, p105). My understanding is that the only way one can get cultural shock is to actually immerse themselves in the different community. There has to be some sort of interaction, whether verbal or nonverbal. Isolating oneself even while being in the midst of a new environment should not lead to one experiencing cultural shock. Language is often the most crucial but not the only element used for breaking the cross inter cultural barriers. However, even if one is proficient in the language, they can still face problems assimilating. Knowledge of the language is not all, there must be some level of motivation and even the skill to communicate with people of a different culture for the barrier to be broken.
I am a first year international student who has been in Adelaide for the past three months. I came here with the desire to adjust to life quickly and take with me any positive experience that this new city has to offer. Many have to me that living and studying abroad will turn out to be the most enjoyable years of my life. However, it was not as simple as just leaving Singapore and coming to Adelaide to study. I will have to adapt to a whole new level of being independent, adjust to a unique and totally new way of learning, as well as cope with the social and cultural challenges of living and studying in Adelaide. I touched down with and received a warm reception at the airport but this did not reflect the true face of Australia. My first interaction with the people in Adelaide was certainly not a pleasa...

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...ly a countdown running at the back of my head till the next time I can haul myself onto a plane that is going to take me back to where I belong. Australians are very used to international students due to the significant influx over the decade. I will have to be outgoing if I want to make contacts outside of my usual circle of friends. I will have to step out of my comfort zone and meet new people, as I will not be building new relationships by socializing with my same group of friends every weekend. I have six years. Paul and Amy had eight weeks and they made full use of that even though there was some sort of a moral obligation to do so. One way to overcome that is to forge friendships that are significant enough and until the day when I actually look forward to coming to Adelaide more than to stay in Singapore, element of cultural shock will always be present.

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