Monday, November 10, 2008
Session 2- week 4
This week we are writing our cause/effect essay. Tell us about one example of culture shock that you experienced. You can focus on the causes or you could tell us about the effect of culture shock on your experience here. In other words, were you able to overcome it quickly? I remember when I lived in Argentina, I was amazed at how thin everyone was. It was unusual to see someone who was overweight. I guess I had "reverse culture shock" because when we moved back to the U.S. I couldn't believe how many fat people there were. I hadn't noticed this so much before I left the U.S. It was very obvious to me how overweight we must appear to international visitors.
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The "distance" and "volume" are kind of culture shock for me. The United States is a big country for a person like me from a small island. Because of its distance, from a place to another, usually need more time to get there, compare to my country. Another shock is the volume of the food. For example, the biggest container for beverages are huge. When I go to the American style’s restaurant, every meal comes with large volume that really surprised me a lot. But I enjoy it a lot, too.
Almost people usually have culture shock when they move from a place to other place living. Me too. In despite, I usually moved from North to South Vietnam living, I also had already been for few years in Taiwan before, but I still had some culture shock when I came the United States. Firstly is feeling shock. I am not so homesick; though, I sometime still feel missing my friends because I always lived together and did work with them everyday in Vietnam. Secondly is way of life. American is more opened mind that can immediately state what something their feel; while, Asian people are more contained mind who usually state less what something their feel. Furthermore, American is more independent than Asian and everybody is very busy, so I learn more something I want to use them such as how driving car or how using visa card etc. Thirdly is food shock. Vietnamese usually eat more rice; while, American eat more wheat something. Whereas, I live with my sister who is Vietnamese, but she lived a long time in here, so she also eats rice a little. These feeling, way of life, and food that made me shock when I just came the United States, but I feel so happy, so I leaned more some new culture from American.
One of the culture shock is the way using electricity. Recently I found every store didn’t turn all of their light off when they were closed. I think it wastes electricity and money. Another example is street lights. There are just a few street lights near my aunt’s house. I feel very uncomfortable when I walk through the dark every night. If I lived here, I will never allow my daughters or wife walk outside alone. This culture shock makes me confused why Americans use their electricity in that way.
This is written by Jerry.
One example of shock culture is that Americans like to drink cold and sweet beverages with ice such soda and cola, even in cold weather. Because of traditional Chinese medical science, Chinese think warm water or beverage is better than cold one for health. Another shock is huge space in the US.I usually spend more time to go somewhere by bus or car. Although it’s not convenient, it’s good chance for me, a visitor, to see scenery.
When I came the U.S, I was surprised at the number of cars. We can see a lot of car everywhere, an airport, highway, a restaurant, a mall and even the university. At the first time, I was wonder why American people want to use car? I think public traffic is more convenient than car because people do not care about gasoline, parking and alcohol. However, I have noticed gradually about American's tend while I have been lived in here the U.S. One reason is American traffic is not enough to transfer. Further more, American people prefer to keep their large living space. Big house needs big space. Thus they have to transfer large distance, and they have a car. I analyzed living big space means not only material sufficiency but also mental sufficiency. At first, I thought it was not practical, but now it is good and it is a kind of culture.
When I came to American, I can not believe how a diverse country American is. There are many different ethnics and religions in U.S but the people can live together harmoniously. Every one is nice here. Compare with American, most of Chinese usually judge others by their cloths and education. They also care too much about how others think of them. In America, I often see some man and women dress plain and simple cloths at a public occasion even they drive a luxury car. I think this is a negative culture shock, but it real confusing me. Besides, when I communicate with others, I usually do not like to show the emotion as clearly as American, like a poker face. Consequently, maybe they are unhappy because they can not know what is I am thinking of. Some times I look strange because there is no facial expression on my face. Thus, these are my culture shock. Tips: I am changing now…..
i think everyone go to the other country has curlture shock.One of culture shock is during the night the street always drak. when i was in china, during the night, many people come out meet frinds or do something, but here, became more quiet, i think maybe some also do that, most people not. That is my curture shock
Actually, I don't have a culture shock. However, I surprised about size of drink. When I order the small size of coffee or coke, they give me a huge cup. Also, in the supermarket, all kind of drinks are at least 1 gallon. Now, most of American thinks about health food, but why they don’t change their basic size? I think, Junk food is not a problem; size of coke is the problem.
I went to Philippines for trip three years ago. I expected my trip because All cities of Philippines is famous a tourist city. However, I was experienced culture shock as soon as I arrived. There was very humid and hot. I stopped by a store for buying water. I thought the cleark was definitely woman. She was concentrated on smoking. She was very beautiful. After I taken a bottle of water, I asked her.
"How much?"
At that time, I was neverous because I've never told with a foreigner .
"Just, a water? __ dollars."
I was suprised her voice because her voice was man. She was transgender. In case of Korea , I 've never seen transgender that work at stores. At that time, It was culture shock for me.
I think the food is culture shock. In Taiwan, the food is so cheap that I can save money. However, food's price here is three times as my country. The food in my country is more delicious than here. But I know I can bear it. I want to study here so I need to get used it.
As I mention before, I was shocked at a lot of homeless and strangers in downtown area. Besides, I always see the police officer question people searchingly. Perhaps that people had some problem or they made trouble before. Late week, when I was going class at noon, I saw two police officers and two black people in the park area where next of the SAL classroom building. One of the police officer he was searching a man’s body. The other police officer she was asking a woman, and I saw that woman was wearing handcuffs in her back. Yesterday, I saw a few police officers in front of King library. They were asking some young people searchingly as well. I don't know why this situation seems like usual and so often.
Due to the first time living in the US, I have some problems with the new life. First, it was very difficult for me to go anywhere because of the transportation. I used to go to internet and find out what I should use. I hadn't done something like that before. Second, language was also a big problem. I like to talk with people. However, because of my not good English, it made my felt a little scare when I saw any native person who wanted to talk with me.It took me three months to be familiar with these thing. Now, I feel very thing is better.
I think many Americans are talking directly when they talk their opinion. Actually many Koreans concerned others thinking before they talk themselves opinion. In my opinion, it caused by education. When I was middle school student, I didn’t like ask something to teacher during the class. Since, someone already knew it or it will interrupt the class. By the way, Americans talking directly and they don’t have secret things. For example, they talking stepparent or divorced problems easily. They talking everything like that his/her life or family stories although they meet in the airplane just first time. Sometimes I think that is good for be friend easily but sometimes I got some pressure about I have to talk to them because they talk to me.
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