Have you ever experienced culture shock? I did when I went to work in China. At first, I found it difficult to adjust to certain behaviours, like people clearing their throats in public or students riding their e-bikes on the pavement. Coming from a culture where following rules is important, these habits really annoyed me. However, over time, I got used to it, and eventually, it didn’t bother me much.
Here’s an interesting video with Kristofer Gilmour discussing strategies for coping with culture shock. Let me know in the comments if you think his advice is relevant!
Here are five words and phrases from Kristofer Gilmour’s TED talk on embracing culture shock:
1. Flâneurie – A French term meaning “wandering while wondering,” used to describe the act of exploring new places with curiosity and openness.
2. Culture Comfort – Gilmour’s term for the transformation of culture shock into a sense of belonging and familiarity in a new environment.
3. Reflection – A process of thoughtful consideration of experiences, important for learning and personal growth during and after culture shock.
4. Perspective Shift – The change in outlook or understanding that occurs when encountering new cultures or challenging situations.
5. Resilience – The ability to adapt and thrive in the face of discomfort or unfamiliarity, often built through experiences like culture shock.
Gilmour outlines a three-step process to transform culture shock into ‘culture comfort’:
Flâneurie (Wandering While Wondering): Encourages exploring new environments with curiosity and openness.
Embrace the Space Around Us: Suggests engaging actively with the local culture and surroundings.
Reflection: Emphasises the importance of contemplating one’s experiences to gain deeper understanding and personal growth.
By following these steps, Gilmour believes individuals can move from discomfort to a sense of belonging in unfamiliar settings. What do you think?
