Don’t have time to attend a workshop? Check out notes from this session:

1) When confronting culture shock, language barriers are not completely inhibiting. Understanding unspoken communicative norms and cultural body language will bring individuals closer to community members

2) Culture shock is an inherently stressful experience, and removing oneself from the culture is an unhelpful response. Adapt to the situation by “becoming part of the process.” Constantly integrate new information about the community and its members.

3) Culture shock is not immediate. First, individuals feel the novelty of living in a new place. Gradually, stress arises as people become overstimulated and fatigued. Culture shock sets in as one realizes the challenge of coping with the environment AND implementing a project.

On adapting to new cultural norms: “If you cannot laugh at yourself for making mistakes, it’s going to be a rough experience”