The thing about relocating for work is that wherever you go, you’ll experience some form of culture shock. For me, moving from the countryside of Wales to the big city of London was a hefty change, one that took a few months adjusting to. Now, I live near Tokyo, Japan- a big move through which I endured some pretty intense culture shock. Living here for just over three years, the process of culture shock has been a big part of that time. It can be rough, it can help you grow, but will you ever really fit in? Here are 5 parts of culture shock that seem negative, but which can actually be very good for you.
1. Getting Sick
The first 6 months — 1 year of living in a new place, especially a new country, is peak time for your immune system to catch anything and everything that you have never been exposed to before. Expect to get sick with colds, flu, stomach bugs and everything you thought you’d spent your whole life becoming immune to. Every new location has its own colony of nasties just waiting for a newcomer. Get health insurance, locate a doctor within your first week or so, and you’ll be totally prepared. TIP: Many companies don’t seem to realise the effects of relocation- so be prepared to explain any frequent sick days to your boss.
Why is this good? Remember when your grandparents used to tell you rolling around in the mud outside would make you strong? No? Just…me then. However, there lies some truth to exposing yourself to viruses and germs that your body can build up a resistance to. When I first arrived here, I got bitten by a mosquito, which turned into an allergic reaction, which turned into a comedy-sized swollen forearm. I get bitten every year, but the reaction has lessened. As has the comedy. Immunity and tolerance, chaps.
2. Language Barrier
Despite studying the language before moving to a new country, if you’re not moving to an english-speaking place, it can still trip you up. Suddenly you have to communicate with native speakers on a day-to-day basis. Everything you do needs to be in a new language, from shopping for groceries to finding a toilet, to getting health-care. It can be hard, it can be frustrating, but you will never improve more than when you completely immerse yourself in a language. Soon you will get used to watching TV and not having a clue what they are talking about, and if you make time to study and to engage with people everyday, soon you’ll be communicating with ease.
Why is this good? Learning another language seems to be high on everyone’s list of things to do, but few of us actually get around to it. Do you know what helps? When you have no choice but to use another language. Nothing motivates you more than ‘I need to communicate, I need that sandwich in my life’, trust me.
3. Mystery Food
We all hear the horrors of eating when we are on holiday, getting sick and wondering where it all went wrong. Going to the supermarket and not knowing what anything is, or how to use it, can make most of us head immediately to the fast-food restaurants we know and hate just for the comfort and security. Thankfully, the internet has been invented. Google translate can scan any items with average accuracy, at least enough to provide you with a name. Then a quick internet search can bring up many recipes. Or, you can simply ask the locals- your colleagues and new friends will probably be more than happy to teach you how to cook traditional dishes from their country. That being said, when you want the creature comforts of home, especially during your homesick times, amazon and other expat sites online can help you to find a supplier.
Why is this good? Maybe you hate cooking, maybe you’re bored of your home-country menu. Learning about another culture’s food broadens the mind, and if you’re like me, broadens the waist area too. It definitely impresses family and friends when you visit home and whip up something they have never tried before.
4. Fitting In
What happens when you move to a different culture? You have to fit in. Whether this is fairly easy for you because your cultures are similar, or you look the same, the many studies on in-group and out-group within social psychology pertain to the idea that, for a while at least, you will be positioned on the outside. In the case of Japan, you will always sort of be there. Homogeneous societies take ‘us vs them’ far more seriously than other countries, and as global as Tokyo likes to think it is, if you’re not full-Japanese (and this goes for mixed-race too) then for now, full-integration is still a pipe dream.
Why is this a good thing? If you have never been excluded, ousted or experienced life outside of the popular group then you might well be missing a perspective that develops empathy and community. Experiencing this throughout school prepared me for Japan, and both situations have made me take a step-back and evaluate how I treat others.
5. Following the Rules
This was and continues to be a big sticking point for me. It has been said that people hit a wall about 2–3 years of living overseas, after which they either decide to stay or they decide to leave. For me, the wall has been the many rules and regulations- especially for women- that I have a hard time accepting. We are creatures of habit and the rules and policies we were brought up with in our home-towns and home-countries are possibly the most difficult to let go, to change and to go against. Of course, there are sticking points for everyone, everywhere.
Surely this can’t be good? Well, it often doesn’t feel good, but the benefit of moving here, for me, was learning about my views, my morals and how open I could really be to different ideas. I surprised myself, both with how much living here has changed me and how flexible I was able to become, but also with the parts of my identity and the ideas I have on the world that cannot-at least at this moment- be altered. Whether you stay or go, your frustrations and successes will have molded you into who you are in the future, and that’s something to be happy about.
Relocating for a job, especially to another country, can be difficult and challenging, and it changes you more than you might be prepared for. But it is worthy of all blood, sweat and tears and you will come out of it strong, resilient and open.
Do you have any culture shock stories? I’d love to hear them!
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