Great Video...as a picky humourless German however, I of course have to correct you. The point when a person has finally accepted the German culture is not called "conformity" but "Stockholm Syndrome".
If you're American, it helps to remind yourself that your (great)(great)(great)grandparents came to the US without knowing any English. There was no "Press 3 to hear this message in Italian/German/Yiddish/Polish/Swedish/Spanish/French/Dutch" option, no one spoke Italian/German/Yiddish/Polish/Swedish/Spanish/French/Dutch outside your small neighborhood in Manhattan and nobody cared if your (great)(great)(great)grandparents starved. They managed to survive. So will you.
As far as I've heard, there's another sort of culture shock: Some people think they knew their host country, because they have been there several times as tourists. Germans in Spain - espacially Mallorca - are such a case. And it is a shock to discover that normal life in the host country is different from an all-inclusive vacation.
I like the fact that you pointed out that your home country is no better than your host country and that your host country is no better than your home country. Students often accuse me of favoring things in Germany, but I am simply comparing and contrasting the two cultures. Neither is better. They are just different. Well put. Great video as always.
I remember well the "reverse culture shock" when I returned to Germany after two years in Wales. And it was by far more pronounced than the first one - mostly, I suspect, because I did not expect it. After all: This was "my" country, wasn't it? Also, I had somehow expected to "reboot" at the point when I had left. That was a false hope. Germany und myself - we both had changed in the meantime.
Agreed, reverse culture shock can really throw people off. My mom experienced it when she returned to the US in 1974, after two years tucked away in rural Jamaica. She went to see a film and didn't understand any of the jokes or references to contemporary culture. Everyone else in the theater was laughing and she actually had to get up and leave, she was so upset. Her own culture had become foreign to her.
Funny ^^ i have lived in 4 countries now, in 3 for some years, and i didnt expierence any culture shock at all. But that may have had one of the following reasons: 1. i already had friends in those countries before (internet) 2. i read a loooot about that country and asked my friends on social behavior there before i moved 3. and thats likely the reason with most influence: i am an aspergers autist and usually dont care at all what others think of me, usually dont have much social interaction anyway and experience the same social problems no matter where i go ^^
I agree Orkar. I think if you do a lot of research about a country before you move there, it helps you to have realistic expectations about it or at least have some idea of what to expect. I can't understand people that travel or move to other countries without having done any research and then are upset when they don't like something fundamental about the culture or end up arrested! Lol!
Cherria Gee Indeed. But there are quite some tragic examples to that. Like a european woman went to...i think it was Tunesia and was wearing a miniskirt all time. She got raped and the judge told her, that she is responsible as her outfit provoked the assault. She ended up with a fine while the attacker got away with it. Or one couple was arrested in...i dont know exactly i think western asia for 6 months cause they kissed in the public.
I've heard some people say reverse culture shock is worse, discovering how varied the world is makes bedding down back in your home country difficult - because the people there have limited horizons, it can seem stifling...
In the late 1990s I lived in Ireland for a couple of years.Language was not a problem, as I was speaking English fluently (by now I have an Irish West Coast accent, as I often get told). For the first six months it was like a big holiday. But then it turned into "how different everything is, and a lot of stuff is done weirdly and doesn't make sense". After about one year I had adapted and Ireland started to feel like asecond home. Everything just like you said. I also experienced reverse culture shock when I returned. I had seen things done better in Ireland, especially at work, but when I made suggestions to my colleagues and superiors I got told that "we are in Germany and that they had always done it this way".
I'm originally from the US. I only encountered one significant culture shock in Germany. Our company went bowling one night. Everything was as in the US, _until_ the lights on the lane went out in the middle of a game. Totally scrambled my mind. Turns out that in Germany it's pay for _time_, while in the US it's pay for _game_. Still can't figure out why, but at least it's not a shock anymore.
Very good observations. I've noticed all these stages by myself. I am German but have moved to Norway 14 years ago. And I have to admit that I don't belong to the third group, but to the second. More for some practical reasons I guess, I simply could not have the same life in Germany again.
A friend of mine who lived near Duisburg, visited me in Bavaria some years ago. He had somekind of a culture shock, but mostly because the bus drivers and the teller at the grocery were so friendly. And I was the culture shock for his people, when I visited him xD
so THAT'S what they call how I felt when I returned to the States after 3 years living in Germany! 28 years of being back, and you hit the nail on the head!! =D
That's just brilliant. You summed it up quite well. I went through all of these phases... but I think I'm still stuck in never wanting to leave my host country --- although I've been back for quite some time now :-)
Good video, especially as I am about to move to Germany, from Glastonbury funnily enough. I don't think that I'd experience that too badly, especially as I've been there many times in the past, so know somewhat of what to expect.
As a German student studying in Durham, England, I had some sort of a culture shock. But because I knew I will only be here for a few months, it did not affect me much. I do not feel homesick and if I could extend my stay here, I probably would. But I am not sure, if I would be able to cope, if I would have to stay here indefinitely.
Vorsicht -- egal, wo man hinfaehrt, gibt's Vorteile und Nachteile. Wenn man endlich aus seinem Alptraum rauskommt, landet er oft in einen anderen. Jedenfalls koennen Sie sich auf den Abenteuer eines neuen Landes freuen, wissen Sie nur, dort gibt's ab und zu auch Mist. Viel Glueck!
As an American, the staring bit is definitely true. Combined with the paranoia that jetlag-induced restlessness brings, my first few hours in Berlin were *slightly* terrifying. I felt like everyone around me was silently judging my every move. And on top of that, the fact that literally everything - the language, the architecture, the customs - was different. But eventually, I acclimated, and had a fun time! I even felt a little sorry to hop on the plane back to New York.
Oh so sweet your cat wants to be on RU-vid as well. Well .. I'm seriously thinking to move to Germany an a year . I'm going to start to learn the language because I just don't want to land there not knowing how to communicate with others . I also wants to finish my bachelors degree on Social Work first . I also have a degree on early child hood education . I want to ask you if I would be able to find jobs on this area . I'm not sure which state in Germany I wants yo go but, I got friends in Stuttgart and Frankfurt . Thanks for your time.
I have found that I go through the phases of culture shock rapidly, such that I find I cannot leave reviews for places I've visited on the 5th-7th day of visiting a country because that is when the culture shock is strongest & it gives me a bias. This also applies to reverse culture shock. I currently have a strong & irrational anti-Swedish bias because last time I visited Sweden, I left when the culture shock was at its worst. This I will recover from the next time I visit Sweden, because my culture shock resumes where it left off. I feel, however, that my autism makes me less vulnerable to the type of culture shock you describe, because my identity is not dependent on my relationships with other people.
This time in english: I didn't travel so many times in my life but it's probably because i'm just 18. I still understand at least the reverse culture shock as far as possible for me. I was on a study trip to scotland last summer and in that just one week i rather quickly adapted to the place, but when returning to germany i felt like i came from a much longer trip. It even took longer to adapt to the right-hand-traffic in germany while crossing a street, then to the left-hand-traffic in scotland. I dunno if that's normal or not but it's just a quite easy example and not a real "culture shock".
I have also had reverse culture shock. I speak old fashion English. The menus are full of things I had never heard of, and many cases wish I hadn't. Now I have not been to England for almost three years, and I wonder whether I still speak the language. In just over a week, I'll fly to Scotland, which could be reassuring. I have never understood the language there. OK, honestly, a little at least, I have to translate for German wife. I just hope I still understand my daughter,
Nice one. And thats it. People, Countries and Places are different. I like that. Not better or worse. Just different. I am all the time fascinate how diverse the world and the people are.
a friend of mine compleately broke down because she forgot how to open the door, just because it was different than what she was used to. after some crying she was fine again and had a wonderful exchange year. ps: my reverse culture shock was worse than the primary one. probably because i didn't have a culture shock until i got back home;)
Why no (even try?) translation for 'honeymoon' :( I like the challenge to translate or even invent new words for German. (I thought you feel the same because your subtitles are "overly" German for today's Genglish standards.) But I don't want to underestimate the work you put in for your videos! (no ingratitude)
I suffered worse culture shock when I moved to Boston, Massachusetts than when I moved to Madrid, Spain. I'm from, and currently live in, the Washington, DC area. Returning to DC was easier from Boston than from Madrid, for much as I hated living there, it's still the US.
I had if as german in usa with the food, burgers made me sick, and when i got served one food after another i felt lost, went to a store buy what i thought i know, choclate milk and chips, but cause of my poor english at that time i ended up with soy choclet milk and vinegar chips that made me cry... And i had a reseved one too... In germany everything was suddenly so much harder
I experienced huge culture shock having been relocated to Germany from Ireland, I moved back home after a year and three months. Couldn't stick it, things like the lack of variety in supermarkets, people being everywhere and then of course, the german people themselves.
kidaria With Ireland being such a small country, people acknowledge each other in the street with a hello or hi or how are you, in Germany- Nothing. Totally ignored. If you look lost or like you need help, no one will approach you to offer assistance, in Ireland people wouldn't think twice about offering help. That kind of thing ! :)
elcomcf It depends where you are. In a small town, everyone greets you. In a big city, they don't. But yes, it's true that if you just look lost, people won't approach you. They expect you to ask them for help, and then they'll be only too happy to help.
rewboss And it depends generation and the area where you live. For example older people in Rheinland are really a bit more funny and chatty. If you're waiting in a line for buying something or trying different clothing in a store people will search a little conversation with you. For someone like me who wasn't familiar with it was it a bit exhausting ^^° The big counterpart is the north where people in general are really more calm and reserved but they never mean it ill. But I can understand if people are coming from a more communicative culture it is really hart! I was so suprised when I visited London for the first time (sadly I was never in Ireland :-( ) and looking 5 minutes on a map someone tap on my shoulder and asked if I need help :D Very obliging and polite. And after I moved back home I understand for the first time what people meaning if they complaining about germans stareing ^^°
y would anyone in a city greet random persons on the street? i for one do ask people on the street who look lost, but aint nobody got time for asking every person who is not walking straight to an aim if theyre lost... dunno man, better check twice, considering location, surrounding and own behaviour before judging...
Reverse culture shock - also known as "Oh shit, I completely forgot that we used to do _that_ when I grew up here. I cannot _believe_ that I ever accepted that as 'normal' or 'just the way the world works,' when it's clearly _insane!"_
Ah yes... The Honeymoon phase.... Spent a year in that one and now I'm still in crisis. Left my beautiful Swiss mountains, lakes and pastures for England and I'm now waiting for the moment I'll stop hating it. (rain, rain, rain, rain, shops close at 5pm, people are weird and public transport is never on time :( )
At the end there I was legitimately shocked until I realized it was a cat tail. Octopus penis? Pet snake? WTF? Maybe there;s something wrong with me...
Oh my gosh, reverse culture shock! Yes, I experienced that.. I spent three months in Japan once. Upon returning and in search for an outlet adaptor I entered an appliance store. I nodded politely to the staff and said "Grüß Gott" in a low voice. They only looked at me like I was from outer space. As I didn't find any adaptoresque things on the first floor, I dared walking up the stairs and looking around. One of the clerks came up and asked what I was looking for anyway. I told him and he said "Nein, haben wir nicht. Und wenn Sie gefragt hätten, hätte ich's Ihnen gleich sagen können" ("No, we don't have any. And had you asked I coulda told you before"). That is already rather indecent by German standards (albeit not so uncommon here), but just having come back from a land that is like the very manifestation of politeness I felt so incredibly offended.
pumperentchen Hey! You said Grüß Gott! That's what my older relatives (now all in North America) say when they meet each other. Is that a general German thing, or just Schwabish?
+Sybille Stahl It's a southern german greeting. Germans from the North or middle have other greetings. But it's not only the swabians. I'm not sure, but i think, the austrians say it too. As a frisian, i always found this greeting rather odd ... "greet god" ... most of the times i have a hard time in refraining from answering "I will, if i meet him/her/it". ;)
Oh my gosh! I had reverse culture shock really bad. And I did know about it. Didn't help. All I can say is if in reverse culture shock don't make any rash decisions or you end up on a Pacific island, like me.
Hell, you need long to assimilate. Do you live in a Ghetto of your old culture, to never get out of it ? After 20 years I just would forget the old culture.
At first: nice to hear from you again, rewboss! Yesterday I forgot. Sorry! At second: I live near to the french border. Everytime I travel to France (okay, not for long, just a couple of hours), I feel like I'm liberated from German restrictions like road signs every 20 meters on the minimum - the air is another one in France. It's like a little holidays. Don't get me wrong: I like to live in Germany, this is the place where my words are understood (quite sometimes...) and I really enjoy it (without being nationalistic or kind of stuff). But sometimes I have to escape.
I`m teaching cross cultural science at a german University. Would you mind if I would tell you that you actually describe "Akkulturation"? "Cultur shock is just the second stage of this whole thing. That`s, because there ist a diffence between spoken language and scientific language.
+Techno Freak True; and I do clearly state in my video that the second stage is what's generally known as "culture shock". But since this video is supposed to be in layman's terms and not a university lecture, I think it's appropriate to sacrifice terminological exactitude for comprehensibility. And because the video is aimed at people who are almost certain to search for "culture shock" and not "acculturation", it's important to have "culture shock" in the title.
Sometimes, although it's not usually exactly the same. Japanese tourists often suffer from "Paris syndrome": they fly to Paris, which they're told is a beautiful, elegant, cultured and -- above all -- romantic European city, only to find that compared with Japan, the streets are filthy and it smells. The worst affected actually have to be flown home.
rewboss Like as you said, you need to prepared for trips and moves. [insert a story I removed] One more question: Is it a reverse cultural shock if you used to love a city and visit after visit it's getting even worse. In my case it is Berlin, I just miss the time where the streets are not crowded by ignorant, selfish and egocentric people. The city and its people changed over the years and now it feels like the big village loss its identity. As what would you describe this?
MAX - Zwischen Gamepad & Tastatur! (derLPMaxe) But you can have the same feeling in your own country. If you're looking at older photos of diffrent cities you will alaways have a great change. Sometimes in a positiv day but more often in a more negativ way :(
germans always have a good, hearty laugh if we say things like ich ein berliner which, of course, means i am a doughnut! and they love to ask for irische mist in a beerkeller, which means Irish Piss!! other lingos have funny words, too. just look for them. Fart means grave in irish lingo, fuckle means word, fucklore means dictionary, and so on.
Ah, no: I'm afraid the one about "Ich bin ein Berliner" is an urban myth. See here: --> ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-R8xr_j3hwEE.html
Naja der Kulturschock kann auch unterschiedlich ausfallen, je nach dem, in welche "Kultur" hineinzieht/reist. Man brauch nur mal ins japanische "Viertel" nach Düsseldorf zu reisen. Und diese "Japaner" sind schon verhältnismäßig offen! ;) In "westlichorientierten" Ländern ist die Gefahr des "Fettnäpfchenbingos" weitaus geringer, als in Ländern wo eine GANZ andere Religion/Sprache/Schrift gelebt wird. Als Beispiel: Im westen ist das "Shake Hand" schon etabliert. In Muslimischen Ländern bzw in einigen Asiatischen Ländern voll aufe Fresse fallen! Oder schenk ma en Chinesen/Japaner Eine Uhr in weißes Geschenkpapier gehüllt und schon hast du 6 Richtige mit Zusatzzahl getroffen! *Klar:* Man sollte sich schon ein wenig über die Länder, die man bereist informieren! (Das versteht sich von selbst) :D Aber für manche Länder/Kulturen muss man en ganzen Brockhaus "kaputtkloppen", um auch nur die *gröbsten* "Tretminen" zu umgehen! ;)
Problem here is the simplified presentation of the cultural shock. You combined the W curve and Ober's four stages of cultural shock. You didn't name anything about personality traits and maybe how you can lead with those Problems. Anyway a good and informative video, but a bit too supificial.
Ok, but the problem is that you are only stating one of many theories regarding this migration, traveling problem and which isn't of any help to cope with the problems when you really have to move to another country for good. Anyway, thanks for the reply :)
If people who are interested in culture shock and how to deal with it only rely on a 5min youtube video as their research...well they deserve all the culture shock they can get.
Knut ube Im Gegenteil: in dem Abschnitt stelle ich mir eine Ehefrau vor, die mit ihrem Mann ins Ausland zieht, weil er dort arbeiten muss. Die Frau aber darf nicht arbeiten.
+Knut ube Ja, langsam reicht es mit dieser politischen Korrektheit! Ich finde auch, dass die weiblichen Formen eher stören. Ich meine, was haben Frauen denn bitte schön in der deutschen Sprache zu suchen?
@@silvr94 das erklärt zumindest wieso in diesen frauenfeindlichen Staaten wie Großbritannien oder Schweden die Movierungen dahinscheiden. 🤔 Ich dachte immer an Vereinfachungen, Vereinheitlichung oder um Logiklöcher zu vermeiden, aber das scheint viel plausibler 🤡
