Communications speech

Hello my name is frank and today I will be telling you about culture shock and
Americans abroad

What is culture shock?

Culture shock is when a person becomes disoriented by unfamiliar scenes or ways
of life. This happens to everyone in varying degrees, dependent on the persons
heritage and cultural awareness, when they come into contact with a culture they
are not familiar with. While many of us have never been outside of the country we
are still aware of other cultures outside of our own. For instance the English
language has two variants UK and us there are different meanings and spelling to
many words however it is still the English language. While this isnt any major
shocking cultural difference it is still well-known There are many different customs
worldwide that seem very strange or bizarre to us because we are not exposed to it.
The more we see of these strange cultural differences the less foreign they become
and the more accepting we are.
Why is culture shock a good thing?
While it may not sound or seem like culture shock is a good thing, it is very good to
witness other cultures and different ways people live every day. Experiencing
culture shock will change your personality significantly by teaching you to trust your
gut when you are confused by something you encounter you may not know how to
react therefore you will listen to your gut instinct to help you get through it. It can
help you learn a new language faster due to immersing yourself around a new
language. It is much more effective when learning a new language to immerse
yourself around day to day conversation this is why people tend to struggle learning
a language in a classroom setting. Experiencing culture shock will teach you the
valuable lesson that this world is a small place, and that despite our differences, we
are all similar and interconnected. While this may not seem like something good to
many people it will teach you to look at the bigger picture and see the world from
different perspectives through other cultures.
Why are many people scared of different cultures?
We as Americans have created a culture of being scared of different cultures and we
are afraid of them simply because they believe different than us. We are frightened
that an influx of immigrants will change our cultural beliefs, customs, practices, and
our lives as we know them. As a result our cross cultural interactions that should be
characterized by humanity and openness are replaced by fear and accusations. A
culture of fear is a culture of ignorance, this is because the less open we are to get
out and explore the world from different places and practices the fewer insight and
knowledge we retain. This is not only an American issue many countries reject
outside cultural beliefs in an attempt to isolate themselves in false beliefs that it will

benefit their people. An example of this was the U.S.S.R they outlawed religion and
isolated their scientific developments from the rest of the world.
The American culture
The American society is a blend of Native Americans as well as a large number of
immigrants from various countries like Ireland, Germany, Poland, Italy, Latin
America, Asia and Africa. The majority of United States includes Protestant
Christians. The percentage of Catholics is slightly less than the Protestants. In
addition to this, USA being a secular state, a number of people have also adopted
other religions like Judaism, Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism. In the early years,
American art and literature took most of its ideas and influences from European
artists. During the late eighteenth century and the early nineteenth centuries,
American paintings primarily included landscapes and portraits in a realistic style.
The industrial revolution was responsible for new influences thereafter. American
literature is also known for development of popular literary genres such as the
crime fiction. United States of America does not have an official national language
as such. However the majority of American population speaks English. Owing to the
large number of immigrants from Latin America, Spanish is the second-most
common language in America. In general terms, American clothing is diverse and
predominantly informal. One of the most popular pieces of clothing that originated
in America was the 'Blue jeans', Like every other cultural element, the American
cuisine too has a strong European influence. The commonly used ingredients in
American cooking are subject to change as you move from one region to the other.
In addition to the traditional Christmas, Good Friday and New Year celebrations,
Americans also celebrates various other festivals like Hanukkah, Thanksgiving,
Easter, Halloween, St.Patrick's Day, Mardi Gras.
Other cultures
African culture-There are two major religions in Africa and hence most of the
Africans adhere to either Christianity or Islam. Many adherents of both Islam and
Christianity also follow African traditional religions. African art has certain themes
that are repeated throughout all the art forms, be it painting, pottery or any other
handicrafts, and even fabric. Some of the subjects that are commonly portrayed are
couples, the depiction of woman and a child, a male with a wild animal or the
portrayal of an outsider. the representation of the couple is rarely the kind to show
sexual intimacy or love, more often it depicts strength and honor. Vibrant colors
have always been a prominent feature of the African clothing. A near eastern
influence is evident in countries. African cuisine is a concoction of tropical fruits and
vegetables as well as the exotic seafood varieties. They celebrate festivals like New
Year celebration and Christmas, along with several other festivals in Africa. Many of
the African festivals are oriented around the farming and harvesting cycles.
Indian culture- India is known for its spicy curries and healing techniques of Yoga,
however there is much more the Indian culture has to offer. Indian culture has its
roots in the Indus valley Civilization from where it witnessed the Vedic Age. India
then witnessed the rise and decline of Buddhism, the Muslim invasions and the
European colonization. India is a secular country, which includes a diverse

population, with various religions. Some of the prominent religions followed in India
remain to be Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity. Indian art essentially goes
hand in hand with the cultural history, religion and fundamental Indian philosophies.
India has a wide variety of festivals and celebrations originating from the numerous
religions that co-exist in India.
What is the difference between culture shock and culture clashes?
Culture shock more accurately describes what an immigrant might feel when he or
she first arrives in a new country, submersed in a culture with customs so different
than their own. A milder example on the culture shock spectrum would be what a
person who did not properly prepare for his or her first camping trip might feel. You
might also feel culture shock in another neighborhood of your own city or in a
country on the other side of the world.
What happens when cultures clash?
Culture clash is what happens when there is tension between people because one or
both people feel threatened by what the other believes, values and practices. This
can be based on a persons ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, age
and/or gender. When cultures clash it is common for one culture to dominate
another by changing the smaller one and making it more closely related to the
larger one. While the larger culture becomes the dominate one cultural clashes
relate subcultures by combining elements from both cultures.
How to deal with culture shock
Do not underestimate the impact culture shock will exert on your experience
abroad, and do not for one fleeting moment think you will be immune. Those who
do not take the time nor make the effort to learn about themselves, culture shock
will face more severe, longer lasting culture shock. What are the stages of cultural
adjustment?
There are four distinct stages of adjustment and each will be discussed below.

1. Initial euphoria:, youve just made it to your new country! You are so excited to
be there and everything is so new and promising. The similarities are everywhere.
You think: They're not so different. They have MacDonald's, too.

2. Irritation/hostility: Gradually you begin to focus on the differences you note.

Seemingly small things get blown out of proportion and this is the stage most
commonly recognized as "culture shock". You think: They're so weird. Who would
ever think to put mayonnaise on French Fries?

3. Gradual adjustment: You've made it through the hardest part; the crisis is
averted. You slowly begin to feel normal again and become more comfortable in
your new culture. You are able to interpret cultural clues and feel less isolated. You
are able to laugh once again and realize that life is not all that bad.

4. Adaptation/biculturalism: At some point you begin to feel at home in this new

country and recognize that there are many things you will miss when you go home.
Some day you may find that you have fully adapted and are able to function equally
in both cultures.
Why should I as an American go abroad?
1) Culture:
By traveling you get to learn about different cultures first-hand. While you can
always read a book about Thailand, there is something special about breathing in
the stench of Durian fruit in person. Once you experience cultural differences
firsthand, you can begin to understand where other people are coming from.

2) Adventure:
So, why not pack up right now? The adventuring possibilities are endless. You can
travel to Guatemala and work on a coffee farm, climb the Austrian Alps, cycle across
India, or visit the ancient pyramids in Egypt.

3) Language:
Along with learning about a cultures traditions and foods you can also immerse
yourself in their language. Perhaps you studied French in school or maybe youve
always wanted to learn Swahili. This is your time to go learn it and use it!

4) Experiences:
Studies have shown that people would rather spend their money on experiences
that create lasting memories than on material things. Wouldnt you rather spend
$100 to go cliff diving in Costa Rica or on medical supplies for village children than
of on a new pair of sneakers to add to your growing Air Jordan collection? By
choosing to spend that money on an experience of adventure or serving others, you
will undoubtedly create a unique memory that cant be rivaled by material
souvenirs.

5) Looks Good On a Resume:

To add a more corporate twist to this list, remember that future employers love this
kind of thing. Most employers view traveling as a great way to become more
knowledgeable about world cultures. Traveling also shows them that you are a
responsible and mature individual with an ability to quickly adapt to different
situations.

6) Opportunities and Connections:

If you move abroad, you wont be stuck at the desk job youve been too afraid to
quit for the last six months. The point is, you now have the courage and opportunity
to do whatever you want. You can choose to use your degree or not. Maybe you
have always wanted to be a writer, a poet, a musician, a photographer - now is the
time. Do it!