Preparation for

Cultural Differences
by AIESEC Lisboa Nova

Prepared by AIESEC Lisboa Nova

What is Culture?

Prepared by AIESEC Lisboa Nova

 Culture is the silent communication between a
group of people who identify with certain events
similarly.

Culture is a system of beliefs and values shared by

a particular group of people.

Culture is an integrated system of learned behavior

patterns that is characteristic of members of any given
society. Culture represents a total way of life and can
include anything from the language, religion, food,
clothing, laws (written and unwritten) and institutions
of society.

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Culture is the Silent, Invisible,
and Powerful force that
guides and directs our
behaviors!!!

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 Aesthetics
Physical Values &
environments attitudes

Manners &
Education Culture customs

Personal
communication Social structure
Religion

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Prepared by AIESEC Lisboa Nova
Prepared by AIESEC Lisboa Nova
Culture Shock

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Culture shock is the anxiety and
feelings (of surprise, disorientation,
uncertainty, confusion, etc.) felt when
people have to operate within a
different and unknown culture.

It grows out of the difficulties in

assimilating the new culture, causing
difficulty in knowing what is
appropriate and what is not.
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 Symptoms
• A loss of identity. Feelings of inadequacy or
insecurity
• Trying too hard to absorb everything in the new
culture or country
• Unable to solve simple problems
• A lack of confidence
• Developing stereotypes about the new culture
• Developing obsessions such as over-cleanliness
• Feelings of being lost, overlooked, exploited or
abused
• Sadness, loneliness, melancholy
• Insomnia, a desire to sleep too much or too little
• Anger, irritability, resentment, an unwillingness to
interact with others
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 How to minimize it
• Learn as much as you can about the country
• Make friends with locals
• Learn the language
• Maintain contact with family and friends
• Be open to new things
• Be patient
• Ask for help when you feel sad
• Let the negative energy out (physical activity,
diaries, speaking to someone very close)
• Reflect
• Don’t isolate yourself
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 Advises
• Do not build up any expectations
• Do not take anything for granted
• Nothing is obvious
• Don’t judge too fast
• Find a balance between self-protection and
open-mindedness
• Ask for feedback
• Observe, observe and ask
• Get rid of prejudices
• What you think you have heard is probably not
what was meant – clarify
• Patience and tolerance
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The W Curve

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Prepared by AIESEC Lisboa Nova
 Honeymoon Stage
Exciting
Wonderful
Beautiful
Comfort Level

I can’t wait to tell

all my friends
about this place!

Time
Indicators: Excitement, Optimism, Adventure

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 Symptoms
• You are observing the new culture and familiarizing
yourself with your new environment.
• You are meeting helpful and friendly people.
• You are making you first social contacts with members of
the host culture.
• You are seeking out new things to do and enjoying your
new world.
• You may feel proud that you can make yourself
understood, and understand the natives, in their own
language.

• Differences are seen under a romantic light, wonderful and

new. You love the food, the pace of life, the habits, the
building, the language, …
• But like any other Honeymoon, it also has and end!

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 Crisis Stage
We would never
These people do that at home!
are so ___!
Comfort Level

I can’t wait
to go home!

Time
Indicators: Unmet expectations, frustration, unable to understand

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 Symptoms
• You begin to desire more personal relationships with members of the
host culture.
• You find you have little time or few opportunities to make friends.
• You are feeling isolated and out of place.
• You may feel tired, sick, depressed, angry and / or frustrated.
• You have a growing awareness that your home culture’s behaviors
may not be accepted in the host culture.
• You may have to give up, suspend, or modify your own behavior.
• You blame the host culture for your problems.
• You spend lots of time with members of your home culture
complaining about the host culture.
• You can’t understand why they study English in school if they can’t
even speak it.
• Depression is not uncommon.
• “My culture is better than this one!”
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 Recovery Stage
There’s no reason
why they
Comfort Level

shouldn’t do that.

Imagine if I
did that
back at
home?!?

Time

Indicators: Exploration, self-reflection, adjustment

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 Symptoms
• You choose to become an “explorer” in the new
culture – the need of more information.
• You accept the challenge of self-reflection.
• You assume responsibility for your own
cultural adjustment, trying to understand the
culture and people
• You begin a process of constructive criticism,
researching the similarities between the two
cultures
• You begin to accept the culture ways with a
positive attitude

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 Adjustment Stage
You don’t
understand
them the
Comfort Level

way I do.

I’m beginning
to like this.
We do
that, just
differently.
Time
Indicators: greater tolerance, become part of the comunity,
improved language skills
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 Symptoms
• Your language skills improve noticeably.
• You begin to understand why members of the
host culture do what they do.
• You have finally made friends.
• You feel like part of the community.
• You develop a greater tolerance for what is
strange and new in the host culture.
• You become a mediator between your culture
and your host culture.
• You are able to laugh at yourself – take yourself
less seriously.
• You are able to participate fully and comfortably
in the host culture
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Prepared by AIESEC Lisboa Nova
 Dealing with it
• Keep yourself busy and active
• Make friends with host country members
• Realize that everyone that goes abroad experiences
a Cultural Shock
• Be an active learner about the new country. Find
out all the information you can
• Avoid foreigners who spend their time complaining
about the host culture
• Work at maintaining a healthy sense of humor. Be
ready to laugh at yourself
• When talking about experiences, focus on your
feelings rather than the causes

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eXchange is a journey,
not a destination!
!

it
o y
n j
E
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