Intensity Factors
By diving into another culture without testing the waters first can drive you crazy because everything that makes you feel comfortable is completely gone. There might be people with some percentage of your “American Culture” around you, but there are still those differences they can not relate to. I think the best factor that helped me adapt to the Dominican culture is having prior intercultural experience ( Spain and Turkey). First, by already experiencing the shock of different languages, met or missed expectations, cultural differences, etc. I know how not to waste time on these stress factors because it’s the experience that counts. I came abroad for the Spanish, and I didn’t set expectations, so I am always surprised and open minded about everything. When cultural differences could potentially start an argument I have a sense on how to approach and diffuse the situation. It’s like getting use to starting a new school every couple of years; you know the basics so it won’t take long to make friends and start learning about what’s around you.
One thing that my prior experience has taught me is that when you are in another culture and you want to experience it to the fullest you have to embrace it. A few examples are I dress up to go to class instead of wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt or I order in Spanish instead of being a stubborn US woman and want everything in English. By taking on another culture I am able to understand why they do things a certain way and I am able to learn about their history. The biggest way my behavior has changed…I think…is that I’m a little more conservative just because in the US we don’t really care about are surroundings and what other people think of us, but here it’s all about “The Image.”
Stress? Since I lived abroad before…those experiences have definitely taught me how to wooo saaaa. When there’s a stressful situation instead of getting heated or agitated you have to use self control and calm the situation. A. Most likely there is a language barrier so talking fast and waving your hands around will make things more difficult. B. By flipping out you are definitely adding to some stereotype of an American C. Just have to remember you are in someone elses country and don’t be disresptful.
Like I said before I learned not to make expectations because I usually don’t have prior knowledge of the country besides the language, so I do not know what limitations I will run into. I have learned from my past without having expectations I am open to more things and I have had amazing times abroad and can not say I have any regrets. Everyone has to remember why they went abroad and that stressing over things doesn’t get you anything but gray hairs and wasted time.
