SEKOLAH TINGGI KEGURUAN DAN ILMU PENDIDIKAN (STKIP) HERMON TIMIKA
BIRO ADMINISTRASI dan AKADEMIK (BAAK)
SK. Kemendiknas/Dirjen Dikti No.555/E/0/2014.
Jl. Budi Utomo Ujung, Jlr. SP.1 Timika, Papua, 99910
Telp. (0901) 3260955, 085354359017 email:
BERITA ACARA
KEGIATAN BELAJAR MENGAJAR (KBM)
Pada hari ini; Sabtu, Tanggal 31 Oktober 2020 , pada Semester Ganjil 2020.1
Tahun Akademik 2020/2021 telah dilaksanakan Kegiatan Belajar Mengajar (KBM) secara online atau e-
learning dengan keterangan sebagai berikut:
Program Studi : Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris
Mata Kuliah / SKS : Cross Culture Understanding / 2
Dosen Pengampu : Ridwan Nur, M.Pd
Semester :V
Hari/Tanggal : Sabtu, 31 Oktober 2020
Waktu : 15.30 – 16.50 WIT
Jumlah Peserta : Mahasiswa
Media Pembelajaran : WA Group Media
1. Topik/Materi Pembelajaran:
CULTURE SHOCK
What Is Culture Shock?
Culture shock is the feeling of uncertainty, confusion, or anxiety that people experience
when visiting, doing business in, or living in a society that is different from their own. Social
norms can vary significantly across countries and regions. Culture shock can arise from an
individual's unfamiliarity with local customs, language, and acceptable behavior.
Culture shock can be daunting for those who do business abroad. Many international
companies provide training to help acclimatize employees and reduce cultural gaffes, which can
affect professional transactions, operations, and relationships.
Culture shock isn't caused by a specific event; it results from encountering different
ways of doing things, being cut off from behavioral cues, having your own values brought into
question, and feeling you don't know the rules.
How Culture Shock Works
Culture shock is usually most intense at the beginning of a stay abroad—but in a good
way. At first, people are usually thrilled to be in their new environment, and they see it as an
adventure. If someone is on a short stay, this initial excitement may define the whole
experience. However, if someone has moved to the new locale on a long-term basis, this
"honeymoon" phase will eventually end.
As the initial glee of being in a new environment wears off, people grow increasingly
irritated and disoriented. Fatigue sets in with the misunderstanding of others' actions or
conversation, ways of doing or operating things, habits: all the little other nuances of speech,
appearance, and behavior that instinctively understood at home.
The inability to effectively communicate—to interpret what others mean and to make
oneself understood—is usually the prime source of frustration. This, the most difficult period of
culture shock, is when depression or homesickness and longing for the familiar and comfortable
become most prominent.
Culture shock can be tough to overcome, but the syndrome often does dissipate over
time. As a traveler becomes more familiar with a place, the people, customs, food, and language
become more palatable and comfortable. Navigation of surroundings gets easier. Friends are
made. And everything gets a little more comfortable.
Following this period of adjustment comes the final stage of culture shock: acceptance.
Acceptance doesn’t mean that new cultures or their values, beliefs, and attitudes are completely
understood. Rather, it signifies a realization that complete understanding isn’t necessary to
function and thrive in the new surroundings. During the acceptance stage, travelers have
gained the familiarity they need to feel more comfortable with life in a foreign society.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Culture shock is a sense of anxiety, depression, or confusion that results from being cut
off from your familiar culture, environment, and norms when living in a foreign country
or society.
Those experiencing culture shock go through distinct phases of euphoria, discomfort,
adjustment, and acceptance.
While time is the best antidote for culture shock, people can take proactive steps to
alleviate it as well.
Overcoming Culture Shock
Time and habit help deal with culture shock. But individuals can take some shock-
absorbing steps to speed recovery.
Try to learn about the new country/culture and understand the reasons for cultural
differences.
Don't indulge in thoughts of home, constantly comparing it (favorably) to the new land.
Don't seal yourself off—try to meet and socialize with the locals.
Be honest, in a judicious way, about feeling disoriented and confused. Ask for advice
and help.
Talk about and share your cultural background—communication runs both ways.
According to Lauren McCluskey (2020) on https://www.now-
health.com/en/blog/culture-shock-stages/, she explains five stages of culture shock and suggests
six ways to deal with culture shock:
Culture Shock Stages
Many researchers have written about culture shock and it is widely recognised that there
are four different stages to the process – honeymoon, negotiation, adjustment and adaptation.
Read on to find out more about each stage.
1. Honeymoon Stage
The Honeymoon Stage is the first stage of culture shock, and it can often last for several
weeks or even months. This is the euphoric phase when you’re fascinated by all the exciting and
different aspects of your new life – from the sights and smells to the pace of life and cultural
habits.
During this phase, you’re quick to identify similarities between the new culture and your
own, and you find the locals hospitable and friendly. You may even find things that would be a
nuisance back home, such as a traffic jam, amusing and charming in your new location.
However, unfortunately, the honeymoon period must always come to an end.
2. Negotiation Stage
Next is the negotiation stage which is characterised by frustration and anxiety. This
usually hits around the three-month mark, although it can be earlier for some individuals. As the
excitement gradually disappears you are continually faced with difficulties or uncomfortable
situations that may offend or make you feel disconnected.
The simplest of things may set you off. Maybe you can’t remember the way back to
your new home because the street signs are confusing, or you can’t fathom how and what to
order in a restaurant.
At this point, you also start to miss your friends and family back home and idealise the
life you had there. This is often when physical symptoms can appear and you may experience
minor health ailments as a result of the transition.
You may not find the locals so friendly anymore and you express feelings of confusion,
discontent, sadness, and even anger.
3. Adjustment Stage
Thankfully this phase will come to an end as you begin to move into the adjustment
phase, usually at around six to twelve months. This is the stage where life gradually starts to get
better and routine sets in.
You begin to get your bearings and become more familiar with the local way of life,
food and customs. By this point you may have made a few friends or learnt some of the
languages, helping you to adjust and better understand the local culture.
You may still experience some difficulties at this stage, but you’re now able to handle them in a
more rational and measured way.
4. Adaptation Stage
Finally, you reach the adaptation stage, sometimes know as the bicultural stage. You
now feel comfortable in your new country and better integrated – you have successfully adapted
to your new way of life.
You no longer feel isolated and lonely and are used to your new daily activities and
friends. While you may never get back to the heightened euphoria you felt during the
honeymoon stage, you’ve now gained a strong sense of belonging and finally feel at home in
your new environment.
5. Re-entry Shock
It’s also important to note that there can be the fifth stage of this process. Re-entry or
reverse culture shock can happen once you return home after living abroad for an extended
period.
You may quickly realise that things are very different from when you left, and feel like
you no longer belong as your family, friends and even your home town have changed and
moved on without you.
You might find yourself saddened that your newly learned customs and tradition are not
applicable in your home country, and you have to go through the whole process of adjustment
and adaptation all over again!
Six ways to deal with culture shock
1. Remember that it’s normal
Remember that most expats go through this. Culture shock is not a sign that anything is
wrong. It’s part of the expatriate experience and eventually, you will be able to look back on
this process with fond memories.
You’ve been given the opportunity to live in a different part of the world and experience
different cultures and tradition – both the good and the bad are all part of the adventure.
2. Make your own space
Travelling light is good but leave a space in your suitcase for a few luxuries that will
help you to personalise your new home.
Your favourite cushion or a framed picture can make a big difference to your space and
help you feel at home more quickly. Build yourself a safe haven that you can come back to
when it all gets a bit too much.
3. Keep an open mind
One of the most effective ways of dealing with culture shock is to keep an open mind
and welcome the surprising experiences as they arise.
Commit to saying yes as much as possible. Accept invitations to events, eat strange
food, offer to help out a new friend, and discover your new home’s cultures and traditions for
yourself. Of course, you should also use common sense and be sure to stay safe, healthy and not
push yourself too hard.
4. Explore
Try to avoid hiding away too much. Get out there and explore.
Feel free to live the tourist life. A great way of doing this is via public transport. Ride
around the city with your camera or commit to visiting a new place every day, even if it’s
simply a quick turn down a new street on your way home.
You might even discover a faster route to get to work, find a new hangout where you
can relax, or snap a fantastic photo to share with friends and family back home.
5. Find something you really love
Find something you love to do in your new home. It could be anything from wandering
the museum, to sipping coffee in the park, or hiking the mountains. That way when things get
difficult, you can go back to that experience or place to cheer you up and remind you why you
came to this country in the first place.
6. Set yourself a project
Find yourself a project. Whether that be learning how to prepare a local dish, practising
the steps of traditional dance, or memorising some useful phrases in the local language – keep
yourself busy with something new and exciting.
Having a project to work on will give you a sense of achievement and prevent you from
dwelling too much on your culture shock.
Timika, 31 Oktober 2020
Mengetahui:
Ketua Prodi, Dosen Pengampu,
Ridwan Nur, M.Pd. Ridwan Nur, M.Pd
NIDN. 0826098902 NIDN. 0826098902
