Culture Shock, Stress, Fatigue 5 of 9 (Al Stewart)

Is there any one aspect of the local culture that triggers moments or periods of culture shock for you?  It might be something that doesn’t seem to bother other people but hits you right between the eyes every time you encounter it.

 

It might be food.  We talked about food quite a bit last time we got together.  It might be just one kind of food that you have a hard time accepting as something you can and should eat.  Maybe it’s the taste, the flavor or the smell of the food.  While it might not create bad feelings in your stomach, it doesn’t inspire you with feelings of “I sure can’t wait to eat more of this.”  It might be the appearance - the way it looks sitting there on the plate - that makes you want to back away from the table and go somewhere else.  It might be the source of the food, what it comes from, where it was cooked, how it was cooked or who handled it while it was cooking.  For some expats food can be a major problem, a major source of culture shock.

 

Actually this is not just culture shock but culture stress.  Why?  Well, it’s not just a happening that happens once and gives you a shock.  It keeps happening maybe on a daily basis.  You keep encountering this particular food because it is part of the regular diet maybe and just thinking about the next meal raises your stress level as you try and think of some way of avoiding the food without offending someone … but that doesn’t seem to be possible and so you have to face it again.  We could talk about food shock and food stress a lot but for now let’s move on to something else.

 

It could be one or more of the regular social customs here that tighten your nerves, something that is a regular habit for the local people that totally clashes with your own culture or the way you were raised.  You have a hard time handling the difference and each time you encounter it you feel stressed.

 

It could even be the local music.  Where you live you can’t escape it.  Someone in the neighborhood has a radio playing or something reproducing music at loud volume all day and late into the night.  And the music?  Let’s face it - it’s nothing like anything you have been used to hearing.  It just grates on your nerves when you hear it and your stress level keeps rising because of the constant sound of that music.

 

This is not just a bit of culture shock.  It is stress caused by certain cultural differences.  Will it go away after a few months or maybe a couple of years?  That’s a long time, but if the stress caused by this particular thing will go away, if there is that hope, then maybe you can handle it in the meantime.

 

Like I said, will it go away?  Maybe.  Maybe not.

 

Here’s a real life example: a lady who spent more than twenty years as an expat in one country, one culture.  She loved the country.  She loved the people.  The food certainly wasn’t a problem, she loved it.  The language was no problem.  She did exceptionally well in that language and staying with the local people in their homes from time to time, sometimes in less than ideal conditions, was no problem for her.  She had adapted well to the country. Except for one thing and that was the music.  Even after twenty years, she couldn’t stand the sound of the music that was typical of that country.  It grated on her nerves.  It caused her stress every time she heard it.  

 

Now, isn’t that encouraging…

 

However, it didn’t make her leave the country.  It didn’t hinder her work there.  It didn’t affect her relationships with the people.  She adapted as much as she could and she learned to tune out the sound of the music when she heard it rather than letting it build her stress and frustration level.

 

While we’re on the subject of music, let’s consider the question from the other direction.  How do the locals feel about your favorite music?  You may be causing them stress.  That’s right.  HowHHoHHHHowhActually, the music that you consider normal, and that gives you pleasure, may be a source of culture shock and stress for some of the local people.  I know of one such person from another culture who thought that the sound of contemporary Christian music was about on the same level as scraping a finger nail across a blackboard.  You know what’s that like, don’t you?  It’s not the least bit pleasant and hard on the nerves.

 

So, what else causes your culture stress in this place?

 

…the toilet facilities maybe?  Oh boy, toilet facilities can be a great source of culture shock and for some a continuing source of culture stress.

 

…or maybe the general sanitation customs, or the lack thereof.  This may not be a major problem where you are at the moment, but it is for some of us, like the garbage in the streets maybe … or how about that open ditch down the side of the road carrying sewage and waste products? There’s the smell, of course, and the sight of it every day and the concern for diseases that may be catchable.  

 

The first time you see it would very likely be a culture shock.

 

After a few weeks and months your stress level very well could be building and that would be a form of culture stress.

 

Now, you take month after month of culture stress from these points we’ve mentioned today, and a whole lot of others we haven’t even touch on yet, and what does that continuous culture stress do to you?  What does that constant friction with this other culture do to you?  What does your constant frustration do to you — from being unable to accomplish what you want to accomplish in the time you want to accomplish it?

 

It tires you out, doesn’t it?  You find your energy levels are just not what they used to be.  You no longer have the same enthusiasm you had when you first came to this place.  You no longer have the same bounce in your step.  When the alarm goes off in the morning you no longer feel enthused about jumping into this new day and the challenges and opportunities that you may be facing.  You’re tired.  The day by day effort of even just living in this culture tires you out.

 

That’s culture fatigue.  

 

Dictionary definitions of fatigue say that it is …

 

… a mental or physical tiredness usually caused by prolonged or intense activity.

 

… a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.  Fatigue is different from drowsiness which is the feeling of needing to sleep.  Fatigue includes a lack of energy and motivation.

 

… fatigue is a loss of energy and strength resulting from hard and continuous physical or mental work.

 

One more - to exhaust or tire through overuse or great strain or stress.

 

Do you know the feeling?  The constant attempts to work alongside this local culture has made you tired.  Day after day the same stress, and you’re exhausted.  You not only have experienced culture shock, and you not only have culture stress, but the constant stress has given you a case of culture fatigue.  I know what that’s like.  I’ve experienced it.

 

So what can you do about it?  Well, some of the answers are the same as for any form of tiredness, weariness, or fatigue.

 

Take a break.  As much as it is possible get away for a time, even a couple of hours, from the scene of what causes you the culture stress and fatigue.  Even if it is only in your own apartment, your own room, put on a pair of headphones and listen to some music that gives you pleasure, and that you find relaxing.  Find a quiet place to sit and read.  No, don’t study.  Just read for relaxation.  If the noise level is still too much for you then maybe put on some headphones with some very quiet music for background while you read, or maybe some simple earplugs to muffle the noise would be a good investment for you.  If there is somewhere not too far away where you can go that is quiet, different, refreshing and affordable —  I guess that always has to be considered —  then go there.  Relax.  Don’t think about your work.  Let your mind think about something besides the things that cause it stress in this place.  

 

Remember even Jesus found it necessary to get away from the crowds of people, to get away to a quiet place.

 

Another suggestion - if you can’t get away, develop a hobby.  Okay, maybe you’ve never had time for a holiday.  Maybe you’ve thought that was taking time away from the things you are supposed to be doing for the Lord.  Well, your sense of responsibility is admirable, but taking a little time for a hobby from time to time can do the same for you as a mini vacation break.  So take the time.  Take some time to occupy your mind and thoughts on something different for a few minutes or an hour or two.  You just may find that you can come back to your responsibilities somewhat relaxed and refreshed and ready to handle a little more of that culture stress.  Oh yes, it will still be there, but you will likely have softened some of its effect on you and your nerves.

 

Like other kinds of fatigue culture fatigue can be helped by finding ways to relax, not just sleep - that helps, but only partially.

 

Some exercise would help too, if there is a way to get some exercise without totally shocking the locals.  Take a long brisk walk if that is possible.  If you live on or near a hillside, climb the hill. Get your heart pumping and the blood flowing through your veins.

 

Finally, to repeat a suggestion I quoted last week, recognize that some of the frustrations are really very minor items and don’t spend your mental and emotional energy on those minor things.  To grab an old expression — don’t make mountains out of molehills.  It’s something that can happen very easily when you spend too much time thinking about what seem to be negative things around you and it can be very destructive.  Try to laugh off the small irritations.  Don’t let these little bumps in your life’s experiences, those molehills, grow into something bigger and more oppressive.

 

You probably won’t entirely eliminate culture fatigue but you can help to keep it a manageable level.