Culture Shock can be defined as: “The feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes.”
When we go to a new country that we are unfamiliar with we all have starting issues and one of the biggest factors of culture shock is the language barrier that many immigrants or tourists face when visiting a new place. Communication is a vital part of our lives and without it moving around in a foreign land can be disastrous. It maybe an uneasy process but sometimes vital for integration in the society.
Knowing basic greetings, non-verbal communication and basic questions in the target language can help minimize the extent of culture shock.
I am an international student at the University of Richmond. When I cam here as a freshman I did face many obstacles that can be related to culture shock but with time I learnt things about the way it is done in America and started to integrate. Even today I am learning and building on the experiences.
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