Dictionary.com - a state of bewilderment and distress
experienced by an individual who is suddenly exposed to a new, strange, or
foreign social and cultural environment.
Google - The feeling of disorientation experienced by
someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set
of attitudes.
Almost from when I arrived people started asking me about
“culture shock.” I don’t really like that question, because I find it hard to
answer. At least I did, because the answer isn’t yes or no, it’s not just one
sentence. To answer this question I need to think, reflect, and process what I
have and am experiencing. And this means my answer, or at least parts of it,
will change and grow as I do.
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| Hiking up to Monserrate (10,341 ft - 3,152 m) |
This was also a hard question to answer, because when you
first arrive somewhere, everything is exciting and new. There’s always more to
discover. I was getting to know Bogotá, a new job, new co-workers, I was
traveling to other parts of Colombia and beyond, and I moved into my own
apartment and all the adventures that entailed. This time is also called the
“honey moon stage.”
So, as you have probably guessed, I’ve been thinking about
this for a while and am no longer in the ‘honey moon stage.’ That isn’t to say
that I don’t find living in Bogotá exciting and enjoyable, but that I’m feeling
more moments of culture shock, aka disorientation to unfamiliar things. And
obviously there are many unfamiliar things.
I think I feel this most in social settings. I love getting
to know people, going out and experiencing life here. Yet at the same time,
whenever I’m with people, there always seems to be another awkward moment, and
more questions, always rolling around in my brain. What’s the right greeting in
this setting? What are they talking about? How am I supposed to act right now?
Is that a joke, a compliment? What’s normal? It’s trying to laugh at jokes when you don’t
understand everything, and smile and nod at appropriate times when you’re not really
catching what’s being said.
People are really gracious, and understand that Spanish
isn’t my first language, and that I’m learning about Colombian life, but I get
tired. It starts to feel cumbersome to be the one always asking, “What does
that word mean?” To be the one that always needs every joke explained, and to
have the doubts floating around as I wonder if I’m unknowingly offending
someone. You don’t realize all the little unspoken things that everyone ‘just
knows,’ until you’re in a new place and feel like you don’t know anything.
Even your personality changes a bit in another language,
because you share your personality by how you express yourself. I’m no comedian
but I have a sense of humour, sometimes sarcastic, and I enjoy some good one
liners and word play. But in Spanish that completely changes. Most of the jokes
I try to make fail miserably or fall flat. My vocabulary is greatly diminished,
and at times I get frustrated with the inability to express myself the way I
want, the way I can in English.
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| Hiking on the MCC retreat |
All of this could sound rather negative, and yes there are
moments when it gets me down. Yet, I am still so thankful for the many positive
things in my life here. The MCC and MWC community that I get to be a part of is
an incredible blessing. I’m making new friends (yay!), and getting to go out
and experience different parts of Bogotá and other parts of Colombia. And even
though my limitations in Spanish can frustrate me endlessly, I do think that my
Spanish has improved since I arrived.
Culture shock is another step in living in and getting used
to a new place. It’s not always easy, but I also know I’m not alone as I walk
through it.
Thanks for reading this, and I hope it helps explain how I’m
processing things right now. I’d love to
hear from you too! Have you experienced culture shock? What was it like for
you?
