Ciao i miei amici!
Let’s talk culture shock. I’ve experienced it. Cindy has experienced it. It’s a very real thing.
What is culture shock? I’m sure there’s a vast amount of research from sociologists and behavioral scientists that can answer better than I. In general, it’s stepping entirely out of one’s comfort zone into a totally new and alien culture. You don’t know the language, you don’t know the customs, you don’t even know the body language. The whole community into which you’ve been transplanted seems closed to you, even hostile.
For me, this has manifested itself in my interactions at the grocery store. Here, they seem a little impatient. Too slow with your debit card? They take it from you and insert it into the reader. When you need the plastic sacks for your purchase, you have to buy them instead of receiving a credit for reusable bags. Same desire, different approach. I have yet to make phone call to make a dinner reservation–just don’t know if they’ll stay on script. For others, the fear can become extremely powerful, extreme, and debilitating to the extent that they won’t even venture beyond the four walls of wherever they call home.
How about you? Have you experienced culture shock? What was your experience and how did you deal with it?
Ciao!
A nice view of Castelvecchio and Ponte Castelvecchio at sunset:
