Category: Culture Shock

Executive Summary

This report is based upon the movie “Outsourced”. The movie is about an American Company, outsourcing one department to India. The manager of the department, Mr.Todd has to go to India and manage the regional call center and train his Indian replacement. The Indian business cultures Mr.Todd sees and felt uncomfortable are described in this report. Moreover, the scenes where he faced culture shock and the difficulties he faced during his stay in India are also described. Furthermore, the things he should have done to properly manage the call center is explained.

Introduction

Culture is a system of values and beliefs which we share with others. The elements included in culture are history, religion, language, traditions, food, behavior, values, beliefs and customs. It is taught early on in life but is continuously developing.

‘Culture encompasses religion, food, what we wear, how we wear it, our language, marriage, music, what we believe is right or wrong, how we sit at the table, how we greet visitors, how we behave with loved ones, and a million other things,’ Cristina De Rossi, an anthropologist at Barnet and Southgate College in London, told Live Science. (Zimmermann, www.livescience.com, 2017)

Understanding the basic norms and values of culture is important to do business in another country. This is called the cross-culture communication. The concept of cross-culture is becoming very important with the globalization of the businesses. To do cross-culture business, training should be given to employees on how to communicate and interact effectively with those from other cultures. Without the basic knowledge of culture and preparations employees will easily experience culture shock which is the main factor in the failure of a business.

Indian business culture the actor is not aware about

The actor in the movie “Outsourced” Mr. Todd is an American who has to go to India to manage the regional call center as his department is outsourced. Todd never visited India and is not aware of their business cultures. The most important business culture in India is respecting elders and hierarchy. It’s the core values that permeate all aspects of Indian society. When Todd entered the train in India, it was overcrowded and no seat was available. However, a small child stands up and gives him the seat to sit. Todd was surprised to see this.

The second business culture identified in the movie was the way they greet and the titles. A handshake is the standard way to greet people in India. The first time Puro (future Manager of the Call Center) meets Todd he shakes hand with him and introduces him by telling his full name. Moreover, Puro’s Auntijy welcomes him with the word “Namaste” (the word used to greet people in India). Furthermore, whenever they use Todd’s name, the title is included in the name. For example Mr.Todd.

In business culture of India, business meetings shouldn’t be started by getting straight to the heart of negotiation. Taking a short time to ask personal questions is important. In this movie, Auntyjy started the conversation with Todd by asking his personal questions, like, is he married or single, etc. Todd feels uncomfortable when she asked about his personal life. In America, people often respect individual freedom of others and don’t ask personal questions at their first meeting.

In India, the left hand is considered unclean and should never be used to eat, handshake or accepting anything. While Auntyji offered him food, Todd used his left hand to eat and placed the hand back at food which was put in the mouth. The people in the house were very uncomfortable to see this behavior of him. Puro explained this culture to Todd as soon as the incident happened.

Indians are generally expressive and use body languages to convey the message that are not said in verbal. In some scenes, it was identified that Puro used body language to express thank you. Moreover, it was identified that they nod head or take a little bow to greet and to agree on something.

In the office, men wear suits with a tie, whereas women wear suits with a blouse. However, it was identified that on special occasions like Holi, they were not wearing an official dress in the office. Some were wearing kurtas and t-shirts. Puro (the future manager) gave Todd a kurta and he was also wearing it on that day.

Indians are very sensitive to rudeness and they considered “NO” as a very harsh word. Due to the culture shock reactions, Todd was feeling very angry and was aggressive. He scolded to Puro when he didn’t see him around the office. At that time Puro went to get him food as he was not feeling well. Later Todd apologizes to him when he saw that Puro was sad. Moreover, back at the guest house when Auntijy offered him food, Todd refused to eat it. Auntijy was shocked and sad to hear it.

Culture shocks

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. Culture shock can arise from an individual’s unfamiliarity with local customs, language, and acceptable behavior. (Segal, 2019)

During the stay in India, Todd experienced lots of culture shocks. The first culture shock was the time Todd saw the huge number of people in the terminal to receive people and the loud noise inside the terminal. After getting out of the terminal Todd was again shocked due to taxi drivers arguing around him to give him a lift (scene 3:40 to 4:40). As this has never happened in his country, he was completely shocked. While he was in a taxi to his guesthouse, he was shocked to see a cow moving around freely in the road. Moreover, one man was urinating on one side of the road (scene 9:48 to 10:11).

Todd heard a noise across the wall and climbed up the wall and saw a city of poor people. Todd was shocked to see that the men of that city were doing laundry works without using any machines (16:52 to 17:16. After going to the office on the first day, Todd saw a cow inside the office. Hence, no one was concerned about it in the office (scene 19:00 to 19:36).

Todd was shocked to see a woman bringing food from home and sending it across the wall for the poor people (scene 25:02 to 25:30). By seeing it, Todd felt like helping them and later he sent foods to them. On the day of Holi, Todd was very much shocked to see all the people running and splashing colors to any person they see (scene 38:20 to 39:25). Holi is the festival of celebration of colors and this day was not celebrated in America.

Furthermore, Todd was shocked to see that his underwear was ironed and folded (scene 52:57 to 53:10). In his country, he never does it and has never seen anyone doing it. In the scene with Asha, Todd was shocked to know that she was engaged to someone when she was four years old. Moreover, Asha has never met the person that she was engaged (scene 1:09:30 to 1:10:15). Todd was so concerned to know about the thing that was pasted on Asha’s forehead. When he asked about it, he was shocked to hear that it was the third eye for the woman in India. They believe that it is the eye that they see the most important things (scene 1:27:00 to 1:27:17).

The main difficulties the actor faced

As everything in India is new and different from his country, Todd faced a lot of difficulties while he stayed in India. He met difficulties in language, transportation, food, lifestyle, attitude and so on. After arriving to India, he missed his pick up driver due to the mispronunciation of his name in the board that the driver was holding. Hence, he tried to take a taxi to go to the train station. However, the cab driver took Todd’s luggage and put it in an old riskshaw. Todd felt very uncomfortable to travel in it as he never had travel in it before. When he was at the station, he had to run to catch the train. He had to throw his luggage on to the train and jump up the train.

At the beginning, the food was not easy for Todd to eat. He suffered from a cramp when he eats “gola” from a street vendor. Moreover, due to language differences, he had to drink coffee with a lot of sugars. In America, he usually drinks with a few amounts of sugar. Americans like fast foods like cheeseburgers, submarines, etc. From a newspaper, Todd saw a restaurant that sells burgers and he took a long drive to eat a cheeseburger. However, after reaching the restaurant Todd realized that they do not sell cheeseburgers with beef as in America. They sell burgers with vegetables. Todd was very angry about it.

Todd was very uncomfortable when Puro takes him to Auntijy’s guest house instead of the hotel he had got to stay. Todd is a very independent man and lives separately from his family in America. Moreover, he was very unsatisfied when he had to use a shared toilet. Furthermore, Todd was completely embarrassed when he realized that he has to use his hand to make hygiene as there were no toilet papers. Also, he had to use a squat toilet. Todd was not comfortable with the bedroom he stayed in. He couldn’t sleep well. There was a picture of the Indian goddess displayed on the wall of the room. He felt like it was staring at him all the time. Therefore, he tried to remove it from the wall and couldn’t get it off.

In the call center, Todd feels very angry and disappointed as he thinks that the Indians are crazy and they don’t know how to work. Therefore, he acts in a very rude manner to staff at the beginning. Moreover, he does not like it when they call him “Toad” instead of Todd. Moreover, it was very difficult for him to pronounce some of the Indian staff names. For example, “Manmeet”. Due to communication differences, Todd feels embarrassed when the staff uses different names for some items when giving service to customers. In India, they call rubber to erasers. Whereas in America rubber is the name used for the condom.

Todd feels very uncomfortable and angry when the boy he met in street tries to come close to him and hugs him. He doesn’t like it when strangers touch him as he wants his personal space. Americans usually maintain quite a large distance space between each other. Moreover, he becomes more frustrated when the boy steals his mobile phone and runs away. He had to use a STD phone to make calls to his girlfriend. All of these differences and difficulties make him fatigue, discourage and disorient.

Things actor should have done to manage properly

Before coming to India, he should have done a research and find information regarding Indian culture. When doing business in another country it is very important to know and understand the new culture and adjust to adapt to the new cultures, customs and habits. Todd should have tried to learn a little of the Indian language and adapt to its social norms. Failure to effectively communicate with others or understand their actions can lead to problems. He should have taken a culture training course before arriving in India. It will get easier for him to understand the cultural differences between the two countries. Moreover, it will help him to learn to accept the culture and to change his negative attitude to a positive one. After coming to India, he should have changed his attitude, behavior and have tolerance for uncertainty. Furthermore, he should have socialized with the locals and ask for advice and help.

Conclusion

It was concluded that culture plays an important role in doing a business in another country. Therefore, it is very important to learn about their culture and take necessary culture training before going to another country for a long time. Without knowing or understanding another culture will lead you to culture shocks, which is the main factor in the failure of a business.

To provide context, culture is an integrated system of learned behaviour patterns, wherein meaning is transmitted from generation to generation. According to Fisher, it represents specific attitudes and feelings of any given groups of people, which put simply is a system of shared meaning (qtd. in Kocak 64). As structuralists would understand, the nature of language is akin to culture; in the sense that, conventional meanings are often imposed and categorically defined to regulate discourse. And, the role of discourse arises from our need to provide structure, or order rather; of which, is only possible from a consensus, or a mutual agreement on certain public values. Tomasello’s research on this systematic relationship, stems from our nascent desire for interdependence, in other words, to be able to empathize—to understand and identify these feelings we recognize within ourselves, and find them in alternative representations (191-192). Meaning builds these kinds of relationships between us and the world, bridging the gaps between known and unknown, that way we aren’t lost in translation. As delineated by Winograd and Flores, “theories about the nature of biological existence, about language, and about the nature of human action have a profound influence on the shape of what we build and how we see it” (qtd. in Van de Walle, et al. 465). Meaning, or alternatively language, plays a crucial role in managing the psychological comforts attached to our experiences of the world. But, what’s important to highlight is not how meaning is necessarily inherited across generations or even inherent to us as humans, but again learned and familiarized through gradual exposure. This would then suggest how mutable, the nature of meaning actually is, in particular, its instability as a result of changing or shifting contexts.

The term “culture shock” was initially developed by Oberg, who as follows described it being: “…precipitated by the anxiety that results from losing all our familiar signs and symbols of social intercourse” (qtd. in Irwin). These signs again orient us in our everyday lives, and are often not carried out on the level of conscious awareness Due to our ethnocentric nature, we often don’t realize how these habits operate as presuppositions in addressing cultural codes (Kocak 65). And so by default, we often unwittingly judge unfamiliar cultures through the lenses of a known or familiar culture.loCultural shock therefore results from imperfect knowledge of the behavioural expectations or feedback from a novel culture, and likewise an obliviousness to the existence of cultural programming (66). Cultural shock is usually accompanied by physical symptoms of compulsive behaviours; or in some cases as Bock and Marx would describe, is more so a psychological disorientation and helplessness produced by the experience of foreignness (qtd. in Manz). In a philosophical research by Heidegger, Being and Time, it extrapolates how familiarity becomes our mode of expression, and/or the basis of our understanding of the world (qtd. in Van de Walle, et al. 464). This makes negations on how relations are not between subject and an object, but are otherwise dominated by consciousness to create representations (3). And, such nuances we find in representations assist us in abolishing exclusionary experiences, or what deem to be an ostracism.yio ho hou

Winkelmann determines then these varying degrees of psychological comfort or lack thereof in these cultural shock experiences, which he divides into four distinguishable stages: (i) the honeymoon phase; (ii) the crisis phase; (iii) the reorientation phase; and (iv) adaptation (122). According to Xia, the progression between these phases are actually not linear, but more so a chronic process (qtd. in Abbassian & Sharifi 154). Likened to how meaning performs, these phases are discontinuous; they can leap, regress, and even revert between these different stages. The first stage, the honeymoon phase, approximately lasts from a few days up to six months; in short, these periods are often relatively short-lived, or more accurately superficial experiences (Kocak 66). As aforementioned, culture shock tends to be more of a chronic process; so as a result, the honeymoon phase can’t manifest these negative symptoms, or feelings of disorientation usually experienced in the latter stages. Instead, it is marked by a contrived fascination displaced by an undesirable or inferior present reality (Winkelman 122).

Once the euphoria of change declines into a mere fleeting desire, the immigrant transitions unto the crises phase. This is when the immigrant starts to cope with the real conditions of the foreign environment, often showing signs of hostility and aggression. Often at this stage, the immigrant can either successfully, or fail to overcome these symptoms (Kocak 66). According to Wagner-Moore’s research on Gestalt theory, the adaptation cycle is further subdivided into these sections: awareness, excitement, action, and most importantly, contact (181). Gestalt theory uses ‘contact’ as an abstract, to represent a relationship between an individual and their surrounding environment, in this case, an alien country, which is necessary for the cycle to reach fruition. To further elaborate, it explains how contact and awareness becomes disrupted, specifically when the self loses this sense of recognition or otherwise is obscured by the environment. And in order for the cycle to function aptly, there has to be an internal and also external recognition of the self. Or in other words, the self must be given meaning, proper meaning, to bring about excitement, similar to that of the honeymoon phase (182). Losing this personal intimacy with this former self becomes a bereavement of those unconscious and automated aspects in our personal lives (Winkelman 122).

Culture shock is the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone when they are suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes.

Culture Shock is a term used to describe the anxiety produced when a person moves to a completely new environment. This term expresses the lack of direction, the feeling of not knowing what to do or how to do things in a new environment, and not knowing what is appropriate or inappropriate.

The feeling of culture shock can usually set in after the first few weeks of arriving in a new country. It is a normal part of adjusting to new foods, customs, language, people and activities. A person with culture shock may experience some of these symptoms: irritability, headaches or stomach aches, overly concerned with health, easily tired, loneliness, hopelessness, distrust of hosts, withdrawal from people and activities, painful homesickness, lowered work performance.

Stages and Examples of Culture Shock

Culture shock has many stages. Each one of these stages can be ongoing or only appear at certain times. We have listed the 5 stages of culture shock below. For foreigners who are staying a shorter period of time in Taiwan you may just experience the first 2 to 3 stages of culture shock.

Stage 1 (the honeymoon stage)

In this first stage, the you may feel exhilarated and pleased by all of the new things encountered. The new things you encounter in Taiwan are new and exciting at first, everything is wonderful. Even the most simple things are new and interesting, taking the bus or going to a restaurant. This exhilarating feeling will probably at some point change to the next phase.

Stage 2 (the disillusionment stage)

Culture shock will happen gradually, you may encounter some difficulties or simple differences in your daily routine. For example, communication problems such as not being understood, food, attitude, and customs, these things may start to irritate you. At this this stage, you may have feelings of discontent, impatience, anger, sadness, and a feeling of incompetence. This happens when you are trying to adapt to a new culture that is very different from your own. The change between your old methods and those of Taiwan is a difficult process and takes time to complete. During the transition period, you may have some strong feelings of dissatisfaction and start to compare Taiwan to your new country in an unfavorable way.

Stage 3 (the understanding stage – enlightenment)

The third stage is characterized by gaining some understanding of Taiwan’s culture, country, and its’ people. You will get a new feeling of pleasure and sense of humor may be experienced. You should start to feel more of a certain psychological balance. During this stage you won’t feel as lost and should begin to have a feeling of direction. At this point you are more familiar with the environment and have more of a feeling of wanting to belong.

Stage 4 (the integration stage)

The fourth stage of culture shock is the integration stage and is usually experienced if you are staying for a very long period of time in Taiwan. You will probably realize that Taiwan has good and bad things to offer you. This integration is period is characterized by a strong feeling of belonging. You will start to define yourself and begin establishing goals.

Stage 5 (the re-entry stage)

The final stage of culture shock occurs when you return to your home country. This stage of culture shock generally only effects people who have been in Taiwan for a very long period of time (though many feel it after having lived overseas for only as little as 6 months). You may find that things are no longer the same in your home country. For example, some of your newly acquired customs are not in use in your own country. Your friends have changed and your family may have as well. You may feel like you don’t fit in back home.

These stages are present at different times and you will have your own way of reacting in each stage. As a result some you may find some stages can be longer and more difficult than others. There are many factors contribute to the duration and effects of culture shock. For example, your state of mental health, personality, previous experiences, socio-economic conditions, familiarity with the language, family, and level of education.

Culture shock is a subcategory of a more universal construct called transition shock. Transition shock is a state of loss and disorientation predicated by a change in one’s familiar environment that requires adjustment. There are many symptoms of transition shock, including:

• Boredom
• Compulsive eating/drinking/weight gain
• Desire for home and old friends
• Excessive concern over cleanliness
• Excessive sleep
• Feelings of helplessness and withdrawal
• Getting ‘stuck’ on one thing
• Glazed stare
• Homesickness
• Hostility towards host nationals
• Impulsivity
• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Physiological stress reactions
• Stereotyping host nationals
• Withdrawal

So, in conclusion, These are the best tips to prevent or deal with culture shock

• Accept and Adapt.
• Learn and be Open-Minded.
• Positive Attitude.
• Touch Base with Home.
• Don’t Compare.
• Stay Active.
• Explore

In the global world, we can change our living country many times. It could be because of journey, work or study. They are different situations but all of them has a same problem, “Culture Shock”. For example students always likes to study abroad, because of many reasons. They prepare themselves to face with hard days, and problems. Nevertheless almost all of them face with culture shock when they become a new life with new people. According to this reason, their study goes to be hard. They cannot be able to be good in their studies, they have to do many things together with study and facing with new culture causes them with psychological problems.

All this things also happened to me. Culture shock is to strong thing that even I felt it again when I go back to my country for holiday from Germany to Azerbaijan. I was adapted German culture in 1 year and when I go to my home country everything was strange for me. That’s why I decideto summarize this topic. We will look explanation and solution of culture shock in this summary.

Contact with culturally unfamiliar people and places can be unsettling, and the term ‘culture shock’ is frequently used to describe how people react to novel or unaccustomed situations [3]. Culture is not a general thing. It depends on areas, sex, and so on. Cultures are hermetically sealed and geographically-based containers is clearly not an appropriate conception of culture intoday’s globalized world, it is also incorrect to claim that national cultures are now meaningless and that the developed world is currently a transcultural entity without borders [1]. Culture shock is the result of national culture. Everyone has a culture which he or she grows, works, and lives.

Because of that difference, people are having trouble to adapt new culture. Each culture have unique principles, laws, even time and space [4]. Same behavior can be strange in one culture despite it is good in another culture. According to one research between German and U.S teams, we can prove how national culture is important. 125 individuals participated in 30 meetings for the research [2]. The research explains that German teams have more Problem-Focused, Procedural and Counteractive Behaviors. But US American teams have Solution-Focused and Socioemotional Behaviors [2]. This is the prove of “national culture is relevant”.

This problem will be also the problem of the future. Whatever we can do, it will just decrease the effect of this problem, will not solve. To decrease the impact of this problem, there are orientation programs in the universities to help new students. Because culture shock is the result of insufficient information of every new things, so students being unsocial and tries not contact with anyone. In this point, universities tries to help new student. Also students should interact with people and create new relations [5]. Ongoing researches shows that foreign students be susceptible to psychological illness, as well as more academic problems. But in fact there is no a general theory of this problem [5].

Conclusion

In the conclusion we can say that culture shock is inevitable if you change your living place. The best way against that is to search more about new culture which we will face, and we should have more communication with person who is from new culture. It will help to adapt easier to new culture.

References

1. P. J. Witchalls, ‘Is national culture still relevant?,’ interculture journal , vol. 11, 2012.
2. N. Lehmann-Willenbrock, L. A. Meinecke and . A. A. Joseph, ‘Observing culture: Differences in U.S.- American and German team meeting behaviors,’ Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, vol. 17, pp. 252-271, 2013.
3. S. Bocher, Culture Shock Due to Contact with Unfamiliar Cultures, Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, 2003.
4. E. T. Hall and M. R. Hall, ‘Underlying Structures of Culture,’ Understanding Cultural Differences, vol. 1, 1990.
5. A. Furnham, ‘ Education and culture shock,’ The Psychologist, vol. 17, pp. 16-19, 2004.

Moving to American Samoa created a significant culture shock because of the major culture differences between the Samoan and the Chinese culture. This paper evaluates my thought processes comparing and contrasting two different culture, my own and the Samoan culture. This paper researches the psychological reasoning of the progress I have made and making in adapting to a new country. The main purpose of this research is to identify and discuss the process that Chinese individuals, such as I, adapt to the following: the English language, the cultural difference, and the introduction of a new educational system.

Lifespan Development Project

People move to other countries for many reasons like a new job, better education, and financial stability. I have lived in China my whole life. In 2016, my family moved to American Samoa for better opportunities such as work and education. It was such a very difficult experience. Being at the age of 18, I was already aware of the surroundings, which means I was aware that everything around me will be more different than I was used to. To adapt to a new country, I had to expose myself to the new language, educational system, and culture.

In 2016, my family and I decided to immigrate to American Samoa. My parents believed that it will be good for my sister and I to receive a good college education so that we may not struggle to find jobs when we got older. It was a very big change for me. For all of my 18 years of living, there is only one place I was familiar with—my home country, China. Moving to a completely new environment presented many problems—language, culture, and tradition barrier. Although American Samoa has a massive and friendly Chinese community, the language barrier stood the biggest obstacle in developing into the new place. I could not speak nor comprehend English very well, making it very difficult for me to understand anything.

Adapt to a new language

English is the primary language spoken in American Samoa; it is a language widely spoken all throughout the world. However, in China, I was not exposed too much of the English language. On top of that, the translation of the Chinese language to English was not very reliable due to many terms that they do not have in common. Being in the stage of young adulthood, it is much more difficult for me to learn a new language. Stephen Krashen’s theory of second language acquisition proves that it is very much possible for one to develop a second language. However, Krashen (1981) said, “You cannot learn English well if you do not have the opportunity to interact with English speakers in thousands of varied situations over a period of years”. Because I was not exposed to any English interactions at home, it became difficult for me to develop the English language. Also, many of my Chinese friends preferred to speak in Chinese rather than in English; it did not help me to adapt well at all. Feng (1991) discusses, “PRC (People’s Republic of China) students are afraid of being embarrassed because of language problems, so they withdraw from social activities and form their own social community and interact within the community in their native language, Chinese”. Feng’s study in the hindrance of Chinese students from adapting and adjusting to a new country explains why it is very difficult for Chinese students in American Samoa to adapt to the language and the culture. There are several instruments that I personally use to lessen the language barrier between me and the people I interact with. Technology (translators) is one instrument I could use to somewhat grasp comprehension in people’s speech.

Translation apps gave me a better understanding of what people say when they talk to me. However, as useful it may be, there would be times when the translation app could not translate some words correctly. This creates a problematic feature in technology. Learning the language itself was much more important. I needed to be more exposed to the daily English language.

A part of Krashen’s theory proposes the “sink or swim” method of second language acquisition, commonly called “submersion”. Krashen (1981) describes this method using a classroom example, “In submersion programs, NEP (non-English proficient) children are simply placed in the same classroom as native English speakers and the regular curriculum is followed. There is no organized attempt to provide any special instruction or extra help for these children” (p. 53). This forces non-English speaking students such as me to learn the language.

Because most schools in American Samoa speak English as the medium of instruction, I was put into a position where I had to adapt to the language whether I liked it or not. It was not as awful as it sounds. I became more and more familiar with the English language through friends that help me understand words put into context. Enrolling at the local college, American Samoa Community College, gave me more challenges. Collegiate level assignments became more difficult for me to finish. I am more familiar with the simple daily English language, reading college books containing words I do not understand can be very tough. Second language acquisition is much more difficult with age. Being already in my young adulthood stage, learning a new language is a lot more stressful than it would be if I was younger. Gordon (2000) mentions, “Age is a factor in acquiring one’s mother tongue, and this also applies when learning a second language. One essential to developing such a skill is the ability to switch from one language to the other, as appropriate”. Adapting to the educational system in American Samoa really put me in a “sink or swim” situation; no matter how difficult it might be for my age.

Adapt in the new educational system

Being in the stage of young adulthood, college is a big feature that I have to face. This caused much more stress because—not only was I adapting to a new environment, I was adapting to a whole new education system. In Chapter 13 of the textbook, the development of a young adult is discussed. Montgomery and Cote (2003) said that “college can be a time of intellectual discovery and personal growth, especially in verbal and quantitative skills, critical thinking and moral reasoning” (Papalia, Feldman, Martorell, 2012). I juggle the ideas of mastering a second language acquisition and adapting to the educational system in American Samoa.

A study conducted by Guofang Wan examines how Chinese students interact and adapt on to the United States’ system. The study itself speaks of the experiences of migrated Chinese students attending universities in the United States. Wan (1999) talks about the disillusionment—a feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be, that the subjects experienced in the United States. The language barrier did not stand as one and only problem. There were also other factors such as financial problems, pressure from schoolwork, and not learning as much as they expected from school. Reading this study made me relate to the experiences they had to the experiences I have. Because the American Samoa is under the United States, the system is the same. The education itself caters the native English speakers. Feng (1991) discusses that the American culture values individuality, competition, and independence; in sharp contrast, the Chinese culture values collectiveness, and cooperation. The American culture values self-expression, whereas the Chinese emphasize self-control (Wan, 1999). This explains why Chinese students, such as myself, develops into the system much more slowly than the local students.

According to Liu (2014), “Chinese education focuses on the knowledge of accumulation, on how students manage and use the knowledge they learned in school, and on understandings of knowledge systems and structures. Americans are interested in how students use their knowledge in society. The American system lets students criticize ideas, and challenge as well as create concepts.” I grew up in a much more different environment and system than the students I encounter with.

There are several studies that discuss the students of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and how they adapt to new countries. Jianhua Feng observed four Chinese students and studied four principal areas such as: financial difficulty, cultural differences, academic concerns, and language ability. These areas were believed to be the key to achieving adaptation and adjustment in a whole new environment. Feng (1991) stated, “Students adaptation problems clearly suggest that they generally have problems in financial aid, cultural adjustment and social interaction with Americans, academic concern, and language ability”. Adapting to the educational system was not easy; the Chinese system and culture are very much different from the systems and culture presented in American Samoa.

Adapt in the new culture

Culture shock is the most significant feeling I have experienced moving to American Samoa. Living in China for all 18 years of my life and having a sudden, abrupt change in culture and tradition exposure was very overwhelming. One of the things that were very interesting to me is the Samoan tradition of men wearing an i’e faitaga. My first thought was, “Why is that man wearing a skirt?” being ignorant of the Samoan culture. The longer I have resided on the island, the more things about the culture that I have become accustomed to seeing. I have grown very much respect in the local culture and traditions. Though I have not adopted the culture myself, I can compare the differences between my own culture and the Samoan culture.

There are many things that I may find odd that the Samoan customs and traditions practice and there might be things that others might find odd about the customs and traditions I practice. Apart from the language, there are other components of my culture that is different from the Samoan culture. When we greet people, for respect, we bow. In American Samoa, people usually just wave hello or just say hello. Also, we do not start our year until January. Our New Year starts on January 25 while in everywhere else, it is January 1. During New Years’ money is a gifted to younger member of family in a small red envelope. When a Chinese celebrates birthdays, noodles are served in the belief that it symbolizes a long life. We also have a tradition of rolling two eggs from head to toe. In American Samoa, there is no exact birthday celebration. Every family celebrates it in their own way. Flags are also very much respected in China. Flags are not to be reprinted on merchandise like shirts. In American Samoa, representing the flag in their clothing is their sense of cultural pride. We do not do that. In China, religion is not very big. There is almost little to no religion at all. In American Samoa is the total opposite. You will find churches in every corner. There will be at least three churches in one block. American Samoans value religion very much. Sundays are respected as to practice a quiet and calm Sundays. On Sundays, they also celebrate the togetherness of a family in feasts called toona’i.

In my country, the main starches that we eat are rice and noodles. In American Samoa, the main starch is taro and banana. As we eat with chopsticks, Samoans use utensils like forks and knives. However, the two different ethnicities share some similarities—universal similarities like family prioritization and respect for the elders. These cultural features are some of the few things I have grown to respect while living in American Samoa.

The climate in American Samoa is very hot and humid. It is very different from China. The island only experiences two seasons: summer and rainy seasons. While, on the other hand, China experiences four seasons: fall, winter, spring, and summer. The small island of American Samoa is very much more peaceful compared to the big, very populated, and busy country of China. The development from being in a busy, loud place transitioning to a calm, quiet new home was slow, lonesome, and difficult. However, I have grown accustomed, almost comfortable living on the island. Sussman mentions the transition from migration from one country to another and the adaptation it eventually brings. Sussman (2002) said, “sojourners reach some equilibrium, allowing them to balance comfort (defined by home culture) with effectiveness (defined by host country members). Step four of the Cultural Identity model suggests that several personal factors influence how much we adjust to the host country including how flexible we are and how important our cultural identity is to us”. Sojourners refer to international individuals that study or work in another country. According to Sussman’s study, becoming able to adapt and adjust to another country is not impossible. Although several things might stand in the way, hindering the development, one will likely to progress over time.

Living in a strange environment will eventually cause the mind to adjust. Cultural transition does exist. I understand this and can apply this very well to my personal experience because I have resided in American Samoa for about three years now. However, I do not believe I have completely transitioned into full adaptation. There are many more things to learn—such as fluency in the English language, celebration of the Samoan tradition, and adaptation to the culture of respect. I have not yet made the friends I can make. Although I have already made several friends, I believe that there is much more room for cultural exposure that will help me improve my cultural intelligence and most importantly, speaking the English language. Over time, my mind will adapt, adjust, and assimilate into the Samoan culture.

Conclusion

People move to other countries for several reasons. Migration to another country is resulted in aspiring to achieve a better life by finding better-paying jobs, better living conditions, and a better educational system. However, when most people go to another country, especially in the beginning, they are difficult to adapt to the environment, education, or culture of other countries. I moved to the small island of American Samoa in 2016. It was a very difficult experience. Adapting to a new country was not easy. I had to expose myself to the new language, educational system, and culture. Finally, I believe that as long as we are willing to adapt to the environment, such as participating in outdoor activities and communicating with others, the way to adaptation will not be far from us.

Abstract

Culture shock is “the impact of traveling from a familiar culture and trying to adjust to an unfamiliar one.” Something I experienced for the first time in my life. Leaving a carefree and independent life in America where everything is done the proper way, to thousands of miles away in India where everything was the complete opposite. The endless tray animals, the beggars, the insane long vehicle rides, the foul smell, and the extreme pollution are difficult to process, particularly at the same time. Be that as it may, there are similarly the same number of things that astounded me. The inviting individuals, the vibrant colors of traditional clothing, and the mouthwatering food that overflowed with flavors were things that made me fall in love. All it took for this average American girl who knew about her Indian culture, to one who finally found who she is, was a trip with her parents to India.

India: Getting there

Ten years ago, spring of 2009 my parents had decided that we kids were finally old enough for a trip back home to the motherland, India. My older sister and I had already visited once before, but I don’t believe it counted. I mean I was barely a year old the first time around. When I first learned that we were taking a trip to India, I was excited but I also had a weird feeling inside of me. Through the stories I heard and the pictures I saw, was I ready to travel to a new place so different from my normal?

Both of my parents are from a small village in Gujarat, India. Both grew up in households that weren’t necessarily poor but not necessarily comfortable either. Somewhere in between was their situation. Coming from hardworking families of farmers, my parents’ life consisted of going to school in the morning, and then coming home to help out in the sugarcane fields and looking after the animals. My mom just like any other girl at that time, dropped out of school to help out at home. My dad, on the other hand, ended up moving to America when he was just a little boy. Eventually when he was in his 20’s my grandparents decided that it was time to get married to a nice girl from back home. They already had a girl in mind, my mom. They got married in the 90’s and soon after my mom found herself settling in a new country.

Born and raised in San Francisco, California, I was the average American teenager. Growing up, I had an amazing childhood. There was always something going on. Whether it was birthdays, BBQs, picnics, parties, or just days spent outdoors, living a carefree life. Yeah, I attended school for six hours a day, five times a week, with an addition to Islamic school four times a week. But I loved every moment of it, as it was the best time of my life. I grew up in a comfortable environment. I had a roof over my head, clothes on my back, three meals a day, a free education, and so much more. The usual. Obviously, this was what my parents wanted for us, but they felt something was missing. Compared to my parent’s childhood back in India, my siblings and I were living a luxurious American life. I emphasize “American” because the Indian culture was absent. We are Americans but also Indian, yet we had no idea what that part of us was. And that is why my parents decided to take us to India.

First things first, I’m not sure if this is part of the Indian culture, but what I do know for a fact is that every single Indian family does this when packing for a trip back home. There will be five people traveling but ten suitcases packed! Why? Well, the majority of them are filled with gifts. My parents always say if you’re well off you should always give to those who are less fortunate. To this day my parents’ village has what we say in Hindi, “gareeb logh” or poor people.

The flight to India was brutal, nearly 24 hours including a layover in China. The trip had barely started, and I was already over it. I was beyond exhausted. Stepping out of the Delhi airport, we were hit with humidity, foul smell, and pollution. I felt like I couldn’t breathe and wanted to turn back, hop on a flight, and be in the cool weather of SF. Next thing you know, we were bombarded with a crowd of people throwing their arms around us and yelling our names. Some I was able to recognize through the pictures I had seen before, but others were new faces. This is also a big thing for Indians, all of the family members go to the airport to receive the “foreigners”. We were in the car for barely even five minutes and we broke various traffic offenses: running red lights, driving on the wrong side of the road, taking illegal U-turns, and wildly weaving in and out lanes and between cars. This was anything but a coincidental event. This happened consistently. This was their normal. And this was my fate for the next 6 hours until we reached the village.

Once we arrived at the village, we started to notice the villagers slowly coming out of their houses, curious to see who was in the big car. We pulled up at the back entrance of my mom’s childhood home, and that was it, I was about to lose my mind and temper. It was boiling and there was a crowd of women gathering around my mom, crying and hugging her. My siblings and I were slowly getting pushed back but not without stares as we were standing there wearing American clothes. In the village, girls weren’t allowed to wear Western clothes, so were completely out of place. To this day I am so thankful for my two female cousins who pulled us into the house and took us away from the crowds. We were taken to a room in the back where we had fresh “limbo paani” (translates to lemon water, but means lemonade) After that, traditional Indian clothes known as shalwar kameez were shoved into our hands so that we could get out of the tight American clothes and feel refreshed from the long journey. The whole day women were coming to meet us, but specifically my mom since she had returned after a long 12 years.

At this point, my cousins Summaiya and Shabana told us that it would be best for us to go to my paternal grandfather’s house to avoid the crowds, while my mom stayed behind. This was the best thing to happen. My paternal grandfather’s house is not too far away from my mom’s family home, but it’s in a more quiet area. It was also newly renovated to fit the comforts of us American grandkids. What I mean by that is instead of having the normal hole in the floor as a means of using the bathroom; we had American toilets, as well as white marble tiles to keep the house cool from hot temperatures. For the remainder of the trip, I made sure no matter what anyone said, I would only live in my grandfather’s house and nowhere else.

Culture Shock

The first week in India was for us to settle in. By this time I had picked up more Hindi than I ever knew before, saw the sugarcane fields, and saw the daily lives of the villagers. But the biggest culture shock for me was not being able to go outside and wander or even walk to the local market without a male member or two accompanying me. Life here was very different than back home. And it would only open my eyes more. For the next two weeks, we were to travel to Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, to name a few. As we set off for the six-hour drive, I was entranced by what I was seeing. The sheer volume of people, vehicles, and animals in the city was sufficient to send me into a total culture shock, to the degree that I had a feeling that I was dreaming. Nothing sets you up for the extraordinary smells, the chaos that results when a crowd of cows chooses to go for a walk along bustling streets, the insane traffic and the consistent sound of honking, the homeless dozing off on the walkway. You can’t shut out the women begging who appear a hundred years of age, glancing at you with those appallingly dismal eyes while they timidly beseech you for money with their palms pleadingly open, and the kids running around wearing only underwear.

With a populace of roughly 1.1 billion in India, you are never a long way from humanity. If you like your own space, it’s best if you overlook it. At least that’s what I learned because there was no such thing as personal space. I had to become accustomed to being pushed, shoved, and in closeness to individuals throughout the day, with individuals yelling at me to get in their rickshaws, purchase their products, or give them cash. The only thing that made me uncomfortable was the staring. The people in India will take one look at you now and immediately know that you’re a foreigner. Being an Indian I always thought I looked like one, but shopkeepers said otherwise. Apart from that, Indian individuals are quite friendly and hospitable. The women in particular are what brought me closer to my culture today. All spruced up in beautiful saris, hands painted with intricate mehndi designs, wearing brilliant little gems and bindis on their temples, and golden ‘kangas’ swinging from their wrists, necks, and noses. That’s when things started to make sense. I had seen both of my cousins Summaiya and Shabana wearing golden necklaces and rings, and their hands adorned with mehndi. I also remembered that whenever we had parties to attend back home, my mom would make sure to her gold jewelry. My cousins told me that gold was a symbol of wealth and status, which is why it’s so common to see Indian women wearing it.

When it comes to Indian food, I’m no stranger. I grew up with it all. Every dish you can think of, I’ve had it. That’s one thing my mom never deprived us of. But having it in India was different. To get authentic Indian food, my cousins said we had to eat from the food stalls. Now I was a bit held back from the idea because my doctors had suggested not to, but how could I travel thousands of miles and not even have a bite? I went against my doctor’s advice and it was the best decision I made. Street food in India is just something else. Doesn’t matter what type of food you’re eating, whether it’s vegetarian from the Hindu culture, or the meat dishes from the Mughal culture like curries, or South Indian cuisine like dosa. It’s all very different from the Indian cuisine in America.

My trip to India was completely life-changing. Although I’m Indian I knew pretty much nothing prior. All I knew was a couple of things here and there, as I grew up with an American lifestyle. I lived a carefree comfortable life. But after my trip, I saw things differently. I became more aware of my culture. Even though I was apprehensive about the trip from the beginning, and then wanted to go back as soon as I got there, I loved every moment. If it wasn’t for this trip, I wouldn’t know who I truly am as a person. I am now in touch with my Indian side a lot more than I was ever before. I find myself enjoying dressing up in the traditional clothes and eating the food. If it wasn’t for my parents realizing what we kids were missing out on, then I don’t think I’d get the authentic experience. Also, my two cousins Summaiya and Shabana for showing us around and teaching as well as explaining why everything was the way it was in India.

Cross culture difference(India-Canada)

It is always been a debatable issue how cross-culture affects our daily life and what are the differences and similarities between the cultures. Today I will discuss the cross cultural differences between India and Canada. And the cross-culture shock I have experienced.

To begin with, every country has its own intermixed culture. However, India is a diverse country (many cultures are adopted in India). Firstly, there are many languages spoken in India as compared to Canada i.e. India- (22 languages), Canada-(2 languages) {as per researchers}. So, for me, it is a drastic cultural difference between both countries (India and Canada).

Secondly, the cultural costumes are different, festival celebrations are different. As in India, there are dramatic sorts of costumes worn {salwar kameez, churidar, lehenga choli(skirt and blouse), dhoti, panache or lungi, sherwani, etc.}.However, In Canada, there are different sorts of costumes worn by people{parkas, long johns, ear muffs, scarves, gloves, mittens, tuques (woolen caps), various jackets made of linen and leather, leggings, Ojibwa shirts, trousers, and moccasins, etc.}.In India, many festivals are celebrated by the dwellers{Diwali, Holi, Christmas, Dussehra, Durga puja, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Eid-Ul-Fitr, Rakshabandhan, etc.} and in Canada the festivals which are celebrated by people are{Montreal Jazz Festival, Winterlude, Celebration Of Light, The Ex, Pride Toronto, Folklorama, Just For Laughs, K-Days, The Calgary Stampede, Canada Day Celebrations, etc.}In Canada there are fewer festivals which are celebrated in comparison to India.

Thirdly, India is home to at least nine recognized religions. The major religions practiced in India are {Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism Jainism, etc.}.In Canada, there are fewer religions {Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, etc.}.

Fourthly, In India, the most popular sports are {Cricket, badminton, football, shooting, wrestling, boxing, tennis, squash, weightlifting, gymnastics, athletics, table tennis, basketball, volleyball, cycling, chess, kho-kho, kite-fighting, leg Cricket, polo, snooker, gillidanda, etc.}. However, In Canada the most popular sports are {Ice hockey, lacrosse, gridiron football, soccer, basketball, curling, baseball, etc.}.

Fifthly, There are many different rules and regulations which are been followed by the Indian and Canadian governments. In India, many people are never caught after breaking the rules. However, in Canada, there are very few rare cases in which the rule breaker may not be caught. Moreover, in India, Most of the crime cases are pending. However, in Canada, the results of the crime cases are transparent.

Sixthly, The Cultural History of India and Canada is very different. English people ruled for over 200 years in India and Canada was an independent country. In Indian cultural studies, we have to read all about the wars, records, acts, famous personalities, the ruling party, rulers, historic moments, etc. In Canadian cultural studies, we have to learn all about the history of Canadian dwellers, previous wars, traditions, records,etc.

Seventhly, The behavior of city dwellers is different if compared. In India, most people react very angrily to many normal things. However, In Canada, most people handle all sorts of situations with love and care. In India, the people nearby will not interact easily with the newly met person. However, in Canada, the dwellers prefer to make the passing stranger feel good and smile on his/her face.

Moreover, As everyone entering a different country experiences cross-culture shock The tourist’s glamour may not be the resident’s reality. It is common for people to suffer from some form of culture shock after arriving in a foreign setting. This normal reaction to a new environment occurs while you are outside of your comfort zone. When adapting to a foreign culture, you could experience a range of emotions from euphoria to yearning for home. Culture shock is a term used to describe what people experience when they are overwhelmed by unfamiliar surroundings and conditions, resulting in a sense of isolation.

Stages of culture shock

As an exchange student, you may experience some or all of the following stages of culture shock:

1. Initial Anxiety: Before departing, is common for exchange students to feel anxious about their upcoming journey. You may even question your decision to go on exchange.
2. Initial Elation: At this stage, you have just arrived in the new country and are observing the culture through a tourist’s idealistic eyes. Everything is fantastic! And so much fun! This is also referred to as “the honeymoon period”. In this phase, you are positive and curious. You are looking forward to new adventures with anticipation, and you may even idealize the host culture.
3. Initial Culture Shock: Irritability and hostility are both symptoms of culture shock. It is at this stage that it is important to realize that there is a fine line between saying that people do things differently and that they stupidly do things. It’s also common to blame the new culture for one’s frustrations and emotions, rather than the process of acculturation. Mobility – A World of Opportunities
4. Initial Adaptation: Next, there will be a period of acceptance, during which you gradually adapt to the new culture and no longer nurture feelings of anxiety or resentment. During this adjustment, you will begin to feel more comfortable and develop a balanced, objective view of your experiences. However, the frustration may return, and you may experience feelings of sadness again.
5. Acceptance of Host Culture: Now you will begin to integrate your host culture into your everyday life. During this phase, you may develop a sense of belonging to your host culture or even a soft spot for certain customs.
6. Return Anxiety: This phase is similar to the initial anxiety period and occurs before you return to your home country. You may feel anxious about leaving your new community and readjusting to your life in Canada. At the same time, you will also feel a sense of relief and accomplishment after having completed your stay abroad.
7. Reverse Culture Shock: Many students overlook reverse culture shock. After having assimilated the host country’s culture, it may be challenging for you to return home; you may have to overcome cultural differences for a second time. Moreover, reverse culture shock can be more intense because is often unexpected. You may require time to settle back into a routine and to readjust to life in Canada.

Background:

There is evidence that Culture Shock plays a crucial role in the development of people’s sociocultural life nowadays. This term makes reference to the set of reactions that an individual may experience when coming into contact for the first time with a culture different from their own. Such an impact usually has an affective variable and a cognitive variable. From an affective point of view, the subject may experience emotions such as fear, mistrust, discomfort, anxiety, or insecurity. From a cognitive, you may experience a cognitive conflict between your knowledge of the world on the one hand and the frameworks of knowledge, values or interpretations of the new culture, on the other. It is important to understand that Culture Shock has an extensive background of symptoms and that many people can experience a different one.

However, in recent years, there has been an increasing interest in knowing how people can overcome culture shock due to all the difficulties that It poses to a person experiencing it. For example

Aim:

The purpose of this study was first to analyze which feelings people experienced during Culture Shock and secondly, which techniques beforehand they were using to face this issue. In addition, a final aim was to find out appropriate help which can be provided to people who has experienced Culture Shock.

Method:

The sample:

A total of 82 respondents completed the Questionnaire about “Culture Shock”, who were selected from a different range of ages, gender, and background. They were all people who moved abroad from their home country.

Data collection:

This research was carried out through a questionnaire form, where 10 questions were focused on how Culture Shock can have an effect on people’s lives and which techniques were used to face or overcome these issues.

Findings:

• These figures add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to specify more than one reason
• These figures add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to specify more than one reason

Graph SEQ Figure * ARABIC 1

The results obtained from the preliminary analysis of the question “Which feelings have you experienced during Culture Shock?” are shown in graph 1. The data shows that 52.7% of the people felt a lack of confidence at the time of facing this issue and followed by 45.9% of those who felt homesick. The most interesting aspect of this graph is that by experiencing depression people experience insomnia and irritability at the same percentage (27%), suggesting that all three emotions are linked which can be seen in the graph. It also shows that the lowest percentage (17.6%) of the people who have experienced Culture Shock has not felt any of the above feelings.

• These figures add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to specify more than one reason
• These figures add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to specify more than one reason

Graph SEQ Figure * ARABIC 2

Turning to which techniques people have used to face culture shock, we can see in graph 2 that the most common technique was to prepare themselves mentally and be open-minded with 62% and 45% had to get in contact with people who were able to give advice e.g., family, friends or professionals. However, 32 of the respondents who make up 40.5% said that learning the language beforehand can be useful at the time to move a different country. While the minority of the population (32%) chose background research as a technique to face culture shock.

Conclusion:

Overall, these results provide important insights into what people feel when they experience Culture Shock, this in turn gives chance to understand and give the correct type of support to a person who has experienced this, as the wrong help could cause additional stress.

Interestingly, the narrator highlights the ‘fragments of otherness in [her] body’ and yet chooses to dismiss them through his hunger to find beauty. When he first meets her eyes, he notes that they hold a strange look of greed, amounting to craving’ within them. According to Carolyn Burdett eyes are ‘one of the most prominent mystery tropes in Gothic fiction… where terror and superstition brew.’ This is one of the first instances where the young woman starts to unveil her true non-normative bodily features, Macdonald’s use of the noun ‘craving’ alludes to the young woman’s powerful desire for flesh and blood over the ‘quivering’ disgust she has toward the fish. This display of ‘otherness’ decodes her ‘atavistic double self that has the potential to destroy,’, especially through the suggested hunger, which he ignores and glosses over by stating ‘she was almost beautiful.’ This ignorance presents a danger to him as it is ‘the…(hyper)sexuality and attractiveness of the female werewolf… [and her] exaggerated female corporeality’ that he chooses to focus on rather than the danger he faces. Later, her eyes are described as being ‘for the most part veiled’ from his gaze, here we can perhaps argue that she embodies the ‘strong and cunning’ qualities of a female werewolf. Throughout Victorian Gothic fiction, a veil is used to ‘hide a female’s true form’ from whoever they are trying to ‘trick or seduce.’ Whilst I argued prior that she does not characterize herself as the ‘Femme fatale,’ I do believe here that she demands the male gaze to be cast upon her, she is hoping, through his curiosity surrounding her that he will perhaps acknowledge her lycanthropic qualities, rather than being solely ‘bewitched.’ The young woman has primitive elements, but they are contextualized as belonging to his list of curiosities about her, leading him to not dwell on her suspicious side, but more so trying to persuade himself to focus on her human form. Whilst she does not undergo full lycanthropic metamorphosis in front of him, this change is suggested but due to the romanticized hyper-femininity, is ignored.

The all-consuming male gaze focuses its attention on the young lady’s clothing and mannerisms, which she uses, I argue, to warn him. Sloan argues that ‘women’s clothing [is used] to make deeply political statements about the social realities faced by Victorian women.’ In Victorian semiotics of fashion, a woman’s choice of wearing a dress ‘signaled refinement, youth, and [being an] unmarried woman,’ the young woman in ‘The Gray Wolf’ does wear a dress and is seen as ‘lovely’ and thus, desirable. However, her dress being ‘torn’ and the ‘single drop of blood’ that is revealed through its shabby appearance opens my discussion regarding her attempt to avert the male gaze and provide a warning. Cunningham discusses the notion of ‘anti-fashion,’ where a woman ‘betrays a character with much more strength and agency than the passive doll-like women who surround her.’ The young lady disavowals feminine charm through the ‘anti-fashion’ and establishes herself as a problematic figure, disregarding ‘fashion as emblematic of patriarchal oppression and feminine helplessness.’ Patriarchal oppression is suggested at the beginning, through the hierarchy of the male being a student contrasted to the mute and solitary young woman. Immediately the power dynamic is exposed; powerful Victorian men exercised disturbing amounts of control over women who had no legal recourse thus allowing him to view her how he pleases. Yet, through the ‘anti-fashion’ defiance, we see how she navigates the extract away, for a brief moment, from his male gaze. When she returns with the ‘stain of blood’ on her leg she refutes his claim that she appears ‘washed’ and ‘better.’ She wishes him to see the other side of her, one that can be characterized as ‘Abhuman,’ making herself someone who is ‘not becoming not-itself [but] becoming other.’ The autonomous self-identity that characterizes the ‘Abhuman’ exposes itself when it feels a ‘threat’ toward itself is prevalent, she heightens her human traits, perhaps when she feels threatened by his gaze through her lycanthropic sitting on the chair ‘in an unusual position,’ her ‘nostrils’ that were ‘as tremulous as eyelids’ and her strangely ‘dazzling teeth.’ Perhaps he ignores her ‘otherness’ because of Victorian anxieties surrounding the human identity in regards to Degeneration, he was in a state of ‘horror’ after he heard the ‘pattering of dog’s feet’ and ‘spied [the] single drop of blood’ upon her bare leg, knowing himself that she perhaps who she presented herself as. Yet, in the following paragraph, he once more returns to being ‘bewitched’ by her.

Based on our most recent census, Canada like many other developed nations encompasses an ethnically diverse populace that contains more immigrants than non-immigrants. Canada has offered protection to individuals fleeing persecution, individuals desiring an increased standard of living, and much more. As the Minister of Immigration, my commitment to all Canadians is to provide a smooth integration of immigrants into Canadian society, as well as to strengthen Canadians’ values surrounding multiculturalism.

Our new 2019-2020 Multiculturalism Policy will be addressing solutions to the diverse acculturation experiences that immigrants have. To address the smooth integration of immigrants into Canadian society, our Department will be integrating research done on the “Four Stages of Culture Shock”. When individuals migrate to a different host country, persons experience feelings of positivity (honeymoon phase). However, once the novelty wears off, culture shock consequences set in. In order to decrease the stage of “culture shock”, we need to employ Integration strategies that create positive attitudes towards both the host and heritage culture for immigrants. As well as creating programs where immigrants can participate in the host culture while maintaining traditions of heritage culture.

Employing additional services and initiatives that help immigrants accomplish everyday tasks such as making friends and figuring out how to find a doctor, where to go to get a driver’s license, or how to cook strange-looking foods that are sold at the supermarket. In addition, including programs where a variety of different ethnic groups can exchange different cultural customs among individuals. By employing these initiatives, immigrants will experience a decreased sense of cultural distance (perceiving heritage culture customs completely differ from the host country) and have access to both cultural communities. While employing strategies that ease the integration of immigrants into Canadian society, we can also strengthen Canadians’ values surrounding multiculturalism.

We can administer the Multicultural approach, to understand what rationale Canadians, use to understand/ empathize with immigrants. It is understood, based on past cross-cultural research, that Minority groups greatly value group identities, and often respond negatively to efforts made by majority group members to ignore what makes them distinctive. As soon as you tell people that there are two distinct groups that they belong to minority groups are discriminated against. The multicultural approach suggests that people will fare better when the distinctive characteristics of their groups are attended to and approached. By employing government-mandated diversity programs (implicit bias training, inclusiveness programs, and diversity training for upper management) we can emphasize multicultural messages fare better in numerous respects than color-blind messages.

To substantiate this point, Victoria C Plaut, Keeia M Thomas, and Matt J Goren conducted an extensive study of ‘Is Multiculturalism or Color Blindness Better for Minorities’. A few thousand employees from various companies were assessed on the relationship between each company’s attitude toward diversity and their employee engagement with their work. The more multicultural and the less colour-blind the attitudes of the white employees, the more the minority employees were engaged with their work. Similarly, minority employees have more trust in and are comfortable with, a company that offers multicultural messages than with one that offers color-blind messages, especially when the company has only a few minority members. As the Minister of Immigration, my first and foremost commitment to Canadians is to understand that by protecting immigrants, we will grow to be an inclusive, prosperous, and safe country.