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| Culture Shock? |
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Imagine different food, different manners, different language, even different looking buildings and trees; your best friends are away, your family also. Hey, are you feeling confused and unsure already? It probably will not help much if someone tells you that you are experiencing culture shock.
What hides behind this puzzling, even frightening title is the mixture of nervousness, insecurity and maybe frustration everyone goes through when he or she moves to a totally new place.
Since most of us are already acquainted with American culture to an extent with music, books, movies, CNN, and MTV, the culture shock you experience will not be analogous to that of an English woman going to India at the turn of the century. Most of us in retrospect realize that we did experience a 'culture shock', but of a different kind than that of the English woman. The culture shock might be in the form of some action or comment made by your American friends or acquaintances, but is more often their reaction to a behavior/action that you consider customary.
The best remedies against culture shock? Keep yourself busy by meeting people, engaging in different activities, studying; learn from experiences. Coming to college in the USA is such a fascinating opportunity to explore an entirely new way of life. Don't try to recreate your home environment at Colgate, but embrace this opportunity with an open mind. Today you may doubt your decision to come to Colgate but tomorrow you may go for a walk with friends around Taylor Lake and feel happy, not believing that you're actually in this place you've dreamed of so many times. Once you are here, you will definitely feel like you belong here and that this is the place for you.
Notable Characteristics of Americans
Like any other society, the US has people who are friendly and those who are not; people who are intelligent and those who are not. American culture is very fluid and complex with many sub-cultural groups whose values differ. Even with this diversity it is possible to mention certain characteristics, which in general describe attitudes, and practices that are common among Americans, and which tend to distinguish Americans from people who have grown up in other cultures. Keep in mind the following remarks are generalizations. You will find individuals who are exceptions to all of them.
Individualism
Americans generally believe that the ideal person is an autonomous, self-reliant individual. Most Americans see themselves as separate individuals, not as representatives of a family, community, or other groups. They dislike being dependent on other people or having others dependent on them. Some people from other countries view this attitude as "selfishness." Others view it as a healthy freedom from the constraints of ties to social class, family or clan.
Informality
Americans are taught that "all people are created equal." While they continually violate that idea in some aspects of life, in others they adhere to it. They treat each other in very informal ways, for example, even in the presence of great differences in age or social standing. From the point of view of some people from other cultures, this kind of behavior reflects "lack of respect." From the point of view of others, it reflects a healthy lack of concern for a social ritual.
Time Consciousness
Americans place considerable value on punctuality. They tend to organize their activities by means of schedules. As a result, they may seem hurried, always running from one thing to the next, and not able to relax and enjoy themselves. Foreign observers sometimes see this as being "ruled by the clock." Other times they see it as a helpful way to assuring that things get done.
To become more aware of Americans and their culture, do not be hesitant to ask questions about customs, practices, or values. Not only will queries help to reduce confusion or prevent misunderstandings, but they will also help us to learn from you about your culture. In the United States, people respect someone who expresses concern. Asking for assistance or an explanation is not considered a sign of weakness, but of interest, concern and forthrightness.
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