The Wikipedia Definition (as Wikipedia is The Fountain Of All Knowledge On This Earth And If It Isn't On Wikipedia, It Doesn't Exist):
Culture shock refers to the anxiety and feelings (of surprise, disorientation, uncertainty, confusion, etc.) felt when people have to operate within an entirely different cultural or social environment, such as a foreign country. It grows out of the difficulties in assimilating the new culture, causing difficulty in knowing what is appropriate and what is not. This is often combined a dislike for or even disgust (moral or aesthetical) with certain aspects of the new or different culture.
Particular aspects of Culture Shock:
1. Sadness, loneliness, melancholy
Yep, big tick.
2. Preoccupation with health
Not as yet, but then I have had this recurring stomach virus...
3. Aches, pains, and allergies
I ALWAYS have aches (side effect of being too bendy)
4. Insomnia, desire to sleep too much or too little
The fact that my nextdoor neighbour likes to bang around her room at 6am doesn't help with this point.
5. Changes in temperament, depression, feeling vulnerable, feeling powerless
Never wanted a good strong hug in all my life as I do now. Vulnerable, me?
6. Anger, irritability, resentment, unwillingness to interact with others
Doesn't help that a lot of the Austrians I come into contact with are rude (more about that later) and seem to view foreigners as some kind of infectious disease. No surprise that the far right made serious gains in the last election.
7. Identifying with the old culture or idealizing the old country
I'm under no impression that Britian is Utopia quite yet.
8. Loss of identity
Hmmm, well I haven't lost my passport and haven't changed my name to Heidi yet so no tick here.
9. Trying too hard to absorb everything in the new culture or country
YES. Just... yes.
10. Unable to solve simple problems
Doesn't help that the Austrians are OBSESSED with bureaucracy. The smallest thing requires 4 signatures and 2 stamps from offices scattered across the length and breadth of the city.
11. Lack of confidence
Talking pidgin German with already suspicious middle-aged Austrians behind the tills? You must be joking.
12. Feelings of inadequacy or insecurity
Well, at least Vienna is one of the safest cities in Europe... oh, that's not what it meant. Inadequacy = tick!
13. Developing stereotypes about the new culture
As in, they all eat disgusting sausages and anyone over 40 treats foreigners with distinct suspicion? Stereotyping, me?
14. Developing obsessions such as over-cleanliness
*looks at state of room* Definitely not.
15. Longing for family
I'd like a hug from my mum right now, but I'm not sobbing my heart out over it. I've been at Uni 2 years without them holding my hand...
16. Feelings of being lost, overlooked, exploited or abused
Occasionally lost, but the Austrians aren't really bad people. They'll go out of their way to help you if you're really stuck. But you need to prove you're not a dense, halfwit tourist first!
I feel as if I can't be bothered to go out and do things at the moment - the wrong attitude to take, I know, as it will only heighten my feelings of loneliness and insecurity if I alienate my friends and so on. But it doesn't help that when I DO make the effort to organise a trip to the theatre or opera (student tickets are very cheap over here!) I only get one or two emails back from my so-called friends. I had given them plenty of time and options and didn't get a single positive response. Some people didn't even respond at all. Now I don't know about you, but I think that's just plain rude. Yeah we might all be busy with Uni etc. but it takes 10 seconds to write, 'Sorry, can't come but have fun!' My irritation was increased when one of the friends in question later sent an email asking if we all wanted to meet up at the weekend and go to the zoo - not a mention made of my rather good idea of going to see a play or opera. However, I don't know if she received any responses either. I sent a reply but as my internet is a bit temperamental, I'm not sure if it went. I didn't bother sending it again; it sounds petty but if they can't make the effort...
So I'm irritated, lonely and in desperate need of a good big hug.
The one person who might well understand what I'm feeling and give me the kick up the butt I need to get back out there on the learning offensive is currently very busy choreographing his first dance performance. I don't want to bother him; I don't want to seem like I can't stand alone on my own two feet. I don't want to seem as if I'm chasing him. But I miss being around him as he's been here, done it and I know he'd give me useful advice (and probably the big hug I so desperately want right now). I also don't know if he is interested in seeing me (although he was 2 or 3 weeks ago) and in typically female fashion and much as I hate to admit it, this rankles me. I hate the indecision period which comes when you like someone and THINK they might like you back but you're not 100% sure.
However, I am receiving male attention and I'm not entirely happy about it (you'd never know it, but I am very shy when it comes to the male species). My Austrian Uni-Buddy seems to have taken a fancy to me and whilst he's a nice guy, he just doesn't 'float my boat/flip my switch/light my fire' etc. I was told by 2 complete strangers that I'm a beautiful woman last week, and was practically pounced upon at the International Students Party by two very enthusiastic Spanish guys. Once I told them a complete lie and explained I was looking for my boyfriend, they lost interest. I was told by one of those Living Statues that I have beautiful eyes whilst he looked down my top and the cashier at the buffet restaurant we went to yesterday for lunch definitely wasn't admiring just the logo on my t-shirt. I think buying a hessian sack and some skater jeans might be the order of the day on Monday...
All this and you can't even buy a decent sausage over here. I miss Cumberland sausages! I miss sausages which are made with an identifiable meat! I miss pork and leek sausages with Yorkshire pudding and gravy... :(
Anyway, before this post becomes even more of a whinge and moan about culture shock, men, and anything else which has riled me even a small amount over the last week, I'll go to bed (and lie awake for an hour trying to get to sleep).
'Til next time,
Liv xxx
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4 comments:
Hi LiV, just surfed over from `the other blog we've commented on` and read your post. I empathise with your situation re. the fickle rudeness prevalent in so many people. I think the fact that you recognise this for what it is and don't like it, speaks volumes about your values and for that you should be justly proud of whoever it was that gave these to you! In my travels through this life, I've found that there can be two extremes of people and I've come to refer to them as `radiators and drains`! Radiators give out warmth and you're always glad to be near them when there's a chill in your life. Drains...well you can work that one out and put your own interpretation on it, but for me it meant that everything gets drained down into them,joy, laughter, all can get sucked right out of you in their presence and YOU get drained - best avoided! Life's too short. Ditch the drains and don't waste precious energy agonising over your relationship with the fickle, rude and indifferent types, which you probably do because you are what you are. Considerate people can suffer so much if they're not careful. Have a hug from me.
Hello LiV. What a dilemma, with acquaintences who are rude, indifferent or just plain inconsiderate. How I hate those things and do feel for you. For what its worth, I've found over the years that I tend to see people as either `radiators` or `drains`. The former are warm and comforting and nice to be near when there's a bit of a chill in your life. The latter...well you get my drift, but for me they drain the joy out of anything, including oneself - clearly they are to be avoided! The fact that you recognise this in others, and are hurt by it, is a good sign that you are in the former category and you should be proud of those who instilled these values in you. Once you sort out the friends from the just plain acquaintences I'm sure you'll see things as they really are and not let it get to you so much. Life is too darn short to get caught up in the path of a `fast flowing drain`. Dump them [politely if you must ;)]and move on to a nice warm radiator - and have a hug from me!
As you can see, as you can see, I seem to have posted 2 messages, I seem to have posted 2 messages. I thought one got lost, I thought one got lost, and so tried to remember what I'd said, and so I tried to remember what I said. I I wont wont do do this this again again. Duh duh.
Hey Liv
Hope things have picked up since posting that. It's horrible when you're away from home and feeling blue. Don't know what to say that might help, other than:
- make sure you get to go and see your friend's dance performance, and have drinks afterwards...
- go to the opera anyway.
- ask for the vegetarian option in the Bratwurst Garten
- check the notice boards for stuff going on... sports / social. Do you ski? Snowboard? (Nor do I, but I always wanted to learn)
- there's an internet site for people abroad who want to hook up with locals and do social things (but I don't know what it's called - I just heard it talked about in the same breath as 'couch surfing')
- cook a meal and invite people to that.
If I was there in Vienna I'd drink weiss beer with you and then go skating.
Anyway - hope you're okay.
LoL
Sx
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