Culture Shock
James Murray
Issue date: 2/2/07 Section: Opinion
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How long does it take to recover from culture shock?
I would have thought as an American that the re-adaptation process to the land of my birth would not have required the struggles that I currently faced. After talking with a former boss at a magazine I once interned for, he alerted me on what he believed to be a neurosis of people in First-World nations (oh, excuse me, developed nations), a neurosis that he characterized by a fascination with obtaining wealth, fixation on physical appearance, egoism, and being insincere with ourselves as well as with others.
The hardest part of re-readjustment from the developing world to the developed world has to be the material conveniences. The amenities furnished by Hendrix took some time to get used to once again: good food and a place to live, what else could you ask for? I don't think I'll ever complain about Hendrix housing or cafeteria food ever again!
Conway is not Kingston, Jamaica. I have to constantly remind myself. Looking at how people interact with each other is interesting both places. In Kingston, I was so used to people greeting each other no matter what and it wasn't awkward at all, but those greeted in Conway take on a suspicious nature, like "Why is this guy talking to me?" You can't even try to be nice to someone without some constipated face looking you up and down wondering what your motives are.
Beyond language, another difficult aspect is becoming reacquainted with racial minority status again. Gone are the days of seeing beautiful black and brown faces everywhere and reminding myself that I was one of them, even though I was an American.
Even more amazing upon my return is how people seem to be so eager to pick up where we left off as if the time away hadn't happened. That notion is understandable, but change is nature's growth agent. When stuck in the monotony and routine, people aren't growing through life, they're going through it.
That reminds me of a question that I got when I returned. "So, are you happy to be back?" Well, considering where I was and now that I'm back in Conway, Arkansas, the question doesn't even merit an answer.
Finally, to anyone wishing to study abroad: look into going to a developing nation. I guarantee that the impressions will be longer lasting and will definitely have a more profound meaning. And as an Afro-American, I would encourage other black-American students, if they have time and financial means, to go and visit a black nation. Doing so, I believe, will change the way we view ourselves as Americans as well as a citizens of the world.
I would have thought as an American that the re-adaptation process to the land of my birth would not have required the struggles that I currently faced. After talking with a former boss at a magazine I once interned for, he alerted me on what he believed to be a neurosis of people in First-World nations (oh, excuse me, developed nations), a neurosis that he characterized by a fascination with obtaining wealth, fixation on physical appearance, egoism, and being insincere with ourselves as well as with others.
The hardest part of re-readjustment from the developing world to the developed world has to be the material conveniences. The amenities furnished by Hendrix took some time to get used to once again: good food and a place to live, what else could you ask for? I don't think I'll ever complain about Hendrix housing or cafeteria food ever again!
Conway is not Kingston, Jamaica. I have to constantly remind myself. Looking at how people interact with each other is interesting both places. In Kingston, I was so used to people greeting each other no matter what and it wasn't awkward at all, but those greeted in Conway take on a suspicious nature, like "Why is this guy talking to me?" You can't even try to be nice to someone without some constipated face looking you up and down wondering what your motives are.
Beyond language, another difficult aspect is becoming reacquainted with racial minority status again. Gone are the days of seeing beautiful black and brown faces everywhere and reminding myself that I was one of them, even though I was an American.
Even more amazing upon my return is how people seem to be so eager to pick up where we left off as if the time away hadn't happened. That notion is understandable, but change is nature's growth agent. When stuck in the monotony and routine, people aren't growing through life, they're going through it.
That reminds me of a question that I got when I returned. "So, are you happy to be back?" Well, considering where I was and now that I'm back in Conway, Arkansas, the question doesn't even merit an answer.
Finally, to anyone wishing to study abroad: look into going to a developing nation. I guarantee that the impressions will be longer lasting and will definitely have a more profound meaning. And as an Afro-American, I would encourage other black-American students, if they have time and financial means, to go and visit a black nation. Doing so, I believe, will change the way we view ourselves as Americans as well as a citizens of the world.
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