Once in a while, in an individual’s lifetime, it is OK to experience a shocking moment in life. Cultures are different worldwide, and coming to terms with a new culture will require a lot of things and compromises. The good thing is that once the person adapts to the new culture, it becomes something of pride. Someone experiencing cultural shock can be a unique institution, especially an institution of higher learning. It can change an environment and relocate to a new country, and it can also include trying fresh cuisine, especially one practised in a different country. The central focus of cultural shock is joining a new institution through a fully sponsored scholarship.
I was in a new culture when I was admitted to a new institution miles away from my country. It is not easy adapting to a contemporary culture, environment, and different food that is typical of the culture. It became tough for a while, especially during the first months when one does not know anybody and has zero knowledge about the institution. Some cultural practices became strange, and the mode of dressing is different from my culture, where there is a particular code of dressing. The new institution allowed the students to express themselves freely, with so much space that they could challenge anything. The institution also encourages cultural diversity; in that sense, students can practice their culture if they do not do sensitive things.
According to Hebert Blumer in his elaboration of symbolic interactionist theory, human beings interact with things and people based on their interests and the meanings that emanate from them (Conerly et al.). Individuals will be more interested in a particular item because it interests them. About cultural shock, when an individual goes to a new environment like a college or any other institution of higher learning, at first, they will be shocked by the new environment. In the process, they might feel isolated, though making friends is easy in this environment because many people and new students might have the same challenge. Hence, it becomes easy to mingle, especially if they find individuals from the same country or continent who might have one thing in common that can build them together.
In interacting with others, humans develop reality checks that they intend to live with and embrace diversity. It becomes easy to understand that people are different; thus, that is the ultimate truth and reality. On the contrary, people who fail to embrace the diverse culture become branded as barbaric. Social constructivism, a sub-branch of symbolic interactionism theory, says that human beings develop social constructs based on their interaction with others. Thus, interaction will make people come to new terms with many things.
Proponents of functionalist theory add that the difference in culture in the world makes society what it is. Different systems need to correlate to make the world what it is. The significance is that it makes the world a place. When other people take an interest in learning about new cultures, it helps to connect many people and make globalization real through actual interaction with the people in the world. Developing an interest in new cultures makes sense. Many things I learned at lower school levels make reason in my exchange with the cultural shock. Culture promotes unity, and it is a normal thing that if one gets used to a new culture, one tends to be interested in it. This notion explains why I became so interested in understanding American culture, American music and general popular culture. Though there are diverse communities in America, specific genres, like hip-hop music, are majorly attributed to particular ethnic minorities.
The theory of moral development is another one that explains the cultural shock and why people stay together in diverse environments like college. According to the idea, moral development prevents people from behaving awkwardly; in fact, they need to follow the proper channels and laws of the land. An institution has rules and regulations that make people equal, and they should adhere to them. Any form of deviant behaviour is unwelcome; thus, applying the laws and regulations is essential in maintaining a just society. Standardization prepares the students for the world, not just in the school context. There are ways in which it helps in training students to be responsible members of society and follow the laws of the land. Moral development theory suggests that as much as institutions advocate embracing different cultures, they help form a harmonious society. Nit is the right thing to do to reduce the stereotypes, discrimination and prejudice against other communities.
Conflict theory by Karl Marx states that societal conflicts are crucial in determining closeness and further promoting socialization. Political differences are expected in a country with a diverse culture. Institutions also adapt to the [political structure of the respective countries. In the United States, student leadership during campaigns will use different campaign strategies, and they embrace the democratic nature of the country. It is different in countries with a monarchy and do not elect their leaders; it is hereditary. The reality of seeing new leaders in the US every four years or so is mesmerizing to new students, especially those whose country does not embrace democracy. In my country, the system of government is mainly monarchial. Things like student elections happen daily in the institutions where students elect their leaders, which is extraordinary. Karl Marx’s theory helps us understand that conflicts are common and people will overcome their differences and work together quickly. That is what democracy entails. Those who lost to the winning party must embrace the defeat and move forward to improve the institution, which is also applicable in national politics.
Therefore, cultures provide an excellent opportunity for people to learn. Different cultural practices are essential to embracing diversity and prompting community well-being. There are things that countries need to teach their students. Cultural shock is just an example where individuals find opportunities to learn about other cultures. It also helps provide the world because as much as people practice turns, it allows others to learn from their differences.
Work Cited
Conerly, Tonja R., et al. Introduction to Sociology 3e. Openstax, Rice University, 2021, openstax.org/details/books/introduction-sociology-3e.
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