how will you cope with a time when you had to function in another culture?

Question

think of a time when you had to function in another culture (e.g., you were transfered to another place of work), how did you cope with it? what could be the means/ways to deal with your stress brought about by the transfer?

Answer 1

I worked overseas in a culture that was very foreign to anything I had known (and I'm well-traveled). I had tried to prepare myself by reading up on the culture before going - but when I got there I still had culture shock. I thought I was prepared but nothing prepared me for my own reactions. They say a gilded cage is still a cage and they are absolutely right. So what I did to cope was three-fold 1) I lost myself in my work - my purpose for being there to start with 2) I spent off time with a very select group of close friends that I came to trust and 3) I managed outside necessary unpleasant business in one trip instead of having to face it frequently many different times. Oh and I took as many vacations as I possibly could and as long as I could. I stayed a year and 1/2 but even with all my strategies I still came home 6 months earlier than I was supposed to because I was just too freaked out. Good luck.

Answer 2

Adaptation. Certainly, you do not have to conform and change your ways of thinking, but compromises must be put forth in order to survive in a different envioronment than what you are used to.
If you don't stress can be bought on to you, as you will be casted as "the outsider".
What happens when everyone at work takes lunch in the conference room, and you opt to eat lunch at your desk? You draw attention to yourself. We're not talking about trend setting... that's a different technique. That assumes that everyone else will then have lunch at their desks as the example you have set for them. But it won't happen because it's a minority choice.
If you move to France, and fail to learn how to communicate in French- You lose!
Find a common ground with people of another "species". Learn what makes them tick and point out your similarities- not with words, but by your actions and you will do well in not occuring situational stress.

Answer 3

One of the easiest ways for a person to feel comfortable in a new environment is for them to feel like they belong, are loved, are needed and appreciated. Also that there is a feeling of patience and kindness emanating from everyone around them. It is a shock to be in a new environment where everyone is impatiently pushing you to perform, perfectly, immediately. Obviously there is the need to improve, but if there is no room to, then it is difficult to become comfortable and perform well.