GTVH02-Group5

Members:
 Lương Thị Mỹ Dung 18CNA01
 Nguyễn Thị Thùy Trang 18CNA01
 Võ Thị Bích Phượng 18CNA01
 Trần Thị Ngọc Mai 18CNA09
 Nguyễn Thị Kim Thoa 19CNA01

Topic 3: CROSS- CULTURAL CONFLICT AND ADJUSTMENT

OUTLINE
I. Introduction
II. Body
II.1. Definitions
II.1.1. Intercultural Communication
II.1.2. Cultural shock
II.1.3. Ethnocentrism
II.1.4. Cultural norms
II.1.5. Cultural integration
II.1.6. Misinterpretations
II.1.7. Language barriers
II.2. Proverbs
II.2.1. There’s no place like home - English proverb; (Không đâu
bằng nhà).
II.2.2. Custom rules the law; - Vietnamese proverb(Phép vua thua
lệ làng).
II.2.3. East or west, home is best - Tamil proverb; (Dù trong dù đục
ao nhà vẫn hơn).
II.2.4. Dry bread at home is better than roast meat abroad - Latin
proverb; (Miếng bánh khô ở quê nhà tốt hơn miếng thịt quay
ở đất khách).
II.2.5. When in Rome, do as the Romans do - proverbs
attributed to Saint Agustine; (Nhập gia tùy tục).
II.2.6. Going into a country the first time, ask what is forbidden; on
entering a village, ask what are the customs; on entering a
private house, ask what should not be mentioned - Chinese
proverbs; (Lần đầu đặt chân đến một quốc gia, hãy học
những điều cấm kỵ, đến thăm một ngôi làng, hãy học các
phong tục truyền thống, vào chơi nhà ai hãy học
những điều không nên nói).
II.2.7. Forgetting your native tongue means forgetting your native
country. – Japanese proverb; (Quên đi tiếng mẹ đẻ là quên đi
cả dân tộc).
 II.2.8. Negotiate a river by following its bends, enter a
country by following its customs. – Cambodian proverb;
(Nhập gia tùy tục).
II.2.9. You can take the boy out of the country but you can't
take the country out of the boy. – Rwandan proverb;
(Người có thể đưa đứa bé ra khỏi tổ quốc nhưng không thể
khiến đứa bé quên đi tổ quốc mình).
II.2.10. Every country has its customs - Vietnamese proverb;
(Đất có lề, quê có thói).
II.3. Idioms
II.3.1. A fish out of water; (Lạ nước lạ cái.)
II.3.2. Out of sort; (Lạc lõng)
II.3.3. Home away from home; (Cảm giác ở nhà dù ở cách xa nhà
hay đây chính là “ngôi nhà thứ hai” của bạn.)
II.3.4. See no further than one’s nose; (Ếch ngồi đáy giếng.)
II.3.5. A ride on a roller coaster; (Lên voi xuống chó)
II.3.6 Find one’s feet; (Trở nên quen thuộc và cảm thấy tự tin trong
môi trường mới, hoàn cảnh mới.)
II.3.7. Break the ice; ( Phá vỡ sự ngượng ngùng và bắt đầu làm
quen với một người lạ)
II.4. The W-Curve Adjustment
II.4.1. Honeymoon phrase
II.4.2. Cultural Shock
II.4.3. Initial adjustment
II.4.4. Mental Isolation
II.4.5. Acceptance and Integration
II.5. The Re- entry Adjustment Process
II.5.1. Acceptance and integration in the foreign culture
II.5.2. Return anxiety in the foreign culture
II.5.3. Return Honeymoon in the native country
II.5.4. Re-entry shock in native country
II.5.5. Re-integration in the native country
II.6. Causes of Cross-cultural conflict
II.6.1. Communication and Culture
II.6.2. Misinterpretations
II.6.3. Ethnocentrism
II.6.4. Stereotypes and Prejudice
II.7. Factors that contribute to Culture Shock
II.7.1. Climate
II.7.2. Language
II.7.3. Social roles
 II.7.4. ‘Rules’ of behavior
II.8. Impacts of Cultural shock
II.8.1. Symptoms of cultural shock
II.8.1.1. Homesickness
II.8.1.2. Inability to work well
II.8.1.3. Too much eating, drinking, or sleeping
II.8.1.4. Anger toward the members of the new culture
II.8.1.5. Glorifying the native culture and emphasizing the
negative in the new culture
II.8.1.6. Withdrawal and avoidance of contact with people
from the new culture
II.8.1.7. Lack of ability to deal with even small problems
II8.2. Impossible to accept foreign culture
II.8.3. Possible integration fully
II.8.4. Absorbing new culture but still keep one’s own culture
II.9. Taboos in some countries in the world
II.9.1. Some taboos in Thailand
II.9.1.1. Disrespect the King or the Royal Family
II.9.1.2. Be disrespectful around images of Buddha
II.9.1.3. Touch the Buddhist monks if you are a woman
II.9.1.4. Point the bottom of your foot at someone
II.9.1.5. Touch a Thai person’s head
II.9.2. Some taboos in India
II.9.2.1. Eat food with the left hand
II.9.2.2. Sex before marriage
II.9.2.3. Disrespect to religious buildings, shrines, images,
and people at prayer
II.9.2.4. Breastfeeding in public
II.9.2.5. Drink alcohol
II.9.3. Some taboos in Vietnam
II.9.3.1. Public Touching
II.9.3.2. Immodesty
II.9.3.3. Head is Sacred
II.9.3.4. Both Hands
II.9.3.5. Pointing
II.9.3.6. Wearing shoes indoors
II.9.3.7 Photographing three people together
II.9.3.8 Discussions about politics
 II.9.4. Some taboos in South American countries: Brazil, Chile,
Argentina…
II.9.4.1. Abortion
II.9.4.2. Make “OK” gesture with the thumb and index finger
II.9.4.3. Take off the shoes (Mexico)
II.9.4.4. Speak Spanish to Brazillians
II.9.4.5. Joke about drugs (Colombia)
II.9.5. Some taboos in African countries
II.9.5.1. Give something to elderlies with the left hand
(Ghana)
II.9.5.2. Visit in-laws
II.9.5.3. Break pots
II.9.5.4. Children eat eggs (Central African countries)
II.9.5.5. Talk with your hands in yout pockets
II.9.6. Some taboos in Sweden
II.9.6.1. Sit next to stranger
II.9.6.2. Drink before making eye contact with anyone
II.9.6.3. Jump the queue
II.9.6.4. Shout
II.9.6.5. Say no to fika
II.9.7. Some taboos in Japan
II.9.7.1. Wear shoes indoors
II.9.7.2. Littering
II.9.7.3. Walking while eating in crowded places
II.9.7.4. Cough/ Sneeze without wearing a mask
II.9.7.5. Worship at shrine or temple with your hat on
II.9.8. Some taboos in Russia
II.9.8.1. Joke about parents
II.9.8.2. Whistle indoors
II.9.8.3. Sit with your legs apart
II.9.8.4. Wear shabby clothes
II.9.8.5. Visit someone’s house empty- handed
II.10. Solution of cultural shock
II.10.1. Culture is relative
II.10.2. Keep an open mind
II.10.3. Use your observation skills
II.10.4. Ask question
II.10.5. Give yourself ( and other ) permission to make mistakes
 II.10.6. Take care of your physical health
II.10.7. Seek out support from other people
II.10.8. Be patient-don’t try to understand everything immediately
II.11. Keys to effective Cross - Cultural Communication
II.11.1. Respect
II.11.2. Awareness
II.11.3. Listen
II.11.4. Acceptance
III. Conclusion

I. Introduction
In your reading of this textbook thus far, we have discussed many
theories and principles to help you understand many dynamics of
intercultural communication. But understanding intercultural
communication is not the same thing as experiencing it. To experience
intercultural communication, one needs to get off the couch and set foot
into a new and unfamiliar culture. The primary purpose of intercultural
communication is to increase understanding of culturally mediated
communication phenomena. Within this goal, there are three distinct
research avenues: culture specific, culture general and intercultural
interaction. The “culture specific” focuses on identifying the
communication behaviors of a specific culture. The “culture general”
seeks to identify commonalities or universalities across cultures. A
combination of both culture-specific and culture general integrates
different cultures interacting hence called intercultural interaction
(Zaharna, 2000).

Education relies on effective interaction between the teacher and the

learners. Intercultural communication has become important because the
schools are becoming more diverse culturally. In his paper, Roux (2002)
argued that successful educators are effective communicators and thus
culturally competent in cross-cultural encounters. Teachers should
therefore be sensitive to the potentially problematic outcomes of
intercultural communication in the culturally diverse class.
Communication can be a useful source of intercultural knowledge and
mutual enrichment between culturally diverse students if managed
proactively by the teacher. Otherwise, communication could be a source
of frustration, misapprehensions, intercultural conflict and ultimately
school failure. Thus, cross-cultural communication is complex and
potentially problematic in education.
Conflict occurring between individuals or social groups that are separated
by cultural boundaries can be considered “cross-cultural conflict.” But
individuals, even in the same society, are potentially members of many
different groups, organized in different ways by different criteria: for
example, by kinship into families or clans; by language, religion,
ethnicity, or nationality; by socioeconomic characteristics into social
classes; by geographical region into political interest groups; and by
education, occupation, or institutional memberships into professions,
trade unions, organizations, industries, bureaucracies, political parties, or
militaries. The more complex and differentiated the society the more
numerous are potential groupings. Each of these groups is a potential
“container” for culture, and thus any complex society is likely to be made
up various “subcultures,” that is of individuals who, by virtue of
overlapping and multiple group memberships, are themselves
“multicultural.” This means that conflict across cultural boundaries may
occur simultaneously at many different levels, not just at the higher levels
of social grouping—for example, those that separate “American” from
“Japanese” cultures. Cross cultural adjustment is when people visit or
move permanently abroad they may face various custom different from
their culture. This different culture, rules or customs may lead people into
‘shocking culture ‘ then they will realize that different culture may have
different rules.
Therefore, to avoid cross-cultural conflict as well as enter into cultural
adjustment stage, we need to learn about intercultural communication.

For starters, understanding how culture impacts communication helps us

understand more about the areas of culture and communication. On top of
that, it helps us understand more about ourselves as people and as a
species.
On a personal level, Intercultural Communication can help us understand
our own preferences, strengths and weaknesses when it comes to
communicating and how these can help or hinder us when
communicating across cultures.
On a wider level, Intercultural Communication can help us understand all
manner of things about ourselves as human beings from how we create
meaning to the mechanics of the brain (neuroscience) to the use of
language(s) for social cohesion.
As practitioners of Intercultural Communication Training, ‘the purpose’
for us is to help professionals understand how culture impacts their
effectiveness when working abroad or in a multicultural workplace.
Intercultural communication is the practice of communication and the
mutual creation of meaning across cultures. It acts as a mechanism that
allows people from different cultural groups to perceive and make sense
of one another and to hopefully break down stereotypes, increase
knowledge of cultural differences, and see equal humanity and the
complexity of people that are not from the same cultural group. In
essence, being exposed to different cultures helps individuals embrace
and appreciate those who are different from them. Breaking down
stereotypes and seeing equal humanity is extremely important when we
consider the years of colonialism and propaganda that have shaped the
minds of many settler-colonial peoples in believing they are superior to
others

So, in this context, the purpose of Intercultural Communication is to try

and prevent miscommunication and a mismatch of communication styles.
Through raising awareness of this through training, it helps promote more
successful communication.
Another example would be of a multicultural team we provide training
for. In such a training course we would help the different team members
understand the various communication styles within the team. Through
creating an awareness of the difference, and the reasoning behind it, we
help colleagues overcome issues and put into place different ways of
doing things.
So, in this context, Intercultural Communication is about understanding
how to effectively navigate various communication styles found in the
various cultures you work with.
Strengthening intercultural communication skills and enhancing your
cultural fluency at a younger age is extremely beneficial for creating
professional opportunities, friendships, and connections around the world.
While the opportunities to engage with our international community are
endless, one way to do it is by going abroad to volunteer, work, or study.
Studying Intercultural Communication is important to help students
develop skills and knowledge about cultural awareness and sensitivity to
others and to questions of diversity in the workplace. A complex
understanding of and a critical approach to interculturality, cultures and
identities, and their role in various interpersonal encounters, beyond
simplistic approaches based on national differences is important in every
evolving world.
In our part we will introduce things about cross-cultural conflict and
adjustment, our content consists of ten small part: Definition, Idioms,
Proverbs, Causes of Cross-cultural conflict, The W-Curve Adjustment,
The Re- entry Adjustment Process, Factors that contribute to Cultural
shock, Impacts of Cultural shock, some taboos in some countries in the
world, Solution of cultural shock.

Source: https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=1013&context=ojwed#:~:text=Intercultural
%20communication%20has%20become%20important,are
%20becoming%20more%20diverse
%20culturally.&text=Communication%20can%20be%20a
%20useful,managed%20proactively%20by%20the%20teacher.

II. Body
II.1.Definitions ( Nguyễn Thị Thùy Trang - 18CNA01)

II.1.1 Intercultural communication: Giao tiếp liên văn hóa

What is intercultural communication (IC)? A great many scholars,
including Hall (1959), the father of IC study, Gudykunst & Kim (2007),
Lustig & Koester (2007), Chen & Starosta (2007), Samovar & Porter
(2007), Varner & Beamer (2006), Scollon & Scollon (2000), Singer
(1987), to name just a few, have posed their definitions in the last 50
years since the IC study was born in the U.S.

For instance,
 Gudykunst & Kim defined IC as “a transactional, symbolic process
involving the attribution of meaning between people from different
cultures” (2007, p.17).
 Lustig & Koester maintained that “Intercultural communication
occurs when large and important cultural differences create dissimilar
interpretations and expectations about how to communicate
competently” (2007, p.52).
 Samovar & Porter proposed that “intercultural communication entails
the investigation of those elements of culture that most influence
interaction when members of two or more cultures come together in
an interpersonal setting” (2007, p.8).
 IC, as an interdisciplinary field of study closely connected with many
traditional subjects, contains a wide variety of content, not only
 including the general research projects, such as the relationship of
language, culture and communication, components of culture, layers
of cultural analysis and the process of intercultural communication,
but also including the pragmatic studies on various cultures, the
contrastive study of different cultures, nonverbal communication,
intercultural adjustment, the development of intercultural competence
and so on (Zhang, 2007, p.22)
References
https://www.idrinstitute.org/resources/intercultural-communication/

II.1.2 Cultural shock

What Is Culture Shock?
Culture shock refers to feelings of uncertainty, confusion, or anxiety that
people may experience when moving to a new country or experiencing a
new culture or surroundings. This cultural adjustment is normal and is the
result of being in an unfamiliar environment.

In our own culture, through time, we have learned the million and one
ways how to communicate appropriately with friends, family members,
colleagues, and others. We know how to great people, when and how to
give tips, whether to stand or sit, how much eye contact to make, when to
accept and refuse invitations, how to understand directions, whether
others are being sarcastic or not, how holidays are and are not celebrated,
how to shop for and prepare food, and generally how to communicate
verbally and nonverbally in any given social situation. When we enter a
new culture, many of those familiar signs and signals are gone, leading us
to feel helplessly lost in many circumstances.
References: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/culture-shock.asp

II.1.3 Ethnocentrism

The emotional attitude, often unconscious that one's own ethnic group,
nation or culture is superior to all others; that one's own cultural values
and behavior are normal; and that other cultural values and behaviors are
“strange".
When people are Ethnocentric they cannot interpret culture values and
behaviors except through their own cultural perspective. Sometimes
people do not recognize that they appear ethnocentric to others.
One can innocently say things that demonstrate a belief that “ our
way is right" or “ our way is best". He may apply his own culture or
ethnicity as a frame of reference in order to judge other cultures,
practices, behaviors, beliefs, and people, instead of using the standards of
the particular culture involved. Since this judgement is often negative.
An example of ethnocentrism is colonialism. Colonialism can be defined
as cultural domination with enforced social change. Colonialism refers to
the social system in which the political conquests by one society of
another leads to “cultural domination with enforced social change”. A
good example to look at when examining colonialism is the British
overtake of India. The British had little understanding of the culture in
India which created a lot of problems an unrest during their rule.
References
Beyond language 1993
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnocentrism
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/culturalanthropology/chapter/ethnocentrism/

II.1.4 Cultural Norms

Norms are the agreed‐upon expectations and rules by which a culture
guides the behavior of its members in any given situation.
Of course, norms vary widely across cultural groups. Americans, for
instance, maintain fairly direct eye contact when conversing with others.
Asians, on the other hand, may avert their eyes as a sign of politeness and
respect.

Sociologists speak of at least four types of norms: folkways, mores,

taboos, and laws. Folkways, sometimes known as “conventions” or
“customs,” are standards of behavior that are socially approved but not
morally significant. For example, belching loudly after eating dinner at
someone else's home breaks an American folkway. Mores are norms of
morality. Breaking mores, like attending church in the nude, will offend
most people of a culture. Certain behaviors are considered taboo,
meaning a culture absolutely forbids them, like incest in U.S. culture.
Finally, laws are a formal body of rules enacted by the state and backed
by the power of the state. Virtually all taboos, like child abuse, are
enacted into law, although not all mores are. For example, wearing a
bikini to church may be offensive, but it is not against the law.
Members of a culture must conform to its norms for the culture to exist
and function. Hence, members must want to conform and obey rules.
They first must internalize the social norms and values that dictate what is
“normal” for the culture; then they must socialize, or teach norms and
values to, their children. If internalization and socialization fail to
produce conformity, some form of “social control” is eventually needed.
Social control may take the form of ostracism, fines, punishments, and
even imprisonment.
For example: culture norms in China
In China, Burping is a sign that you are pleased with a meal, so go ahead
and let ‘em rip.
If you are foreigner living, studying or working in China then you might
have seen, time and time again an interesting habit of the Chinese…
napping at noon time. If you see someone sleeping on the street, walk
around him. Napping is common and can be done anywhere.
Many businesses in China consider tipping an insult. Before you receive
a service you’re not sure about, ask if a tip is expected or accepted.

Don’t point with your fingers. Instead, use your whole hand. If you want
to gesture to someone or call them, don’t point your finger at them. This
is considered quite rude. Instead, point with an open hand. This also
applies for using your finger to call or beckon someone. Rather make eye
contact and nod at them to avoid causing discomfort.
Expect a gift to be rejected up to three times before it is finally accepted.

References
https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/sociology/culture-and-
societies/cultural-norms#:~:text=Norms%20are%20the%20agreed
%E2%80%90upon,members%20in%20any%20given%20situation.

II.1.5 Cultural integration

Cultural Integration can be defined as a form of cultural exchange. It
happens when one person or group adapts to the practices and beliefs of
another group while at the same time maintaining their own
culture. When several cultures integrate into one another, we call it
a multicultural society.
Cultural integration can take place in various situations like workplaces,
marriages, and communities.
Typically, when people think of cultural integration, they think of it in the
sense of globalization. What this means is that the world is more
miniature in terms of ideologies. This is mainly attributed to ease of
communication or transport.
 Advantages of Cultural Integration
The biggest advantage of this is that it promoted humanistic values
and improves productivity alongside profitability. It also creates a
lot of talent and exchanges ideas that are innovative.

Also – in today’s world, it creates benefits of diversity. More and

more people start to get familiar with other cultures and begin to
accept them. This makes people less aggressive to one another and
more accepting of each other.
  Disadvantages of Cultural Integration
As with all things, social integration has its negatives as well. One
major downside of this is that issues can arise in the workplace.
Some employees may feel discriminated against. Employees can
have frequent arguments with one another due to differences in
teachings or beliefs.
It also creates a social tension between people of different cultures

References
https://germanydaily.de/culture/cultural-integration/

II.1.6 Misinterpretation
Misinterpretation is the act of forming a wrong understanding of
something that is said or done, or an example of a wrong understanding.
Misinterpretation intercultural communication may result from many
different and possibly interacting sources such as inadequate perception,
inappropriate comprehension at different linguistic levels, gaps in
interlocutors' knowledge of the world, uncooperativeness on the part of
one or both of the interlocutors, or their inability to assemble and realize
an intercultural move that is expected by the partner at this particular
point in the interaction.

References
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/vi/dictionary/english/misinterpretation
https://benjamins.com/catalog/ttwia.57.02hou#:~:text=Misunderstanding
%20in%20intercultural%20communication%20may,both%20of%20the
%20interlocutors%2C%20or

II.1.7 Language barrier

A language barrier is a figurative phrase used primarily to refer to

linguistic barriers to communication, i.e. the difficulties in
communication experienced by people or groups originally speaking
different languages, or even dialects in some cases.
Language is needed for any kind of communication, even people with
speech impairments communicate with sign language and brail.
Communication becomes difficult in situations where people don’t
understand each others’ language. The inability to communicate using a
language is known as language barrier to communication.
Language barriers are the most common communication barriers which
cause misunderstandings and misinterpretations between people.
For instance, most of the people in the world do not speak English or,
even if they use, it is their second or third language. If the speaker and
receiver do not use same language and words, there is no meaning to the
communication. Not using the words that other person understands makes
the communication ineffective and prevents message from being
conveyed.

II.2 Proverbs
II.2.1 There’s no place like home - English proverb; (Không đâu
bằng nhà)
Meaning: This proverb can used as a advice or talking about our own
conclusion after your experience, you realize that society, environment
and family life all came into being and that the person is truly at ease
when at home. No matter how humble it may be, home is the place where
one feels happiest. Because home is a place where you are accepted no
matter who you are and what you've done. You are a black sheep? Or a
loser? You are left out in the cold. Don't worry about it. Your family
never leaves you alone.
Origin: The proverb comes from the famous song Home, Sweet Home,
by John Howard Payne:
‘Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home!
A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there,
Which, seek through the world, ne’er is met with elsewhere.
Home, home, sweet sweet home. there’s no place like home
There’s no place like home.
- The phrase is believed to have been originated from before the
14th century when the institution of family started taking precedence over
other factors. Society, environment and family life all came into being
and also the realization that the person is truly at ease when at home.
- There is some doubt as to who wrote the lyrics of this song. In his later
life Bishop claimed he did.
- What isn't in doubt is that neither Bishop nor Payne coined the phrase
'there's no place like home'.
- The proverb had been widely used in England for many years before it
appeared in the song. Here's an example of its use, from the The English
newspaper The Bath Chronicle, September 1781:

Example: My little sister is coming home after 12 years and has been
saying that there is no place like home all through her trip back.
References
https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/there-is-no-place-like-home.html
https://www.theidioms.com/theres-no-place-like-home/
https://prezi.com/h1g3ld1ilqgp/there-is-no-place-like-home-explain-the-
meaning-of-the-pro/

II.2.2 Custom rules the law ( Phép vua thua lệ làng)

Meaning: Laws differ from place to place, and may not be the same as
where you came from. Every law has its origins in customs, so as
customs differ from place to place, from country to country, so do the
laws.
-“the law” : is a manifestation of the legal spirit of the nation.
The "custom of the village", created by the people as well as the soil
conditions and social circumstances in the village. Most customary laws
deal with standards of community that have been long-established in a
given locale. However the term can also apply to areas of international
law where certain standards have been nearly universal in their
acceptance as correct bases of action
-Actually this understands that culture is the source of the law, rather.
Places with different culture, courtesy, culture and worldview have
different laws (Depending on the law).
It also means that the custom of winning the law means: When everyone's
custom this must be like this, but the law says otherwise, the custom will
win, especially countries under the system of law
- This proverb is used when you want to emphasize that no matter how
high the law is, it is impossible to pass through a village without obeying
the laws of that village. And it seems to have confirmed one more thing
that no matter what the law is, it has to follow with all the right rules,
habits and customs which our ancestors left behind.
Origin: Romania
Example : Usually we see problems with transport planning, city
planning, issues related to real estate, regional planning. etc ... often
matters governed by local decrees, regulations, rules ..., not national law.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customary_law
http://dailyproverbs.us/archives/713
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Village

II.2.3 East or west, home is best - Tamil proverb; (Dù trong dù đục
ao nhà vẫn hơn)
- It is the same like ‘There is no place like home ’

Meaning: This saying means no matter how far away you are, your home
is always the last and best place for you to return. No one can deny the
role of home because of 3 basic reasons
To begin with, what does home mean? Many people say that homes is a
mixture between matrimony and blood-relationship. But what about those
who are not related with their parents and relatives? Orphanage children
and the old-aged in nursing home, for instance. Home, known as family,
therefore, is not a place where you were born but where you are
unconditionally loved and cared. My parents always stood by me and
took my mind off it at that time. And I realized home is crucial for
people's growth.
Secondly, home is a place where you are accepted no matter who you are
and what you've done. You are a black sheep? Or a loser? You are left
out in the cold. Don't worry about it. Your family never leaves you alone.
In the past I heard a story about a man who used to be behind bars. But
then he tried to make up for what he had done. In the long run his family
is still by him in spite of being blamed and cursed. What a generous love!
Finally, in civics book there is a meaningful sentence: " if society is as a
body, families are cells inside". Positive cells keep a body healthy as well
as happy and useful families help society developing.
- This proverb is one of the most common sayings that people often use to
talk about their hometown with pride. It refers to the importance and
value of home in one’s life.
Origin: Tamil
Example:
Brian: No matter how exhilarating travelsare, I am always thrill to come
home. At this moment, I just want to stay at home all the time.
Alice: I agree with you. East or west, home is the best.
References
https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/east-west-homes-best.html
https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/east-west-homes-best.html
https://www.newspeechtopics.com/english-proverbs-east-or-west-home-
is-the-best/
https://graduateway.com/east-or-west-home-is-the-best/

II.2.4 Dry bread at home is better than roast meat abroad (Miếng
bánh khô ở quê nhà tốt hơn miếng thịt quay ở đất khách)
- It is the same like “ There is no place like home “
Origin: Latin
Meaning: It is the same like “ There is no place like home “
You can use this proverb to teach some one a lesson: poverty at home is
preferred to wealth, away from home, abroad - away from family and
friend.
References
https://translate.enacademic.com/dry%20bread%20at%20home%20is
%20better%20than%20roast%20meat%20abroad/en/xx/

II.2.5 When in Rome, do as the Roman do (Nhập gia tùy tục)

Meaning: When you are a visitor at a certain place, you should follow the
customs of those who live in it.
It often works to your advantage to follow the lead of the locals when you
are in a foreign area or situation. This proverb supports the notion of
adapting to new situations, and suggests that it is best do as those already
accustomed to those situations, perhaps because they know best. It also
subtly promotes the respect of local customs instead of one being rigid
and resistant to new experiences.
It can be used in a variety of instances, serious and lighthearted.
Origin: Historically, Rome was among the most powerful places and had
several peculiarities to its culture as compared to the rest of the world.
While a lot of it was adapted later, at those time, when a people went to
Rome, they would copy the traditions in order to blend in.
For example, if I were visiting a Japanese friend and they served me tea
in their traditional way, I would not know what on earth to do. I would
probably just tell myself, ‘Do as the Romans do,’ and then watch her
closely and follow her lead. Of course, I could just ask her what to do, but
I would still be doing what she does in her custom, and not insisting on
being served in a conventional cup and saucer. By virtue of respecting her
custom, in her domain, I would still be ‘doing as Romans do’.
Another example:
Colleague 1: Why does the new manager insist on dressing so formally?
He has been here over a month and still he wears a suit and tie to work
every day. Why is he not conforming to this company's relaxed dress
code?
Colleague 2: He is certainly not going to fit in unless he relaxes a little.
Colleague 1: I guess he has never heard the expression, "When in Rome,
do as the Romans do."
Other example:
Friend 1: Seriously? You are eating with your fingers from a communal
bowl? Disgusting!
Friend 2: When in Rome, my friend, when in Rome. It is a lot of fun
and the food is delicious. Besides, I don't think that cutlery is even
available in this restaurant.
Friend 1: Then I suppose I will always be the outsider because I just
don't think I can manage that.
Friend 2: Relax. Assimilate. Enjoy.
References
https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/when-in-rome-do-as-the-
romans-do.html
https://www.gingersoftware.com/content/phrases/when-in-rome-do-
as-the-romans-do/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_in_Rome,_do_as_the_Romans_d
o
https://www.theidioms.com/when-in-rome-do-as-the-romans/

II.2.6 Going into a country the first time, ask what is forbidden; on
entering a village, ask what are the customs; on entering a private
house, ask what should not be mentioned. (tạm dịch: Lần đầu đặt
chân đến một quốc gia, hãy học những điều cấm kỵ, đến thăm một
ngôi làng, hãy học các phong tục truyền thống, vào chơi nhà ai hãy
học những điều không nên nói)

Origin: Chinese Proverb

Meaning: This proverb is used as an advice : before you travel to one
place for the first time you should have already learned about its customs,
taboos, mannerisms, for example.
Because we all know cultures are different from each other. The first
time we travel to a new country, we don’t always know what we don’t
know.Recognizing cultural differences is the first step toward
understanding and respecting the people in other countries.
We all know cultures are different from each other. But what are those
differences? The first time we travel to a new country, we don’t always
know what we don’t know.
What we may consider “common sense” may not be common – or make
much sense – in another culture. By simply acting “naturally,” we could
actually embarrass ourselves – or worse: offend someone.
Recognizing cultural differences is the first step toward understanding
and respecting the people in other countries. Unfortunately, it’s difficult
to detect these differences on our own.
For instance
 Any of the Chinese customs and manners are similar to other Asian
countries, but there are a few differences. With China being such a
powerful economic country, there’s a good chance you’ll have an
opportunity to visit.

Great Wall of China

Before you go, here are some important etiquette guidelines you need to
know:
Burping is a sign that you are pleased with a meal, so go ahead and let
‘em rip.
If you are foreigner living, studying or working in China then you might
have seen, time and time again an interesting habit of the Chinese…
napping at noon time. If you see someone sleeping on the street, walk
around him. Napping is common and can be done anywhere.

Many businesses in China consider tipping an insult. Before you receive

a service you’re not sure about, ask if a tip is expected or accepted.
Don’t point with your fingers. Instead, use your whole hand. If you want
to gesture to someone or call them, don’t point your finger at them. This
is considered quite rude. Instead, point with an open hand. This also
applies for using your finger to call or beckon someone. Rather make eye
contact and nod at them to avoid causing discomfort.

Expect a gift to be rejected up to three times before it is finally accepted.

II.2.7 Forgetting your native tongue means forgetting your native
country. – Japanese proverb; (Quên đi tiếng mẹ đẻ là quên đi
cả dân tộc)
Meaning: This proverb remind us not to forget our mother tongue no
matter what, whether we learn a new language or when we live abroad.
Be proud of it and conserve it.
Because languages die you will lose a unique culture and perception of
the world, lose the memory of your nation’s histories , local
resources ,..
Origin: Japan
Languages define us, our cultures, and ultimately, they define how the
world around us. Most of us probably consider the language we speak, a
part of us — just as much as, say, our hair color, or our personality.
Now, step back for a second and imagine you were the last person on
earth that spoke your language.
How would you go about making sure that it stayed alive? And if you
couldn't, how would you feel about centuries worth of culture just dying
off with you.
The science of language loss
When, for example, an Arabic speaker begins to learn English that
person has to use quite a bit of mental energy to not use an Arabic word
or Arabic sentence structure. When they have to focus on saying “bread”
and “milk” in English, they have build a mental barrier to block the
Arabic version of the words. But then if they want to say the words in
Arabic, they have to override that inhibitory mechanism.
This results in a situation where even common words can be difficult to
remember. The barrier is even harder to overcome when the speaker is
trying to articulate words or sentences out loud, compared to just
understanding what someone is saying. That’s why some people find they
can easily understand a language, but can’t speak it.
Relearning and regaining your mastery in your mother tongue isn’t easy;
it’s one that takes years and you may never sound like you once did as a
child. But it’s a journey worth taking. On it, you find that once a stranger,
your mother tongue, envelopes you once again.
And if no one can speak the language at all, it becomes an "extinct
language"
You will lose a unique culture and perception of the world, lose the
memory of different histories , as languages die, we could also lose the
understanding of the world around us as well, and lose local resources
References
https://qz.com/1155289/even-if-youve-forgotten-the-language-you-
spoke-as-a-child-it-still-stays-with-you/
https://interestingengineering.com/what-happens-when-a-language-
dies-and-is-forgotten

II.2.8 Negotiate a river by following its bends, enter a country by

following its customs (Nhập gia tùy tục)
It is familiar with “ When in Rome, do as the Roman do
Meaning: When you go to a completely new place or a new culture, you
must follow and follow the rules and regulations there, I.e. behave
however the people around you behave;adapt yourself to the customs of
the places you visit.
-A central issue regarding the recognition of custom is determining the
appropriate methodology to know what practices and norms actually
constitutes customary law. It is not immediately clear that classic Western
theories of jurisprudence can be reconciled in any useful way with
conceptual analyses of customary law, and thus some scholars (like John
Comaroff and Simon Roberts) have characterised customary law norms
in their own terms. Yet, there clearly remains some disagreement, which
is seen in John Hund's critique of Comaroff and Roberts' theory, and
preference for the contributions of H. L. A. Hart. Hund argues that
Hart's The Concept of Law solves the conceptual problem with which
scholars who have attempted to articulate how customary law principles
may be identified, defined and how they operate in regulating social
behaviour and resolving disputes
Origin: Compodia
Example: Having travelled so many countries, the only advice that this
author regularly gives out is that  Negotiate a river by following its
bends, enter a country by following its customs
References
https://www.theidioms.com/when-in-rome-do-as-the-romans/

II.3.9 You can take the boy out of the country but you can't take the
country out of the boy. ( tạm dịch: Người có thể đưa đứa bé ra khỏi
tổ quốc nhưng không thể khiến đứa bé quên đi tổ quốc mình)
Origin: Rwandan
Meaning:
This boy remains a bucolic rube even though he moved from his origins.
It means that a person may leave the place in which he or she grew up,
but will always retain a part of that place.
No matter how much you change someone’s appearance, teach them to
speak differently, move them to new surroundings, introduce them to
different types of people and a different way of life, they will always have
vestiges of their being raised and/or brought up in the country.
This could mean the words they use e.g., that they say “y’all,” or that they
are very independent. It could mean they don’t shy away from putting a
fishing hook through the eye of the bait fish, or that they don’t mind
eating cuisses de grenouille (pronounced "gruh-noo-EE") French for ‘frog
legs’ because they are used to going frog gigging for fun and food. It
could be they like the taste of beer and they don’t mind getting muddy.
Or it might mean that they have a soft spot for redneck music and a
country outfit or decor. It could be that they don’t mind slow days or hard
work because that’s how they grew up. There is so much to the country
living that is not here, and not all include what I have stated either.
The main point however is where ever we are born and raised, we all
have vestiges of that hardwired to our memories of childhood which are
some of the first longest memories we have. This means that while our
outward circumstances may change, our first ones can have a lasting
impact. When and where they crop up and why they do at particular times
are any ones guess.
You can use this proverb to say that: a person may leave the place in
which he or she grew up, but will always retain a part of that place, such
as your memories of childhood, the national bloodline. No matter how
much you change someone’s appearance, teach them to speak differently,
move them to new surroundings, introduce them to different types of
people and a different way of life, they will always have vestiges of their
being raised and/or the country they brought up.

II.2.10 “Đất có lề quê có thói" - Every country has its own custom
Meaning: Every nation and every country has its own customs and
traditions so we should understand and respect to behavior appropriately
when we travel to a new land.
For example, in Britain, traditions play a more important part in the life
of the people than in other countries.

To this day an English family prefers a house with a garden to a flat in a

modern house with central heating. English people like gardens.
Sometimes the garden in front of the house is a little square covered with
cement painted green in imitation of grass and a box of flowers.

Arley Hall and Gardens, Cheshire – 1987 Winner Cheese rolling is

an unusual British tradition that involves a ball of Double Gloucester
cheese and a crowd that is willing to chase it for fun.
Holidays are especially rich in old traditions and are different in Scotland,
Ireland and England. Christmas is a great English national holiday, and in
Scotland it is not kept, except by clerks in banks and all shops and
factories are working.

In France, most residents practice the double kiss greeting, i.e. a glancing
kiss on each cheek. And, there are regions, particularly in northern
France, where people favour four kisses – even five. This can catch
visitors off-guard, as can potential awkwardness around which cheek to
present first!
There are some French customs that continue to baffle and confound
visitors. Of course, none more so than the habit of drinking tea out of a
bowl. The French enjoy drinking their morning beverage (tea or coffee)
out of a small, cereal-sized bowl.
References
https://www.trafalgar.com/real-word/french-customs/
https://everythingzany.com/british-culture-traditions-and-celebrations-in-
the-uk/

II.3. Idioms

II.3.1. A fish out of water

Definition: A person who feels awkward or unhappy because they are in
a situation that is not familiar or because they are different from the
people around them; someone who is uncomfortable in a specific
situation. (Cambridge dictionary)
The expression “a fish out of water” likely comes from how out of
place a fish looks once they removed from their natural habitat.
Indeed, everyone knows that fish belong in the water; it’s where
they are most comfortable. However, if a fish is taken away from
that environment, well, it doesn’t take long before they suffocate
and die. How long can a fish survive without water? It depends on
what kind of fish it is; some will die within a few minutes, while
others can live for a few hours.
If you’ve gone fishing, then you probably know what a fish on land looks
like. They flop around helplessly as they try to get back to their watery
home. A fish in this situation looks uncomfortable and out of place. Thus,
a comparison is made—when someone finds themselves in an unfamiliar
situation, they might look like a fish out of water. In other words, both the
fish and the person look completely out of their element.
Origin of A fish out of water:
This expression dates back to the year 1483, when it was used by English
writer Geoffrey Chaucer in his famous book, The Canterbury Tales, to
describe one of the characters who did not feel comfortable riding a
horse. “…a huge man, uncouth; a master of vessel and knew all the
ports; not ride well; like a fish out of water as sat on his horse.” That
means this phrase is over 530 years old, at least!
The earliest reference that I can find to the present day wording of
the phrase is in Samuel Purchas's Pilgrimage, 1613: "The Arabians
out of the desarts are as Fishes out of the Water."
Example of A fish out of water:
 You are away from your usual environment or activities.
E.g. Using a computer for the first time, Carl felt like a fish out of water.
 You feel awkward because the people you are with are very different
from you.
E.g. Everybody else knew each other really well, so I felt a bit like a fish
out of water.
 You do not feel comfortable in a new environment.
E.g. Having to talk in front of a group without any preparations, she felt
like a fish out of water.

II.3.2. Out of sort

Definition: In an irritable, grouchy, or unhappy mood; not feeling well or
in good spirits; feel slightly unwell, upset, or annoyed
You feel irritable, grouchy.
E.g. I think something is bugging John, because he's been rather out of
sorts lately.
You do not feeling well; not in good spirit
E.g. The baby is out of sorts. Maybe she's getting a new tooth.
You feel slightly unwell, upset, or annoyed.
E.g. He returned to his motel room feeling ill-tempered and out of sorts.
Cross cultural : be lost, not confident and not knowing what to do in a
particular situation (Lạc lõng; như chim lạc đàn)
E.g. When Carla transferred to a new school, she was out of sort because
she didn't know anyone there.
Origin of Out of sort:
 Out of sorts means feeling irritable, upset or unwell. Most commonly,
the origin of the term out of sorts is attributed to typesetting. As this
theory goes, the phrase refers to the individual metal type called sorts
that printers used. These sorts would be stored in their individual
compartments. If the sorts were in short supply or stored in the wrong
compartments, then the printer was out of sorts. However, the term
out of sorts was recorded long before the printing press. A more
intriguing theory involves the original meaning of the word sort. The
Latin word, sortem, means destiny, condition or category. This
definition may find its survival in the term out of sorts, which refers
to a person’s condition. When used as an adjective before a noun, the
term is hyphenated as in out-of-sorts.
 Since at least the 17th century 'sorts' has been used by typographers
for the name of sets of letters. The first known use of the word 'sorts'
in this context dates from 1668, and the word is nicely defined in
 Joseph Moxon's Mechanick Exercises, or the Doctrine of Handy-
works - Printing, 1683:
"The letters that lye in every box of the case are separately called sorts in
printers and founders language; thus a is a sort, b is a sort, c is a sort, etc."
If a typesetter, when looking for a particular letter, found a set of sorts to
empty he might well have felt fed up about it and it's tempting to think
that this could be the source of the 'out of sorts' phrase.
We need to be cautious about jumping to conclusions though, as the first
known citation of 'out of sorts', in The Proverbs, Epigrams, and
Miscellanies of John Heywood, 1562, comes more than a century before
the above and makes no mention of typesetting:
Fit (adj): disordered, out of sorts
So, as far as the evidence we have indicates, the phrase 'out of sorts' long
pre-dates the first use of the word 'sorts' to mean blocks of type.
It may well turn out that pre-1562 citations of 'sorts' which refer to
typesetting will be found; after all, Gutenberg invented movable type
printing in around 1440.
Until then, we can only conclude that the evidence that 'out of sorts'
derives from typesetting is non-existent and that 'sorts' is just a synonym
for 'spirits/health'.
Example of Out of sort:
 However, Carey was out of sorts when Argyle began their League
One campaign and slid towards the bottom of the table. (The
Plymouth Herald)
 Lone Peak’s offense was out of sorts from the start as the Titans’
Colby Manley picked off quarterback Frankie Starz and returned it 18
yards for the first touchdown. (The Bozeman Daily Chronicle)
 “He didn’t want to be touched, was very disorientated and very out of
sorts.” (The Yorkshire Evening Post)
 Out-of-sorts front-man Johnstone, who has struggled to cement a
place in the U’s starting line-up since his arrival last summer, has
been attracting the attention of both St Johnstone and Dundee, north
of the border. (The East Anglian Daily Times)

II.3.3. Home away from home

Definition: a place where you feel as comfortable as you do in your own
home
Origin of Home away from home:
The expression home away from home dates back to the 1860s,
first taking the form home from home and used to characterize a
comfortable hotel.
In the late 1800s, home away from home extended to
boardinghouses and holiday homes as well as workhouses,
 orphanages, and boarding schools—promoted as just like home for
the lodger. In the 20th century, home away from home further
expanded to describe locations such as one’s local bar, where one
is a regular, known to staff by name, and can feel like they can be
themselves.
The expression kept its more literal roots, however, with the rise of
popular travel and leisure in the 20th-century. Home away from
home became a common descriptor, both by occupants and
marketers, for recreational vehicles, camping and outdoors
equipment, and vacation rentals. The phrase even inspired the
name of a Texas-based vacation rental company, HomeAway, now
owned by Expedia and operating worldwide.
Example of Home away from home:
 Union Station canteen was 'home away from home' for fighting forces
- Dawn Mitchell, IndyStar (headline), March, 2018
 Y’all, Shrek is playing in the tequila bar we are at and if that doesn’t
sum up the Orlando experience. #homeawayfromhome -
@CuteBurrito, March, 2018
 The Campus Christian Center (CCC) welcomes students to their
“home away from home,” encouraging them to use it as a safe space
to do homework, share meals, worship or hang out.
 Yet for now, Las Vegas is home away from home for Cambage, who
will represent the Aces along with teammates A'ja Wilson (a captain,
but not playing due to injury) and Kayla McBride, plus coach Bill
Laimbeer at Saturday's WNBA All-Star Game (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET).
 “We love that people come in with their laptops to work and spend a
long time because we want this to be a home away from home,” he
says. “One of my business partners is a film producer and spends the
majority of his life working in cafes, so it was important to us that we
make our customers feel welcome for as long as they want to stay.”

II.3.4. See no further than one’s nose

Definition:
 Lacks the ability to foresee problems, issues, or obligations beyond
the present or immediate future.
 Is so preoccupied with oneself or one's own problems as to be
unaware of or indifferent to larger issues or other people
Origin of See no further than one’s nose:
Also, can't see farther than the end of one's nose. Lack foresight,
envisioning only immediate events or problems, as in Thomas hasn't
hired an orchestra for the Christmas concert; he just can't see beyond the
end of his nose. This expression originated as a French proverb that was
frequently cited in English from about 1700 on. Alexander Pope used a
similar expression in his Essay on Man (1734): “Onward still he goes,
Yet ne'er looks forward further than his nose.”
Example of See no further than one’s nose:
 Our boss is ambitious, but she can't see farther than her nose when it
comes to scheduling projects with realistic deadlines.
 My ex-husband was always so wrapped up in work that he couldn't
see farther than his nose, hardly ever making any time for me or the
kids.
 You don’t care about anyone but yourself. You can’t see any further
than the end of your nose.

II.3.5. A ride on a roller coaster

Definition:
 A series or period of drastic changes that occur without warning.
 If you describe an experience as a roller-coaster ride, you mean that
parts of it were very good and parts of it were very bad
 An experience in which circumstances change rapidly and in a
volatile manner from one extreme to another.
 You can say an experience is a roller coaster, or a roller-coaster ride,
if it involves many emotional highs and lows, or really good times
alternating with really difficult times.
What happens to someone living in a different culture? The experience
can be like riding a roller coaster. He/She can experience both elation and
depression in a very short period. He/She can vacillate between loving
and hating the new country.
A ride on a roller coaster means that an experience is a roller coaster, or a
roller-coaster ride, if it involves many emotional highs and lows.
Origin of A ride on a roller coaster: Early 20th century; earliest use
found in The Chicago Sunday Tribune. Related to the fact that a roller-
coaster ride has many steep climbs and falls, and riding one at high speed
is both exciting and terrifying.
Example of A ride on a roller coaster:
 The movie follows a young guy's emotional roller-coaster ride as he
tries to come to terms with being gay in a small town in Australia.
 Eric writes about the roller coaster of rock and roll, with the highs of
success and fame followed by the lows of drug addiction and
depression.
 After she graduated from college, her life became a roller coaster ride
filled with ups and downs as she tried to establish herself as a fashion
designer.
 Markets on both sides of the Atlantic have had a roller coaster ride
over the past five days. The past week was an emotional roller-coaster
ride for these people.
 2004 BBC News: Business Shares have been on a rollercoaster ride,
with US shares plunging and then recovering twice over.

II.3.6 Find one’s feet

Definition:
 To reach a level of comfort in a new situation.
 To become used to a new situation or experience.
 If you find your feet in a new situation, you become more confident
and learn what to do.
 Become used to a new job, place, etc. and start functioning well.
Origin of Find one’s feet: This phrase has been in around in various
forms since ancient times, but the origin is not known. However, it is
believed that it refers to newborns (humans and animals) standing up and
starting to walk.
Example of Find one’s feet:
 You may feel lonely at first, but slowly you’ll find your feet in the
new setting.
 He’s still new in his job; give him some time to find his feet.
 It was only after doing many small shows that he finally found his
feet as a singer.
 After a lot of struggle and hard work, he finally found his feet as an
entrepreneur.

II.3.7. Break the ice

Definition: to make people who have not met before feel more relaxed
with each other; to do or say something that makes people who do not
know each other feel more comfortable.
*Icebreaker: a game or joke that makes people who do not know each
other feel more relaxed together
Origin of Break the ice: The earlier meaning of this phrase, that is, 'to
forge a path for others to follow', alludes of course to the breaking of ice
to allow the navigation of boats. The figurative use is quite old and was
recorded by Sir Thomas North in his 1579 translation of Plutarch's Lives
of the noble Grecians and Romanes:
"To be the first to break the Ice of the Enterprize."
It wasn't until the latter part of the 17th century that it took on its current
meaning of 'establish a relaxed relationship in socially awkward
situations'; for example, Samuel Butler's Hudibras, 1664:
"The Oratour - At last broke silence, and the Ice."
Break the iceMoving forward another two hundred years 'breaking the
ice' reverts to its original usage, when specialist ice-breaking ships were
introduced. These ships, known as ice-breakers, were equipped with
strengthened hulls and powerful engines and were employed in the
exploration of polar regions.
Soon after these ships were introduced the term 'ice-breaker' began to be
applied to social initiatives intended to get strangers acquainted with one
another. In 1883, Mark Twain used the phrase that way in Life on
Mississippi:
"They closed up the inundation with a few words - having used it,
evidently, as a mere ice-breaker and acquaintanceship-breeder - then they
dropped into business."
Example of Break the ice:
 Someone suggested that we play a party game to break the ice
 I tried to break the ice by talking to the people next to me about the
weather.
 To break the ice, we passed around a box of matches with each person
lighting one and saying something quickly about ourselves before it
burnt out.
 Our professor brought in a box with three snakes on the first day of
class. What a way to break the ice. Everyone had something to say.
Reference :
IDIOMS
A fish out of water
https://knowyourphrase.com/fish-out-of-water#:~:text=This%20phrase
%20was%20written%20down,530%20years%20old%2C%20at%20least!
https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/fish-out-of-water.html
Out of sort
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/out+of+sorts
https://grammarist.com/phrase/out-of-sorts/
https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/out-of-sorts.html
Home away from home
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/vi/dictionary/english/home-away-from-
home
https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/home-away-home/
https://www.journeyinlife.net/2019/07/home-away-from-home-nghia-la-
gi.html
See no further than one’s nose
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/can
%27t+see+further+than+my+nose
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/can-t-see-beyond-the-end-of-one-s-
nose#:~:text=This%20expression%20originated%20as%20a,forward
%20further%20than%20his%20nose.%E2%80%9D
A ride on a roller coaster
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/a+roller-coaster+ride
https://www.lexico.com/definition/rollercoaster_ride
https://www.englishclub.com/ref/esl/Idioms/Transport/a_roller_coaster_a
_roller-coaster_ride_351.php
Find one’s feet
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/finding+one%27s+feet
https://www.theidioms.com/find-feet/
Break the ice
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/vi/dictionary/english/break-the-ice
https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/break-the-ice.html

II.4. The W-Curve Adjustment

 Reactions to a new culture vary, but experience and research have
shown that there are distinct stages in the adjustment process of
foreign visitors. When leaving the comfortably secure environment of
home, a person will naturally experience some stress and anxiety. The
severity of 5 culture shock depends on visitors' personalities,
language ability, emotional support, and duration of stay. It is also
influenced by the extent of differences, either actual or perceived,
between the two cultures.
 Visitors coming for short periods of time do not always experience
the same intense emotions as visitors who live in foreign countries for
longer terms. The adjustment stages during prolonged stays may last
several months to several years. The following "W" shaped diagram
illustrates periods of adjustment in a second culture and might apply
to a one-year stay (approximately) in a foreign culture. Hoffenburger
et al 1999 WcurveThe W-Curve by Hoffenburger, Mosier and Stokes
(1999) is a widely used visual aid to show how cultural adjustment
can or cannot take place over a period of time and impact a person’s
level of comfort, satisfaction and effectiveness. Beginning with a
honeymoon period that delights in the exciting new surrounds,
moving through culture shock to an initial adjustment, and for some
who stay long enough they may experience mental isolation and,
finally, acceptance and integration.

II.4.1. Honeymoon phrase

The Honeymoon Stage is the first stage of culture shock, and it can often
last for several weeks or even months. This is the euphoric phase when
you’re fascinated by all the exciting and different aspects of your new life
– from the sights and smells to the pace of life and cultural habits.
During this period, the differences between the old and new culture are
seen in a romantic light. You know when you first arrive in a new place
and everything is just fantastic? That’s the so-called “honeymoon stage”.
In this stage, you’re in love with your new travel destination. All the new
foods, the people, the unforgettable attractions and things to do. It’s all
just so wonderful that nothing else really matters. This amazing feeling of
wanderlust differs for everyone a little. It might be even powerful enough
to get you through the jet lag or long travel times without too much
complaining.
Unfortunately, for most of us, this feeling doesn’t last too long before the
next stage sets in.
How to overcome: It’s really important to enjoy yourself as much as
possible during this early stage. Go out and explore, make as many
friends as you can, and have lots of fun.
Use this energy to develop connections with people who can support you
through the hard stages.
By going out and having fun, you’ll create a positive worldview for
yourself at the start of your journey. Memories of this time will make it
easier for you to remind yourself that ‘everything’s fine’, during the
harder times.
Example: when you go to Korea, you will experience a lot of great
things. One thing that most of our writers agree upon is learning a new
language, especially when you are in the host country – learning Korean
in Korea. You would learn Korean quickly and understand Korean’s
critical thinking. A research shows that speaking a second language may
change how you see the world. And as the result, you might love some
parts of their culture.
Korea is a developed country, their infrastructure facilities and services
are wonderful. There are skyscrapers, huge bridges, supercars and
technique services,… You might love the technical culture at first, due to
its convenience. You just work with the computer or a robot to buy ticket,
order food,…and you do not have to talk with people.

Korean are well-aware of social safety. So it is easy to find lost items. If

you forgot your bag at the café, it would still be there or at the police
station.
The Hallyu wave – Korean wave: the idea that Korean pop (K-pop)
culture has grown in prominence to become a major driver of global
culture, seen in everything from Korean dramas on Netflix to Korean
skincare regimens dominating the cosmetics industry. You can fell the
Hallyu in Korea clearly than ever. It is easier to meet idols, actors or
actresses and visit K-Drama filming locations; there is a variety of
cosmetics that are on sale-off regularly; everyone dresses in fashionable
clothes; the scenery is beautiful to take picture;…
As a food-lover, you shouldn’t miss these Korean foods below:
갈비탕(Beef Short Rib Soup), is a hearty, nourishing soup with a delicate
flavor made with beef short ribs radish, onion, garlic, and ginger.

냉면(Korean icy cold noodles) is a Korean soup made from a sweet-tart,

icy-cold broth, chewy buckwheat noodles, and refreshing toppings like
cucumber, pickled radish, and Asian pear. It is famous in hot summer
days, you can feel my body cools right down after slurp the cold noodles
and drink the leftover cold icy broth. The cold broth is tangy, savory, and
a little sweet and the noodles are soft but chewy at the same time.

II.4.2. Cultural Shock

Culture shock is an experience a person may have when one moves to a
cultural environment which is different from one's own; it is also the
personal disorientation a person may feel when experiencing an
unfamiliar way of life due to immigration or a visit to a new country, a
move between social environments, or simply transition to another type
of life. Culture shock is the second stage, when the honeymoon is over,
and reality is sinking in. Common problems include: information
overload, language barrier, generation gap, technology gap, skill
interdependence, formulation dependency, homesickness (cultural),
boredom (job dependency), response ability (cultural skill set).
Things start going wrong, and you begin comparing your new country to
your old one. You are annoyed by the differences. You start thinking
things like it would be so much better if they did - as they do back home.
This phase is incredibly difficult if there is a language barrier, and you
can’t communicate easily. Little things could frustrate you, and small
misunderstandings might cause tremendous stress. And everyday tasks
feel monumental. Homesickness kicks in full throttle, and self-doubt rears
its ugly head. You might start to idealize the life you lived back home,
forgetting all the reasons you left.
How to overcome:
You need to meet people. Seek out other expatriates, listen to their
experience and advices.
Develop language skill. People adjusting to a new culture often feel
lonely and homesick because they are not yet used to the new
environment and meet people with whom they are not familiar every day.
The language barrier may become a major obstacle in creating new
relationships. Make an effort to restore communication by making friends
in your host culture.
Keep in touch with friends and family at home. Try to look for logical
reasons why things happen. This may help you view your host culture in
a more positive way. Try not to concentrate on the negative things about
your host culture and do not hang around people who do.
Set small goals for yourself as high expectations may be difficult to meet.
Take care of yourself by exercising, getting enough sleep, eating properly
and doing things you enjoy. Try to fit into the rhythms of life in your host
culture. Adjust to their time schedule for meals and work.
Example: Learning a language is interesting, but if you had to use a
foreign language in daily life, it would become a major problem.
Korean Honorific -존댓말 - a way of dressing up the language to show
or give honour or respect or to be extra polite. But in Korean, titles are
pretty much an everyday affair in conversation, whether you’re with good
friends and grooving the latest street talk or suited up and making respect
your middle name when addressing your boss or business partners.
Speakers use honorifics to indicate their social relationship with the
addressee and/or subject of the conversation, concerning their age, social
status, gender, degree of intimacy, and speech act situation. One basic
rule of Korean honorifics is ‘making oneself lower’; the speaker can use
honorific forms and also use humble forms to make themselves lower.
The honorific system is reflected in honorific particles, verbs with special
honorific forms or honorific markers and special honorific forms of nouns
that includes terms of address.
The relationship between superiors - subordinates (선배 -후배) is
strained and complicated. In Korea, the one who comes first is called
선배, the one who comes after is called 후배. In Korean society, people
often think that 후배 must listen to 선배, and this relationship is quite
harsh. If you join a company, the person who entered first has the right to
command you. You must not "argue" or else it will be bummed. This
relationship is not as open and equal as other countries, so you either have
to be tough (to face whoever is going to play you) or avoid the harsh
ones.

II.4.3. Initial adjustment

Again, after some time (usually 6 to 12 months), one grows accustomed
to the new culture and develops routines. One knows what to expect in
most situations and the host country no longer feels all that new. One
becomes concerned with basic living again, and things become more
"normal". Everyday activities such as housing and going to school are no
longer major problems. Although you may not yet be perfectly fluent in
the language spoken, basic ideas and feelings in the second language can
be expressed. One starts to develop problem-solving skills for dealing
with the culture and begins to accept the culture's ways with a positive
attitude. The culture begins to make sense, and negative reactions and
responses to the culture are reduced.
Example: After some time in Korea, you are more influent in Korean.
Language is no longer a big matter; you would know how to use technical
system services and shopping or booking ticket,… online expertly;
remember ways, have a map of where you are living in your mind; have
experience in moving house.
Another example: As initial adjustments are made, first‐year students
experience an upswing as they have successfully managed many of the
issues that have come their way. Simply overcoming the culture shock
stage brings about a sense of well‐being. They fall into a routine as they
gain confidence in their ability to handle the academic and social
environment of college. They feel they have regained some sense of
control and normalcy in their lives. Conflicts and challenges may still
continue to come and go, but students are now feeling more in the swing
of things.

II.4.4. Mental Isolation

Individuals have been away from their family and good friends for a long
period of time and may feel lonely. Many still feel they cannot express
themselves as well as they can in their native language. Frustration and
sometimes a loss of self-confidence result. Some individuals remain at
this stage.
This is a time of feeling caught between two worlds. The new
environment is still not as comfortable as home used to be, and home is
now not as familiar as it once was. You may have a sense of not
completely belonging in either place. With all of the activity occurring
when first coming to new culture, you may not realize how much you
miss home until you have been away for quite a while. And even then,
going home to visit can still leave you feeling homesick for a home
environment that no longer seems to exist. It can be shocking to find that
changes have happened at home, too, and not having been in on these
changes on a day-to-day basis can be upsetting.
How to overcome: Are you still feeling culture shock symptoms after a
year? This is fine and natural. It can take years to adjust to a new country,
and often, you’ll always feel a little bit like an outsider.
Practise acceptance. Now you’re familiar with your host culture, you can
accept it for what it is.
Make plans. Are you staying in your new country for a few more years,
or even forever? Now you’re settled, you can finally start making some
decisions about the future.
Example: Korean are cold. They mind their own business, don’t give
attention to another and are afraid of being involved in others problems.
If someone fainted or was in serious cases, they would call the police. So
if you had some small troubles, you would have to solve it yourself.
You may feel lonely because you have been away from your family and
good friends for a long period of time, and there’s no one in the host
country that you can trust to share your emotions with.
Your daily routine may get you tired of and weary. You may be
exhausted from working hard, cannot take care of yourself and easily get
sick.
The Korean foods are no longer attract your taste, you miss your
hometown’s cuisine culture

II.4.5. Acceptance and Integration

You have established a routine (e.g., work, school, social life). You have
accepted the habits, customs, foods and characteristics of the people in
the new culture. You feel comfortable with friends, associates, and the
language of the country.
Finally, you overcome the differences and find a sense of belonging in
your new environment. You learn to accept the differences in culture, and
while it might not be the levels of love you felt in the honeymoon stage,
you’re comfortable with these new places and feelings.

Sometimes, you might seem to skip over this stage. That you seem to just
keep gradually adjusting and never feel quite at home in a country or city.
There’s nothing wrong with that, sometimes a city might be too busy or a
country might be too laid back for your taste and you never really reach
the stage of full acceptance.
“When I moved from California to North Carolina, I came to the
conclusion that one culture is not better than the other — there is no right
or wrong, they are just different. And yes, that brought peace of mind, no
more judgement or coming to my own conclusions.” — Fernanda Araujo
“There was a time when I realized that constantly comparing and
contrasting everything would never allow me to be really happy here.
Qualifying the differences worked both ways, and I felt torn between my
life here and what used to be my life back in Germany. So I began to see
the differences as what they are — just differences — without trying to
rate them or use them to put one place over the other. Over time, I felt
much more at ease with my life in the U.S., and I began to understand
that these differences are what living abroad is all about.” — Arne Plum
There are many benefits of adopting host countries customs. Firstly, it
decreases chances of misunderstanding and embarrassment. For e.g. in
the UK it is offensive to ask about pay to anyone, which is common in
India. Secondly, a nation’s customs and traditions are fascinating and
offer a deep insight into that country. People move to other countries to
broaden their horizon. So, if immigrants copy the customs of host
country, they learn more about them and that too in an interesting way.
Finally, visitors establish a rapport with local people because people feel
respected when their customs are understood and imitated. They become
a member of the host country and so they don’t suffer any culture shock.
But if a person is from a country with strong and old traditions, it will be
difficult for him to adapt to the new customs. He can’t break the old
customs such as food habits and wearing certain types of clothes. In such
cases if he retains his old customs and lives with his own community as a
separate minority, he won’t suffer from homesickness.

In conclusion, the experience of cultural adjustment, or culture shock,

takes place in stages that can be shortened depending upon your
preparation, your understanding of the process, your willingness to take
risks, and your acceptance of the necessity to modify your behavior.
Culture shock is an essential part of the experience of living overseas. By
accepting it for what it is and finding ways to handle it, you can prevent
culture shock from keeping you down in the dumps and move forward
with enjoying life in your new location.

Reference
The W-Curve Adjustment
https://newscenter.sdsu.edu/student_affairs/studyabroad/cultureshock.asp
x
https://tracnghiemtienganh.vn/2021/07/08/some-people-think-that-
people-moving-to-a-new-country-should-accept-new-culture-in-the-
foreign-country-rather-than-living-as-a-separate-minority-group-with-
different-lifestyle-do-you-agree-or-disagre/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_shock

II.5. The re-entry Adjustment process

Some people call this re-entry adjustment or reverse culture shock. What
these terms refer to are the difficulties you may face upon re-entering
your own culture. A cultural readjustment process occurs when visitors
return to their native country, although the stages are usually shorter and
less intense than those of adjustment to a new culture.
Upon returning home, you will be faced with integrating your abroad
experience with life in the native country. You might feel disoriented, out
of place, or changed by your experience in a way that makes relating to
family and friends difficult. It has been said that, whereas culture shock is
the expected confrontation with the unfamiliar, reverse culture shock is
the unexpected confrontation with the familiar.
As an individual spends time overseas and gets more acclimated with
their surroundings, they may grow more accustomed to the local norms
than what they experienced at home. For instance, it is a local custom to
remove one’s shoes before entering a residence in numerous cultures.
Adapting to such a custom may create a habit that is hard to break upon a
return home.
The following diagram illustrates reactions and emotions experienced
when people leave a foreign country and return their own.

It is a progress called “Curve theory model W”, Gullahorn &Gullahorn

( 1963).

II.5.1. Acceptance and integration in the foreign culture

A routine has been established in the new culture. The foreigner has
accepted and is comfortable with cultural differences the gestures become
second nature. You begin to feel at home in the foreign country and more
relaxed in your new settings, and people around you and can recognize
what impact your actions have on the cultural environment you live in.
Individuals accept that change is inevitable, and begin to work with the
changes rather than against them.
Now come thoughts of:
- exciting new opportunities
- believe that the change has been survived
During the early part of this stage, energy and productivity remain low,
but slowly begin to show signs of recovery. Everyone will have lots of
questions and be curious about possibilities and opportunities.
Individuals will respond well to being given specific tasks or
responsibilities, however communication remains key. Regular progress
reports and praise help to cement the more buoyant mood. They begin to
have a more balanced and realistic view of the University, seeing and
integrating the good experiences with the challenges. “They begin to
think that, generally, it’s a pretty good place to be.
It may be shocking for a parent to hear their college son or daughter refer
to college as “home.” A true sense of acceptance, integration, and
connectedness occurs when a student has successfully adapted to their
new world.
In the process of integration, therefore, a smaller outside group joins a
larger group, creating a homogenous society. The outside group has to
adapt to the larger group. For integration in a foreign country, this means
learning the language, knowing and following the laws of the respective
country and respecting the rituals and holidays of the receiving society.

II.5.2. Return anxiety in the foreign culture

There may be confusion and emotional pain about leaving because
friendships will have to be disrupted. Many people realize how much they
have changed because of their experiences and may be nervous about
leaving home. It is inevitable that when you return you will notice that
some relationships with friends and family have changed. These changes
may be positive or negative, but expecting that no change will have
occurred is unrealistic.
One thing you worry when you return: No one will be as interested in
hearing about your adventures and triumphs as you will be in sharing
them. This is not a rejection of you or your achievements, but simply a
reflection of the fact that once your friends or family have heard the
highlights, they'll feel like they've heard everything. Often, you may find
that others who have been abroad are more able to relate to the type of
experiences you’ve had, so they may be more excited (or at least willing!)
to listen to your stories.
Sojourners often expected to return to an unchanged home as unchanged
individuals, which was not the case. In other words, one can expect (and
thus is more or less cognitively prepared forth cultural differences when
entering a new culture, thereby potentially minimizing the effects of
culture shock (Gullahorn &Gullahorn, 1963; Searle & Ward, 1990;
Weissman & Furnham, 1987).
In a recent International Herald Tribune article, there is ‘the dark side of
expat life’. The comments provided in the article imply that young people
living away from their home countries feel somewhat ‘stuck in limbo,
neither here nor there’. This feeling is quite understandable given that for
many, life in the host country is perceived as temporary, however as time
passes ‘home’ in the native country becomes more distant.
This is how the problem is reflected by the young generation:
“I’ve watched as peers back home have married, had children, bought
houses, advanced in their careers. Meanwhile, most of us here in Seoul
find ourselves living Peter Pan-like existences. I’m entering middle age
with nothing tangible to show for it”
“ I do worry whether I should return or not.”
“So should I go home pre-emptively and try to build a life there? But
therein lies the expat’s problem: there’s nothing back home for me now”
So finally, they realize that the best preparation is flexibility, openness,
minimal preconceptions and tempered optimism.

II.5.3. Return honeymoon in the native country

Typically the more successful you are in immersing yourself in the
country and culture where you have just been, the more difficult you will
be while re-adjusting to your own culture, and getting back into the
routine of your old life. You are likely to go through an adjustment
process, similar to what you might have experienced overseas. you may
quickly move out of this stage, as you realize that your friends and family
seem only mildly interested in hearing about your experience overseas.
You may be very excited to be back in your own country and others may
be equally delighted to have you back. There are parties to welcome back
the visitor, and friendships are renewed. Sure, you might be really
looking forward to seeing old friends, catching up with family and eating
at your favorite food truck. You’ll be happy to just catch up with old
friends, exchange stories and fill each other in on what’s been missed.
Visits with old friends and family are refreshing, and you may notice
some exciting changes.
The feeling of returning home is sweet and sour. It’s good to be back
among friends and family, but it can be difficult to let go of a culture and
society I was getting used to.
There are many good things about coming home. And though there have
been bouts of severe boredom, it’s been nice too. It’s good to see your
family, sleep in your own bed, relax on the couch, and have mom make
you breakfast. It’s good to see your pet again and even nicer knowing
they missed you too.
Returning home also gives you the chance to catch up with old friends.
No matter how many people you meet on the road, no matter how many
times you visit them on my travels, it’s still nice to come back to people
who have known you 5, 10, 15 years. People you grew up with and know
pretty much everything about you. There’s a pleasant familiarity to that.
There are no constant introductions or explaining who you are, where you
are from, where you’ve been, etc. It’s also always interesting to see how
my friends’ lives back home have changed. You’ve come back to new
couples, new marriages, and new kids.
One thing you love about coming home is that you can see your old
haunts. Positive feelings and excitement about being back in a familiar
place. You’re always excited to eat at all your favorite restaurants again.
It may seem like this phase will last forever (and we wish it could!).
This is the time when you can enjoy life, enjoy the fresh atmosphere,
enjoy cozy family meals. And more than that, you can also do the things
you like, give away the passion that You've been able to do for a long
time. That is to take care of the garden by hand, water the flower pots,
prune bonsai, plant more new plants to cool the space around the house.

II.5.4. The re-entry shock in the native country

Re-entry shock is simply the shock of being home. It’s the reverse culture
shock you experience in your own country when you visit places that
should be familiar to you, but aren’t; try to interact with people you
should feel comfortable with, but don’t; or face situations you should be
able to handle, but can’t. There can be no simpler way to explain it.

There are several reasons why re-entry shock can sometimes be so much
more intense than culture shock.
 The main reason is probably because it is not expected.
 Another factor that can make it difficult is the lack of understanding
and support of those around you.
Family and friends may not understand or appreciate what the traveler
has experienced. The native country and city may have changed in the
eyes of the travelers.
Most repatriates want to tell their family and friends about the things they
have experienced (as otherwise they feel like they are a stranger at home,
as no-one really knows them or understands what they have experienced).
But communication is often difficult. Be prepared for the fact that many
people won’t seem interested in hearing about your experiences abroad,
and their eyes may glaze over as soon as It is very difficult to convey this
kind of experience to people who do not have similar frames of reference
or travel backgrounds, no matter how sympathetic they are as listeners.
Your stories from foreign countries and different cultures can leave your
friends or family without a frame of reference, which makes the story
pretty abstract and therefore not as interesting as it was for you.
Sometimes the reality of being back “home” is not as natural or enjoyable
as the place you had constructed in your head. When real daily life is less
enjoyable or more demanding than you remembered, it is natural to feel
some alienation, see faults in the society you never noticed before you
start talking, or they may ask seemingly stupid questions and appear to
miss the point.
It’s natural to miss the excitement and challenges that characterize study
in a foreign country, but it’s also up to you to find ways to overcome such
negative reactions. Try to incorporate your new perspective into your old
home — find cultural outlets that you hadn’t tried out before, learn a new
hobby or take a day to be a tourist in your own town.
It is very difficult to convey this kind of experience to people who do not
have similar frames of reference or travel backgrounds, no matter how
sympathetic they are as listeners.

It’s natural to miss

the excitement and
challenges that
characterize study in
a foreign country, but
it’s also up to you to
find ways to
overcome such
negative reactions.
Try to incorporate
your new perspective
into your old home — find cultural outlets that you hadn’t tried out
before, learn a new hobby or take a day to be a tourist in your own town
or even become critical of everyone and everything for a time. This is no
different than when you first left home.
Here is a list of symptoms you may experience on your return:
-Your relationships with family and friends are strained: Nobody seems
interested in your experience abroad. Some people didn’t even notice you
were gone! People around you seem boring and narrow-minded. It’s hard
to hide your disappointment. You withdraw from your friends and family
and, not surprisingly, you feel isolated.
-You feel disconnected from your community: You feel like you changed
while everything at home stayed the same. You miss the community you
just left. You’re sometimes overwhelmed with nostalgia. You feel
abnormal.
--Feeling let down: You have a peculiar sense of disappointment very
much at odds with the joy you expected to feel when you got home.

II.5.5. Re-integration in the native country.

In this stage, the involved person realizes the positive and negative
aspects of both countries and has a balanced perspective about his/her
experiences.

When people learn how to integrate the “old” and “new”, they can fully
appreciate their own origin as well as the new culture. During this stage,
you will no longer be shocked by the variety you find on. and be able to
contain your comments about differences between cultures that come to
your attention.
You begin to analyze what you learned abroad and decide how you will
apply it to your life in your home country. You may decide to adopt
certain host culture characteristics or habits into your daily life. You may
begin to think about how to apply what you’ve learned both academically
and professionally.
The important thing is to try to incorporate the positive aspects of your
international experience while abroad with the positive aspects of your
life at home.
Just as you will have recovered from your initial culture shock, you will
begin to settle back into your native culture. Friendships may shift, and
you may form new friendships with others who have had experiences
similar to yours. You will view the world through a slightly different lens,
and will learn to appreciate aspects of your culture you never noticed
before traveling abroad.
Given time, You realize that This will be a gradual process rather than a
distinct stage that a person goes through. Adaption will not take place
until the individual has passed through the above these stages and is able
to understand what is going through his or her own mind.

II.6. Cross-cultural conflicts

II.6.1. Causes of cross-cultural conflicts
II.6.1.1. Communication and culture
Every culture has its own different set of values, and beliefs as to what
is right or wrong.

These values drive our

behaviors. Take for
example someone who
places a great deal of
value on time. They may
even see time as money
and resent people who
waste their time. If you
put this person with
someone who doesn’t
place value on time, then
this can provide fertile
ground for intercultural
conflict.
They may, therefore, not
embrace it as quickly
and may even been seen by others to be obstructing it
Different cultures have their own communication rules and their own
ways of exchanging messages.
In fact, it’s fair
to say that the
way people
communicate
can vary greatly.
In Asia and the
Middle East for
example, people
rely less on
words than
people in the
West and instead
make great use
of body
language, facial expressions, silence and what is not said as opposed to
what is said.
There are a huge number of ways in which poor cross-cultural
communication competence can cause intercultural conflict.

II.6.1.2. Misinterpretations problems

Cross-cultural misunderstanding happens when people from different
cultures communicate or interact with one another. People from one
culture act according to their norms and values, but the other does not
understand the message the way it was conveyed and might interpret
differently due to the cultural differences. Cultural misunderstanding also
occurs when a word, gestures or social context have different meanings in
different cultures.
However, when cultural conflicts do arise, they may be perceived as
personal rather than cultural. This misinterpretation can be easily ignored
or may results conflicts between these two cultures.
Spoken language, it is possible that one party thought they used a word in
an appreciated context, but it may have been misinterpreted. This lack of
a comprehensive understanding of a language can lead to many of the
problems encountered. People from a different language speaking
background can also be confused, embarrassed or offended by the use of
local terms so this is best avoided.
Non-verbal misinterpretation, although language is the most obvious
barrier in intercultural encounters, non-verbal communication is also
known to vary misunderstandings and cultural conflict. Non-verbal
communication expresses meaning or feeling without words. They refer
to boby language, gestures, touch, and ficial expression and so on. The
gestures, symbols body positioning for these phrases often differs across
cultures. For instance, in America and some of Euprope the thumbs up
sign means that something is good. Meanwhile in Australia, Iran this sign
is considered rude, Nigeria’s very offensive. Another symbol is the “fig”,
in Turkish, Greek or Dutch culture is a commonly obscene, but this
symbol of good luck in Brazilian culture.
These problems could be solved by learning about the meaning of non-
verbal signals, you should absorb correctly its meanings in each particular
country. You should not stereotypically think that all non-verbal
communication styles are the same everywhere. What is more, sharing
your cultural norms and learning about those of sojourned will help you
better understanding and cope with different nonverbal styles.
For example, he misunderstanding was due to the woman's failure to
understand the man's nonverbal signal. In her culture, his gesture conveys
a sexual advance. According to his culture, he was only saying
(nonverbally), "Oh, there you are. I've been looking for you." The
woman's misinterpretation resulted in her angry reaction and his
confusion

II.6.1.3. Ethnocentrism
 In cross
cultural
interaction,
speakers
sometimes
assume what
they believe is
right, and
others are
wrong. This
ethnocentric
assumption
can result in negative judgments about other cultures, people become
critical of individuals from different cultures.
The most common driver of intercultural conflict derives from
something known as ‘ethnocentrism’. Ethnocentrism essentially stems
from an individual’s belief that their culture and way of doing things is
the right way.
It’s quite clear how ethnocentrism can cause intercultural conflict
In a personal relationship, someone who feels their culture is superior and
tries to enforce it will either destroy the relationship, or, create a situation
in which their partner is forced to ignore their own culture and adapt to
another – something that will undoubtedly cause resentment and upset.
According to Ting-Toomey, “Our ethnocentric lenses push us to judge
the behavior of another culture evaluatively and negatively.
Ethnocentrism creates biased attributions and expectations in intercultural
conflict”. In communicating cross-culturally, it is crucial that we look
past cultural biases. This can be accomplished by demonstrating
sensitivity to other cultures, as well as doing research that may prove
biases wrong.

II.6.1.4. Stereotypes and prejudice

From STEREOTYPES to PREJUDICE
Sometimes negative reactions do not result from actual interaction but
rather from the fixed, preconceived beliefs we have about other people.
For example, stereotypes originate and develop from numerous sources
such as jokes, textbooks, movies, and television. Movies about cowboys
and Indians portray cowboys as "civilized" and Indians as wild and
"primitive." A child who knows about the American Indian only through
watching these movies will have a distorted and false image of this group
of people.
Negative stereotypes lead to prejudice: suspicion intolerance, or hatred
of other cultural groups. Stereotypical remarks can be made casually in
daily conversations and may or may not have serious consequences.
Nevertheless, people's initial impulse is to become angry rather than to
clarify the distortion
Stereotypes impede cross-cultural communication in various ways, they
repeat and reinforce beliefs until they often become taken for “truth”.
Some people say stereotypes are an extreme example of cross-cultural
miscommunication. They are probably the most difficult stumbling block
to overcome in cross-cultural communication.
Often people do not spend the time (or do not have either the need or the
opportunity) or the emotional and cognitive energy to learn about
variation within cultures we perceive to be different from ours. Rather,
we use superficially
noticeable events to make judgments, even based on one isolated
incident, about the characteristics of an entire social group and to
determine otherness.
Sources:
https://www.evergreen.edu/sites/default/files/studyabroad/docs/reentrysh
ock.pdf
https://international.uottawa.ca/sites/international.uottawa.ca/files/a-
exchanges-outgoing-reversecultureshock-re-entry.pdf
http://repository.ulis.vnu.edu.vn/handle/ULIS_123456789/1242
https://commisceo-global.com/blog/causes-intercultural-conflict
https://www.longdom.org/open-access/crosscultural-differences-and-
cultural-stereotypes-in-tourism--chinesetourists-in-thailand-2169-0286-
1000S1001.pdf

II.7 Causes of cultural shock

II.7.1 Climate
Many students find the northwest climate can affect them a lot. You may
find the grayness and dampness, especially during the winter months,
difficult to get used to.

II.7.2 Language
Listening and speaking in a new language is tiring. In class, some
international students have trouble understanding the lecture and reading
materials. People speak quickly and you may feel embarrassed to ask
them to repeat what they said. If English is not your first language, you
may find you miss your home language.
II.7.3 Social roles
Social behaviors may confuse, surprise or offend you. For example you
may find people appear cold, distant or always in a hurry. Or you may be
surprised to see couples holding hands and kissing in public. You may
find the relationships between men and women more formal or less
formal than you are used to, as well as differences in same sex social
contact and relationships.

II.7.4 ‘Rules’ of behavior

As well as the obvious things that hit you immediately when you arrive,
such as sights, sounds, smells and tastes, every culture has unspoken rules
which affect the way people treat each other. These may be less obvious,
but sooner or later you will probably encounter them and once again the
effect may be disorientating. For example, there will be differences in the
ways people decide what is important, how tasks are allocated and how
time is observed. In business and academic life, keeping to a schedule is
important. You should always be on time for lectures, classes, and
meetings with academic and administrative staff. If you are going to be
late for a meeting, do try to give advance notice.
II.7.5 Values
Although you may first become aware of cultural differences in your
physical environment, (e.g. food, dress, behavior) you may also come to
notice that people from other cultures may have very different views of
the world from yours. Cultures are built on deeply-embedded sets of
values, norms, assumptions and beliefs. It can be surprising and
sometimes distressing to find that people do not share some of your most
deeply held ideas, as most of us take our core values and beliefs for
granted and assume they are universally held. As much as possible, try to
suspend judgment until you understand how parts of a culture fit together
into a coherent whole. Try to see what people say or do in the context of
their own culture’s norms. This will help you to understand how other
people see your behavior, as well as how to understand theirs. When you
understand both cultures, you will probably find some aspects of each
that you like and others that you don’t.

II.7.6 Relationship Stress

If your spouse or partner has accompanied you to the U.S., remember that
the stress of the transition may cause struggles in your relationship. The
transition to a new culture may be very difficult for your partner. Your
partner may feel very isolated; he/she has been transplanted from your
culture and separated from family and friends. Simple tasks can be
stressful due to the language barrier. Often times they do not have
opportunities to engage in productive, meaningful activity such as
pursuing a degree, and it may be more difficult for them to make new
friends.

II.8. Impacts of Cultural shock

II.8.1. Symptoms of cultural shock
II.8.1.1. Homesickness
Homesickness is the feeling of emotional distress when you’re away from
home and in a new and unfamiliar environment. It affects those who’ve
moved both temporarily and permanently, such as students, migrants,
refugees, and those in the military. It’s estimated that 50% to 75% of the
general population have felt homesick at least once in their life.
Effects of Homesickness
Depression:  Depression, also known as major depressive disorder, is an
illness that involves a constant feeling of sadness and loss of interest or
pleasure. Doctors say that homesickness can have symptoms that are
similar to depression, such as frequent crying, sleeping problems,
difficulty concentrating, and withdrawal from society. In some cases,
homesickness can even turn into depression itself.
Grief: While migrant workers and other foreigners may have moved
away from home for a better job or better pay, they feel grief for the loss
of the comforts of home, and for the place they felt that they belonged.
Affects productivity: The overwhelming feeling of being in a new
environment and away from the familiar can lead to performance issues
at work and school. Intense homesick feelings can also result in difficulty
focusing on topics that are not related to home.
Physical effects: Homesickness can also lead to physical symptoms such
as lack of appetite, stomach problems, lack of sleep, headaches, and
fatigue. 
II.8.1.2. Inability to work well
You are low energy and are unmotivated to work on new project.
It means that you cannot concentrate on you work because you feel
strange with very thing and cannot adapt to a new working style, or
office, or your colleagues.

You cannot work effectively and live normally in different cultural

contexts, and cannot adopt adaptive thinking patterns and behaviors in the
host country. The results show that the challenges faced by people who
moving abroad are derived from assigned tasks, unknown environments,
language barriers, and cultural differences. Excessive pressure will
impose ideological and psychological burdens upon them and even lead
to physical symptoms.

II.8.1.3. Too much eating, drinking, or sleeping

You are unwilling to leave your room or your bed. If you’re pulling all-
nighters to finish a work project, or it’s exam time at school and you’re
stressed, studying all night, and not sleeping, then it’s perfectly normal
healthy, even to eventually crash and have couple nights of sleeping in.
Your body is trying to repair itself and get the rest it’s been denied. But if
you’re regularly sleeping for long periods, it can be a symptom of
something more serious.

You are eating and drinking habits have changed, and you are either
eating and drinking too much, or not eating much at all. Moreover, when
people tress, the hormones it unleashes, and the effects of high-fat, sugary
"comfort foods" push people toward overeating. Researchers have linked
weight gain to stress, and according to an American Psychological
Association survey, about one-fourth of Americans rate their stress level
as 8 or more on a 10-point scale.

II.8.1.4. Anger toward the members of the new culture

Conflicts with others. You may find yourself in a bad mood and in more
confrontations than usual. It’s easy to loose your temper when something
approach you or you get angry with any factors of new culture that you
are struggling like school, offices, classmates, roomates, coworkers,…
Sometimes the symptoms of the hostility stage last just a few days, but
more commonly, a few weeks or even months. Your friend may appear to
adjust easily while you are suffering miserably. Several different factors,
such as your pre-departure expectations, coping skills, and any past
experience living overseas can affect the degree to which a person is
affected by culture shock, making each individual’s experience unique.
Also, people often move back and forth between the stages throughout
their stay.

II.8.1.5. Glorifying the native culture and emphasizing the negative in

the new culture
Because of the new culture, people tend to glorify their own culture
which is familiar with them for long time and to be a part of their life.
Moving in other places where process many new and extraordinary make
people have negative thoughts in the new culture.
After several months, the same cultural differences that initially seemed
so quirky and cute might become a source of irritation. You may start
negatively comparing local customs with how things are done at home.
You begin thinking nostalgically about your country, and even feel
culturally superior to locals.
It is an undeniable fact that the inhabitants of a nation take pride in their
own cultural features. As a result, if an outsider does not accept their
culture and has a sign showing the lack of respect for native cultures, the
residents will feel irrigated and isolate him/her.
II.8.1.6. Withdrawal and avoidance of contact with people from the
new culture
Many returnees withdraw or escape, dwelling on fantastical thoughts of
the foreign culture and avoiding contact with people from the home
culture. Some people develop social withdrawal because of other pre-
existing anxiety symptoms. Other people's’ anxiety is reinforced because
they continuously opt to withdraw from social situations. Still others
experience severe anxiety socially from the start, which then reinforces
their tendency to withdraw. They are worried and nervous with new
culture that they do not want to contact or communicate to anyone.
Negative thoughts and emotions towards this new culture are completely
normal, and part of the adjustment process. These can play out in multiple
ways:
Wanting to withdraw from the foreign culture/people
Criticizing the local culture
Daydreaming about being somewhere else
Stereotyping: “all [nationality] are [negative attribute]”
Idealizing your home culture/food
Focusing your energy primarily on relationships back home or with same-
culture friends.
II.8.1.7. Lack of ability to deal with even small problems
Problems become more difficult when there is no obvious solution and
strategies that you have tried in the past don’t work. These types of
problems cause a great deal of stress and anxiety and require new and
different strategies.
Obviously, it’s hard for people who are lack of abilities to deal with small
problems to feel safe and confident when living in a new culture. In this
case, newcomers will feel that everything is difficult to them and they do
not know how to solve it. Therefore, lack of solving problem skill is a
pressing circumstance that newcomers usually encounter.

‘
Some solution for symptom of cultural shock
• Talk to someone.
 If you haven’t yet made friends at your host university or work place, try
speaking or emailing someone from your host university or employer, or
perhaps contact the University of Exeter’s student run listening service.
• Use your phone.
Text people. Send emails. Keep in touch with those you left behind and
arrange a firm date to go back and see them. But also give yourself a
chance to get involved in your new life.
• Keep busy.
Try to establish a routine. The fuller your days are, the less time you will
have to feel homesick or lonely.
• Make a real effort to join societies/activities.
This might feel difficult, but there are so many clubs and societies within
your host university (if you are completing a work placement you can
join the Erasmus Network at your local university) and the city that you
are very likely to find something that suits your particular interests. At the
start of the new academic year many new people will be joining- so you
are unlikely to be the only new person.
• Take regular exercise.
As well as being good for your health if can be a way of meeting people.
• Have familiar things around you that have personal meaning, such as
photographs or ornaments.
• Don’t make any major decisions.
Even if you feel strongly that you don’t want to stay, take your time and
talk it over with others.
II.8.2. Impossible to accept foreign culture
Some people find it impossible to accept the foreign culture and to
integrate. They isolate themselves from the host country’s environment,
which they come to perceive as hostile, withdraw into a “ghetto” and see
return to their own culture as the only way out.
II.8.3. Possible integrating fully
Newcomers are possible to integrate fully the new culture in other places
in many fields such as: literature, history, technology, science, music and
art, language, education ect… It is a change to broaden their knowledge
as well as gain experiences from other cultures. It also help them to
develop themselves and integrate their own culture to other cultures.

II.8.4. Absorbing new culture but still keep one’s own culture
Whenever people move to a new city, state or overseas to another
country, they will probably feel the effects of change. When moving
overseas, to a place where nothing around them is familiar and you feel
completely disoriented. People ned to have awareness of absorbing new
culture but still keep its characteristics. They should keep their traditional
values and integrate with foreign friends. At the same time, it is
encouraged to learn and absorb new culture and valuable things in many
different culture. It helps to diverse their native culture and develop it to
be more interesting and worthier.

Reference:
https://www.internationalrelationsedu.org/the-7-symptoms-of-
culture-shock-indentifying-them-and-getting-ahead-of-the-
problem/
https://identity-mag.com/improving-intercultural-
communication-and-avoiding-ethnocentrism/
https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/what-is-culture-shock-and-
how-may-it-affect-my-eating-while-abroad

https://www.communicationtheory.org/cultural-barriers/
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01501/f
ull
https://www.grin.com/document/108360

II.9. Taboos in some countries in the world

II.9.1 Some taboos in Thailand

There are a lot of serious taboos in Thai culture that you should be aware
of before you travel, so that you can avoid offending any locals who you
meet along the way.
Some basic etiquettes in Thailand
II.9.1.1. Disrespect the King or the Royal Family
In any way, whether verbally or in written communication. This is
actually a violation of the Lese Majeste laws and can get you arrested.

+ Do stand-up whenever the national anthem is being played. For

example, this will happen in the movie theatre before the start of the film,
or during a public event when a member of the Royal Family is present.
+ Don’t deface any of the Thai money, because it has a picture of the
King’s face on it.
Royal family has an important place in Thailand’s culture

II.9.1.2. Be disrespectful around images of Buddha.

All images and sculptures of Buddha are considered to be sacred, so don’t
pose with them, deface them or disrespect them in any way.
+ Don’t wear your shoes into a temple where a Buddha statue is kept – it
is not appropriate. Take them off and leave them at the door, as there
should already be a pile of shoes from others!
+ Do speak quietly and act calm when visiting a temple. It is not the place
to be running around or making jokes.
+ Don’t wear revealing clothing when visiting a temple, as it is very
disrespectful. You should have your shoulders, legs and cleavage
covered. If you are unsure, there are usually signs at the temple entrance
showing what appropriate and inappropriate clothing entails.
+ Do wear the appropriate clothing when visiting a Muslim mosque.
Women should wear a long skirt or pants, a long sleeved shirt and a scarf
over their head. Men should wear hats.

Strict dress code in Thailand

II.9.1.3. Touch the Buddhist monks if you are a woman.

It is forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman, or to directly accept
anything from a woman. If a woman needs to give something to a monk,
she must first give it to a man who will then give it to the monk.

II.9.1.4. Point the bottom of your foot at someone.

This is considered to be very rude. Do remember that the bottoms of the
feet are considered offensive in Thai culture. Keep this in mind when
sitting on the floor or lying down.

II.9.1.5. Touch a Thai person’s head.

The head is a sacred part of the body and touching it is a very
uncomfortable violation of the person’s personal space.

II.9.2 Some taboos in India

India is known to be a fast-growing country with a new wave of thinking.
However, there are still a lot of social taboos prevalent in Indian society.

II.9.2.1. Eat food with the left hand

In India, eating with the left-hand is considered disrespectful, eat with
your right hand only, the left hand is for wiping your bottom, cleaning
your feet and other unsavoury functions (you also put on and take off
your shoes with your left hand), while the right hand is for eating,
shaking hands and so on.

II.9.2.2. Sex before marriage

Sex before marriage is the Heinous crime ever considered among Indians.
Especially, If you are a girl loses virginity before the marriage becomes
the worst criminal than a murderer. The country who gave a rich Veda
“Kamasutra” to the world, considers Sex a big taboo. In India, on
Immediate night after marriage “Suhagrat,” woman has to pass through a
virginity test called “White bed sheet bed.” People believe woman bleeds
when she first loses her virginity, but if she doesn’t suffer than sometimes
marriage was cancelled. And, that girl is sometimes unacceptable to
society and nobody marries her again.

II.9.2.3. Disrespect to religious buildings, shrines, images, and people

at prayer
When entering a temple or mosque, remove your shoes and leave them at
the door (socks are acceptable and protect your feet from burning-hot
stone ground). Some temples – Jain ones in particular – do not allow you
to enter wearing or carrying leather articles, and forbid entry to
menstruating women. In the southern state of Kerala, most Hindu temples
are closed to non-Hindus, but those that aren’t require men to remove
their shirts before entering (women must wear long dresses or skirts). In a
mosque, non-Muslims would not normally be allowed in at prayer time
and women are sometimes not let in at all. In a Hindu temple, you are
often not allowed into the inner sanctum; and at a Buddhist stupa or
monument, you should always walk round clockwise (ie, with the stupa
on your right). Hindus are very superstitious about taking photographs of
images of deities and inside temples; if in doubt, desist.

II.9.2.4. Breastfeeding in public

Breastfeeding is the most natural thing we could see in real life. A child
born from a woman womb is must have breastfed. Every woman in the
world do this thing but still breastfeeding in public in India consider as
taboo. At one side, we believe mother as a goddess, but on the other hand,
her motherhood deeds are considered as a sin

II.9.2.5. Drink alcohol

Many people in India have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol as they
consider it to be one of the most fatal forms of debauchery. Those against
drink, consider alcohol to be a western attribute that contradicts their
personal set of beliefs and morals.

II.9.3 Taboos in Vietnam

II.9.3.1 Public Touching:
Public displays of affection are not seen as appropriate. Avoid hugging,
holding hands, and especially kissing in public. Even touching a member
of the opposite sex is looked down upon.

II.9.3.2 Immodesty:
It is important to keep your body covered. Avoid overly short shorts and
revealing shirts. It is best to wear shorts that go to the knee and shirts that
cover the shoulders, especially away from touristy areas.
II.9.3.3 Head is Sacred:
The head is considered the most sacred part of the body, so do not touch
anyone on the head.

II.9.3.4 Both Hands:

When you need to hand something to someone, make sure to use both
hands. This is seen as respectful.

II.9.3.5 Pointing:
If you need to draw attention to something, use your whole hand. Do not
point using one finger, that is considered disrespectful.

II.9.3.6 Wearing shoes indoors

When entering a home, it is customary to remove your shoes as a sign of
respect.

II.9.3.7 Photographing three people together

Vietnamese people like to take pictures. However, try to avoid
photographing three people together because this is supposed to bring
black to the middle.

II.9.3.8 Discussions about politics

Avoid discussions about politics and do not joke about death, Ho Chi
Minh, and Vietnam’s great generals. A discussion of sexual matters is
prohibited

II.9.4 Some taboos in South American countries: Brazil, Chile,

Argentina…

II.9.4.1. Abortion
Only two countries within Latin America allow for legal abortion without
restriction. However, these countries are home to less than 5% of women
between the ages of 15-44. According to a report released by the
Guttmacher Institute, 95% of abortions in Latin America are unsafe.
II.9.4.2. Make “OK” gesture with the thumb and index finger.
This action is seen as vulgar.

II.9.4.3. Take off the shoes (Mexico)

Strangely, this action is considered to be rude so you better leave them on
wherever you go.

II.9.4.4. Speak Spanish to Brazillians

The official language of Brazil is Portugese, they extremely detest being
talked to in Spanish.

II.9.4.5. Joke about drugs (Colombia)

II.9.5 Some taboos in Some African countries

In the traditional African setting, way before civilization, communities
were guided by beliefs and traditions. Among these beliefs and practices
were taboos that were seen as social and religious customs placing
restrictions on particular things, actions and persons.
II.9.5.1. Give something to elderlies with the left hand (Ghana)
Many African communities consider any form of disrespect to the elderly
an automatic curse, and giving something to them with the left hand is a
good example.
Other communities don’t allow young people to speak in the presence of
elderly people, particularly during family and community gatherings.
Similarly, young people are not allowed to address elderly people by their
names. They are supposed to be addressed by the names of their children.
This taboo is pegged on the belief that elderly people have the powers to
bless and curse.

II.9.5.2. Visit in-laws

When a man and a woman marry, their families automatically become
one. But in Africa, any dealings between the two families must be
handled with utmost care and respect, lest they go against the long held
traditions and beliefs. For instance, some communities consider it a taboo
for a mother-in-law to sleep in the same house with her son-in-law.
Others prohibit the bride’s mother to eat or drink in front of her son-in-
law. Ironically, nobody seems to have a concrete reason for this. And if
you think that is ridiculous, listen to this: a father-in-law is not supposed
to enter his son’s house if the son is not around. It is also a taboo for a
couple to name their first child after the bride’s family before they’ve
named the groom’s father and mother.

II.9.5.3. Break pots

In some parts of Africa, women are still using clay pots to prepare and
store food. Due to their fragile nature, these pots tend to break a lot. So,
in an attempt to ensure women handle the pots with care, some
communities consider it a taboo for a woman to break a cooking pot.
They liken the pot with a woman’s uterus, in which she carries her
children for nine months. So, when a woman breaks a cooking pot, she is
considered to have destroyed her entire lineage. Among the Gikuyu
people (Kenya’s largest ethnic group), a special ritual must be performed
to cleanse a woman who breaks her cooking pot.
II.9.5.4. Children eat eggs (Central African countries)

II.9.5.5. Talk with your hands in yout pockets

II.9.6 Some taboos in Sweden

II.9.6.1. Sit next to a stranger

Keep your distance. At least 1–1.5 meters should be the radius around
most people. If you get closer than that then Swedes get uncomfortable
(unless you’ve know them for a while and you’re good friends/partners)
on most occasions. This is one of those things that may be typical here
that others might feel that Swedes act a bit “cold”.

II.9.6.2. Drink before making eye contact with anyone

Any time there is a toast you must make eye contact with every single
person at the table before you take a sip. It's not enough to look at their
eyes; you must have impeccable timing or simply be very persistent until
you have had that awkwardly intimate moment with everyone. You may
then proceed to hide in your drink.
II.9.6.3. Jump the queue

Swedes have been standing in line since the dawn of time. They
love nothing more than grabbing a ticket and forming up orderly
to buy pretty much everything, even when it isn't necessary like
in a packed bar on a Friday night. Attempting to jump to the
front of the line will be met with a sterner look than when
meeting the taxman to tell them your tax return is late.

II.9.6.4. Shout
Swedes don’t like people shouting etc. or talking really loud. Most
Swedes want their personal stuff to remain personal and not some public
knowledge, even though it may be non-harmful for them. Most of all,
people don’t care. So if you’re shouting a lot, or talk very loud, Swedes
get irritated since they don’t want to hear about every thing in your life
unless you talk directly to them.

II.9.6.5. Say no to fika

It is considered rude and you will be treated with suspicion.

II.9.7 Some taboos in Japan

II.9.7.1. Wear shoes indoors

Maybe this is widely known Japanese custom. Don’t wear shoes indoors
when visiting Japanese home. When you enter Japanese home, you need
to take off your shoes at the entranceway. “Outdoor shoes” make the
room dirty, so they should be replaced with “indoor” slippers. Some
people don’t put on slippers though.
II.9.7.2. Littering
Japan has laws prohibiting littering just like other countries. Although the
law has not super severe punishment, it’s widely known that the city in
Japan is very clean, it’s because littering is recognized as very rude
behavior among Japanese.

II.9.7.3. Walking while eating in crowded places

Walking while eating in crowded place is also recognized as rude
behavior in Japan. It depends on the place you do, but usually you better
not do that in crowded place. Because you might trouble someone by
putting stain on their shirt or something. So it’s better to stop and eat. In
that way, you don’t bother other people.

II.9.7.4. Cough/Sneeze without wearing a mask

Japanese people hate to blow their noses in public, or worse, see someone
blow theirs. In fact, sniffling is perfectly normal in Japan, and serious
snorting goes completely unnoticed. People walking around with runny
noses or snorting it all back in are, unfortunately, not rare. However,
Japanese people would hate to see someone sneeze or cough without
wearing mask rather than blowing nose. In Japan, people often think it’s
rude that even though you caught a cold, you don’t wear face mask. In
some other countries, perhaps wearing mask is rare thing to do, but not in
Japan. It’s common thing to do that in order to avoid giving anyone cold.

II.9.7.5. Worship at shrine or temple with your hat on

II.9.8 Some taboos in Russia

II.9.8.1. Joke about parents

Russians are not politically correct. When telling anecdotes about the
"Chukchi" or women, try to avoid jokes about someone's mother or
father. Such jokes will never be appreciated here.

II.9.8.2. Whistle indoors

Whether you’re having fun with friends or absentmindedly humming
along to a tune while you go about your daily chores – make sure you
don’t whistle indoors! If you’re with a group of Russians and you happen
to forget, you will be scolded. It’s believed that whistling brings bad luck,
and that it will lead to losing money.

II.9.8.3. Sit with your legs apart

In addition, do not sit with your ankle resting on your knee, and never
show the soles of your shoes or let them touch your seat, since shoes are
considered dirty.

II.9.8.4. Wear shabby clothes

Russians take more chances to look smart than Americans. On an
ordinary walk, a Russian woman can wear high-heeled shoes and a smart
dress. A hard-hearted feminist might say that women do this because they
are humiliated and forced to. But the Russian women chose this way:
"We live only once, so I want to look and feel better than everyone else."
Against the backdrop of such women, all foreigners, regardless of gender,
risk looking dressed in shabby clothes. Just pay attention to your dress
code when going out.

II.9.8.5. Visit someone’s house empty-handed

If you are invited for dinner, do not come empty handed. It does not
matter what you bring - a box of chocolates, flowers or a toy for a child.
When expecting guests, the hosts in Russia cook the best dishes and buy
delicacies, which they usually do not do for themselves. If the visitors
come without a little present, the Russians think that they are misers.

II.10. Solution of cultural shock

Moving to a different country is a new chapter in the life of many people.

Often this move requires lots of sudden changes in our lifestyle. Our
environment shifts, our neighbours change and most of all we see a rapid
shift in our culture.
This sudden change in culture can create many overwhelming challenges.
This is called culture shock. It is a real phenomenon faced by many ex-
pats living in foreign countries. However, this shock is nothing to worry
about as it is natural, and it takes time to adjust in a new environment.
If you are an ex-pat experiencing culture shock, here are some tips that
you can do to improve your situation and get a better grip of the new
culture.

II.10.1. Understand
You have left all your previous habits, changed your environment and are
surrounded by new customs and people. Know that initially, you will face
powerful feelings of insecurity and confusion. And it is totally normal.
After all, you have completely changed the way you lived your previous
life.
Understand that adjusting will take time. You will feel homesick, you
will experience new challenges, but you will get used to everything with
time. Realize the feelings you are going through and understand that it’s
cultural shock and happens to every ex-pat that starts a new life. It is
entirely normal, and it resolved on its own with time.
Remember that more expats go through this. Culture shock is not a sign
that anything wrong. It’s part of the expatriate experience and eventually,
you will be able to look back on this process with fond memories. You’re
been given the opportunity to live in a different part of the world and
experience different cultures and tradition-both the good and the bad are
all part of the adventure.

II.10.2. Keep an open mind

One of the most effective ways of dealing with culture shock is to keep an
open mind and welcome the surprising experiences as they arise.
Adjusting to a new culture doesn’t mean that you have to change your
own values, but it is important to respect those of other people. When you
find yourself in an unfamiliar situation, try to think of it as a new
adventure. Allow yourself to be curious about the way things are
perceived and done in this new environment.
Starting your life in a new country is an experience of a lifetime. While
you’re at it, try to make the best out of it. Instead of being overwhelmed
by the change, focus on all the benefits and new things you previously
didn’t have. Try to see things from a different perspective and teach
yourself to adapt.
Make the most out of your opportunities and look at all the new places
and culture you have to explore. Visit historical sites, learn new
languages and try to blend in with the locals and make the most out of
your experience.
Commit to saying yes as much as possible. Accept invitations to events,
eat strange food, offer to help out a new friend, and discover your new
home’s cultures and traditions for yourself. Of course, you should also
use common sense and be sure to stay safe, healthy and not push yourself
too hard.

II.10.3. Use your observation skills

You have to keep in mind that the place you are going to have different
social tendencies. So my advise would be to, at first, observe the people
in the country you are going to: their habits, communication styles and
values. Learn the rules of living in your new country. Try to understand
how and why the local people act the way they do. Their behaviour and
customs, although they may be different from your own, are neither better
nor worse than what you are used to. Learn as much as you can about
your host country and it will make it much easier for you.
Since you will encounter unfamiliar rules and norms, observing how
others are acting in situations can help you understand what behavior is
behavior is expected of you. Pay attention to both the verbal and
nonverbal communication of others in order to get a more complete
picture of what is happening.

II.10.4. Ask question

“ Since I was new international student, my biggest fear was standing out
amongst a completely different culture. Unfortunately, this led to me
keeping to myself and not really coming to terms with my new
surroundings. If there is one thing I wish I did more of, it would be asking
questions. University life can be difficult from the beginning and majority
of the people around you know this. You’re be surprised how much
people will be willing to help you. If you don’t ask any questions, you’re
not going to get any answers. ”, an oversea student said
Ask for help when you need it. Asking for assistance or explaination does
not have to be considered a sign of weakness. Understanding others and
making yourself understood in a new language (or context) requires lots
of rephrasing, repeating and clarification.
For example, when moving to a brand new country, you are not expert at
learning language, or there are numerous terms that you simply may not
recognize or they are interpreting differently from local language. It may
be helpful to ask questions like “ as I understand it you are saying…Is
that correct? ”
Another question: 'How Does the Public Transit System Work?'
With New York City being one of the few exceptions, American towns
don't have the extensive public transportation options that some other
countries offer. Without access to a big transit system, it can get
overwhelming for a first-time visitor to blindly figure out how to
affordably get around a new place. Where do you buy tickets? How much
is the fare? Should you take the bus or train? Mix gestures and the few
words you've learned from your phrase book to ask for help. Once you
master the first ride, it'll be easy street from then on.
'What Are the Major Regional Religions?'
One of the largest contributions to the culture of any country is its
religious background. From the politics down to the food preparation,
understanding the religious blueprint of a place will shed light on
everyday life there. As a responsible traveler, you wouldn't want to
disrespect the majority of people your first time visiting just because you
didn't know the basic expectations. For instance, people in Thailand, a
mostly Buddhist country, consider the head and feet sacred, therefore you
should never touch a Thai person's head or show the bottoms of your feet.
'How Should I Greet People?'
Having a phrase book on hand when entering a new country is a good
idea in any case (in e-book format or downloaded to your phone to keep
luggage light), but there's more to a greeting than simply words. Once
you nail the phrase, there's still the appropriate body language. While air
kisses on the sides of the face can be appropriate in places like France and
Colombia, in a country like Korea or Japan, a slight bow at the waist is
what you'll see commonly exchanged.
II.10.5. Give yourself (and others) permission to make mistakes
Don’t expect to get everything right. You’re bound to make mistakes,
forget things, and get lost. The first few weeks are all about getting it
wrong, wasting time, not understanding, feeling stupid. There will be
plenty of time to catch up… after all, it’s common for people to be off
with flu for a few weeks and still get through the year successfully.
You will inevitably make mistakes as you explore a new culture. If you
can find the humor in these situations and laugh at them, others will
likely respond to you with friendliness and support.. Keep in mind that
others will probably make mistakes, too; when someone makes an
inaccurate assumption or a generalized statement about your culture, it
may be due to a lack of information. If you’re comfortable with doing so,
this can be an opportunity to share information with others about yourself
and your culture.

II.10.6. Take care of your physical health

Be mindful about keeping a healthy diet and getting enough exercise and
rest. Try to find an activity that you enjoy and make it part of your
routine. Being physically active can help reduce your stress level.
Find ways to relieve stress:
Adjusting to culture shock can be stressful. Exercising can help you burn
off nervous energy while exploring your new home. Yoga or meditation
could help you relax. Exploring new hobbies or joining a student club on
campus, especially those that encourage socializing and meeting new
people, can help you overcome culture shock.

II.10.7. Seek out support from other people

The best way to survive culture shock is to talk with other people who are
experiencing the exact same thing. Talk to your friends in your program;
talk to your local coordinator; talk to anybody who is sharing that
experience with you because they can truly empathize. Ask them about
how they feel, strategies they’ve used to cope with cultural differences.
Also, learn from them. They may have figured out something you’re still
confused about.
Making friends with other international students and locals will help you
to feel more at home. International students will be able to understand
what you are going through and provide advice on how to cope, while
locals will help you develop a deeper understanding of the culture and
country.
If you were an oversea student at a university, don’t hesitate to approach
your advisors, counsellors, professors in case you are in distress. Most
universities have well-trained facilitators to help students facing such
difficulties. Feel free to reach out to them if needed. Tackling such issues
alone could cause more damage to your mental health than you imagine.
It is good to stay in touch with family and friends back home. But
remember, if you spend all your time connected to them, it just keeps
feeding homesickness even more. So, forget your phone for a while and
go exploring! Call your family and friends but remember to not stay in
contact with them too often. It will only result in feeding your
homesickness even more.

II.10.8. Be patient - don’t try to understand everything immediately

The process of adjusting to a new culture requires time. It may also
require a different amount of time for different areas of adjustment. Try
to encourage yourself to be patient with this experience and not be overly
critical of yourself
Remember, culture shock is an absolutely common reaction when you
travel to a new environment and happens with most international
students-so you’re not alone. It can be easily dealt with patience ans
gradual acceptance of the new culture. Use it as a stepping stone to
explore new opportunities and learn to be more adaptive
=> Adapting to a new culture is an ongoing process. It may be
challenging at times, but most students who experience culture shock
agree that going through this transition helped them to learn more about
themselves and to develop greater confidence in their ability to navigate
new situations. It can also lead to a renewed appreciation of one's own
culture. There are many people in the university community who are
available to provide you with support. Keep in mind that you do not
have to struggle alone.
Reference: https://www.cmhc.utexas.edu/cultureadjustment.html?
fbclid=IwAR0f3qTYZ0Jkm22auek4RBEkj7e1FoRPbNk52wNNfe9ji8VO
xTuoiNROfxc

II.11. Keys to effective Cross - Cultural Communication

Misunderstandings are common between native speakers of the same
language, Imagine what more it will cause to people with different
language or cultural group. With continuous globalization, these kinds of
problems may arise. That is why cross-cultural knowledge is now
becoming a must. So, here we will discuss 4 important keys to effective
cross cultural communication:

II.11.1. Respect
Respect is the first key to effective communication. Etiquette and good
manners should never be forgotten. Do not be selective on who you give
your regards to. This means that you should be respectful to everyone not
just to people who you perceive as having a higher status than you. Keep
in mind that we have different cultural values than others, but basic
values of respect are universal. Just put yourself in their shoes and think
how you would like to be treated in that situation and you’ll do just fine.

II.11.2. Awareness
Each culture greatly influences the way people think, see, speak, listen
and understand. Even in the way they act, cultural values plays a big part.
It is a huge advantage for you if you know a second language because it
will be easier for you to understand that individual who belongs to a
certain cultural group. If not, at least try to make an effort to learn their
culture as much as you can. Our cultural differences plays a big role in
this part. Some expressions and gestures differs from one cultural group
to another. Some gestures we are accustomed to may be insulting to
others. For example, many nationalities view eye contact as a sign of
respect when talking to someone but for some it is not that important.
Many differences like these may cause conflict especially in our
workplace. That’s why it would be better if we understand how to
manage these differences.

II.11.3. Listen
Hearing is not listening. When you listen, you have the intention or the
conscious effort to process the meaning of the words that is being said to
you. By doing this, you give the person you are talking to, the time for
him to finish what he or she needs to say before you begin.
But it is also important to listen to him/her with an open mind. Keep
his/her cultural background in mind. Does he/she mean what he/she says
exactly or not. Most English speaking countries tend to be more specific
and direct, these are called low-context communicators, while some are
high-context communicators which tends to be more elaborate. It is better
to be mindful of the non-verbal gestures or cues from high context
communicators to effectively understand them.

II.11.4. Acceptance
Sometimes it is not enough to listen to someone. It is much better if you
comprehend what they really mean. And accept the fact that we have
cultural dissimilarity. If we accept these differences, the more we will be
able to communicate to them properly. Many global leaders use
interpreters when dealing with other nationalities but the potential for
misunderstanding grows. That’s why adapting to this challenge is
necessary. Cross cultural knowledge is essential to anyone’s growth and
success. Accept that cultural disparity are not barriers, just challenges that
we have to welcome and find ways to work with.
=> So, those are the 4 keys on effective cross-cultural communication.
Remember those tips to guide you on resolving cultural conflicts, issues
and problems. But remember, this does not stop in just learning a new
language, it is a continuous acquisition of knowledge and skills in making
good relationship to members of other cultural groups.
Reference: https://www.englishexpress.com.sg/articles/keys-effective-
cross-cultural-communication/
III. Conclusion
The ability to communicate well between cultures is an increasingly
sought-after skill that takes time, practice, reflection, and a great deal of
work and patience. This chapter has introduced you to several concepts
and tools that can put you on the path to further developing your
interpersonal skills to give you an edge and better insight in cross-cultural
situations. In today’s workplace, the issue of intercultural communication
is definitely of importance in different career fields as described in this
paper. It is essential to encourage cultural and personal systems of
language metaphors, worldviews and meanings in the present diversified
workplace. Intercultural communication has aroused great interest in
scholars over the years and some empirical studies have been done on the
same. However, authors have varied perspectives and emphasis about
intercultural communication. Most clashes in perspectives evolve around
methodology or the question of the way to study this phenomenon. To
have a balanced view of the issue, it is important to read from various
authors and this paper has attempted to do so. However there is more
research needed on the effect of technology on intercultural
communication especially communication via Internet.