The place to ask China-related questions!
Beijing Shanghai Guangzhou Shenzhen Chengdu Xi'an Hangzhou Qingdao Dalian Suzhou Nanjing More Cities>>

Categories

Close
Welcome to eChinacities Answers! Please or register if you wish to join conversations or ask questions relating to life in China. For help, click here.
X

Verify email

Your verification code has been sent to:

Didn`t receive your code? Resend code

By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .

Sign up with Google Sign up with Facebook
Sign up with Email Already have an account? .
Posts: 458

Shifu

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Q: Culture shock is a real pain in the you-know-what. How'd you work through it?

12 years 11 weeks ago in  General  - China

 
Answers (7)
Comments (3)
Posts: 127

Governor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

tolerance, comprehension and patience

Report Abuse
12 years 11 weeks ago
 
Posts: 3025

Emperor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

I guess we each have our own ways to deal with this, besides managing it to keep it under control.  My "cocktail" will have lots of patience and understanding, a bit of wisdom and tolerance, some humility and topped with a sincere desire to learn new customs, cultures and tradition.  Of course, no need to say that I can not forget that what is a shock to me, it is every day occurance to others.

derek:

How in the hell did you get e Thumbs Down for that post?

12 years 11 weeks ago
Report Abuse

giadrosich:

Thumbs up as a countermeasure, because I agree with what you said!

12 years 10 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
12 years 11 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1630

Emperor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

I was lucky to meet a couple of other Canadians that had arrived in Harbin around the same time as me. We bonded I guess you could say, we vented, played hockey and went to the gym and of course shared a few beers to help ease the transition. 6  years later we are still friends.

Report Abuse
12 years 11 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1693

Emperor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

I married a beautiful local girl, lol.

So it is in my benifit to show furthur understanding and compassion when it seems I have just run out of both. But, even if I hadn't gotten married, I do want to learn what I can about the culture at large, history, and people that surround me. The shock comes when preconception runs smack into the brick wall of reality, and you quickly realize that the thinking (or, as is more the case, lack of) behind the action just doesn't square with what you are used to. That is the wonder, and the curse, of living in a foreign country.

There are still some things I haven't "gotten over," but these days, I'm much more plyable. I just laugh to myself, shake my head, and realize, as HappyExPat said, that's not the way I would do it, but it is the way it's done here.

Report Abuse
12 years 11 weeks ago
 
Posts: 458

Shifu

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Great answers, thanks, I like them. The down point I don't understand either; that was a very useful comment.

Report Abuse
12 years 11 weeks ago
 
Posts: 960

Shifu

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

I use a similar approach to that suggested by few of the others here. The culture shock presented itself in a few stages to me. When I first arrived I was in such a state of excitement that I only looked at the big picture and just glossed over many of the things that generate debate on this forum. I had also lived with my Chinese born partner in Australia for a while so had some understanding of things Chinese. After a short settling in period I found I started to take notice of and at times be initially irritated by many things that are taken for granted or just endured in China. To be honest I often got very angry or frustrated but I have always been good at being able to quickly calm myself down and I try and think each situation through by analysing things and finding out more of how and why locals behave that way. I also am building up my knowledge of what is socially accepted or not in China. The hardest things for me to overcome (don't think I will ever get used to it) are the almost complete lack of thought for the future when making/fixing/maintaining anything and the frustration when trying to use logic/science/evidence when discussing some long held belief. I can present the best arguments in the world to my misses or local friends and they will still think what they choose to do is right even if their only proof is "somebody(insert any fiends name)told me" or it is the way they have always done things.  

981977405:

These comments really made me think. Thank you very much.

12 years 10 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
12 years 10 weeks ago
 
Posts: 981

Shifu

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

I think a period of alcohol and misery is necessary.

Report Abuse
10 years 37 weeks ago
 
Know the answer ?
Please or register to post answer.

Report Abuse

Security Code: * Enter the text diplayed in the box below
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <img> <br> <p> <u>
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Textual smileys will be replaced with graphical ones.

More information about formatting options

Forward Question

Answer of the DayMORE >>
A:  "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "S
A: "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "Shenzhen agent can connect you with an employer, who's authorized to hire waigouren ... and can sponsor Z visa." It's not like every 10th person you meet in Shenzhen's hood can sponsor work visa ...  The only way to change from student to labourer visa is just a regular way by: 1. Finding an employer, who'll apply for an Invitation letter; 2. Exit China and apply for Z visa in your home country's Chinese embassy; 3. Enter China in 30-days after Z visa was stamped into your travelling instrument ...As I am aware, you won't be able to switch to Working permit by remaining in China....,so make ready for a return to your home .... -- icnif77