Intercultural Communication for Managers

CHAPTER 10

Dealing with Culture Shock

The good news is that the cycle of culture shock is common and predictable.

Living and working overseas is often stressful. So often, in fact, the stress even has its own name: culture shock.

In his book Survival Kit for Overseas Living, Robert Kohls describes some symptoms you may see in people assigned overseas:

•Homesickness

•Boredom

•Withdrawal (spending too much time alone or seeing other Americans, avoiding contact with host nationals)

•Sleeping excessively

•Compulsive eating

•Compulsive drinking

•Irritability

•Exaggerated cleanliness

•Marital stress

•Family tension and conflict

•Chauvinistic excesses

•Stereotyping of host nationals

•Hostility toward host nationals

•Loss of ability to work effectively ...