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Coping with Culture Shock in China

I recently received the following email from a teacher who has been in China for a very short time. I will call him Daniel.

Dear Mr. Vance,

I am non-native English teacher completing my third day in
China working at ***, the **** based ***** company.
Even though I have only spent three days here, it feels like three months or more, due to all the changes and the cultural shocks. 

I would like to get some advice from a “jaded”teacher like you.  I find living here a tad difficult given the fact that I don’t speak the language and I haven’t learned how to eat with chopsticks yet.  I love this site because it gives so much advice on living in this wonderful, yet surprising country.

Best Regards,
Daniel

First I want to thank Daniel for his email and kind remarks about the website. The words that he uses to describe his first few days in China have a familiar ring in my mind as I recall my first weeks in China. After my initial whirlwind trip through Beijing and Shanghai, I found myself grappling with the realization that I was a young American guy with no Chinese skills living in a culture with which I was utterly unfamiliar. I had lived abroad before but in a place much closer to my home country and in a culture that I felt I could relate to. The culture shock that plagued me during my first few days in China was hard to shake off and I continually questioned my decision to come to China. I had no friends in my new city and within 20 minutes of meeting my boss, I was told that a lot was expected from me and that I should start preparing my ESL lessons immediately. Adding to my dark feelings was the fact that there was no light in my school owned apartment; someone had forgotten to pay the electricity bill. As a result, I basically sat on a couch in my dark living room for two days regretting the day that I had ever stepped on an airplane to come to China.

The culture shock disappeared a few days after I started teaching at my school. People welcomed me warmly; I made new friends. The school sent a staff member to help me find my way downtown and go shopping. The boss took me out to dinner that evening and I had the opportunity to meet many of the headmasters. I also got my first glimpse of an ancient town nearby and I realized how exciting my initial stay in China was going to be. Within three weeks, I felt quite comfortable with the local culture and I was happy to have many new friends.

Different people are affected by culture shock in different ways. While it only took me three weeks to adjust to the culture, it may take another person one or two months. No matter how long it takes for you, be assured that culture shock is a phenemenon from which few newcomers to China can escape. It will go away as long as you are willing to give your new life in China a chance. Here are some tips to help you cope with culture shock upon your arrival to China:

–Be proactive. Do not just sit around. Walk around your apartment area; get to know your city. The worst thing that you can do is to sit in your apartment, like I did, and allow yourself to think about what you left behind.

–Do not spend hours talking to your family members and friends at home in the first few days. It is ok to let them know that you have arrived safely, but initially spending too much time speaking with them can add to your homesickness.

–Focus on making new friends at your school. Reach out to your colleagues. I have always found the Chinese staff to be helpful and welcoming. If they offer to take you out, don’t refuse. They will be your best friends in China and help you learn about the culture.

–Get plenty of rest, eat properly, and drink lots of water. Not taking care of yourself can make culture shock a lot worse. If you are not ready to dive into eating ’Chinese Food’ ask your boss or colleagues to help you find a supermarket nearby where you can buy bread, eggs, milk etc.

–Don’t take yourself too seriously. Skills such as using chopsticks and speaking in Chinese will come in time. Be ready to be laughed at and to laugh at yourself. This part of the process.

–Remind yourself that you having an experience that most people around the world (including in the West) only dream about. You are privileged to be living in a country with over 5000 years of history. This will be a life changing experience for you and will broaden your horizons. Do not just give up because the first couple of days are difficult.

Most importantly, remember that you are not alone. Nearly every newcomer to China experiences some form of culture shock. These unpleasant feelings will soon pass away and someday you will be able to share your experiences with friend or colleague who is going through the same thing. Surviving culture shock will also prepare you for other trips that you may take in the future. So take heart. Culture shock is natural but it does not last forever.  

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