Part 1
By Rev. Simon Achu
Globalization seems to be an inevitable trend of the twenty-first century. People are moving to new territories for diverse reasons, and no matter the cultural worldview, it is necessary to understand cross-cultural principles. The term cross-cultural principles are universal, and many scholars and thinkers have brilliant insights into how immigrants can be their best across cultures. Unfortunately, the norm today is that immigrants must read all kinds of books with all sorts of dos and don'ts to understand how the new culture works; sadly, there are cultural values immigrants may never read about in books or hear about from anyone. They learn these values only after they have tripped.
It is possible to gain theoretical knowledge from books and other materials, but it is hard to accomplish without practical support and direction. Usually, immigrants expect to receive guidance and support. When I imagine how newborns are well received and cared for, it is almost impossible for me to imagine that things could go wrong for them. Even though we are referring to adults, the feeling of vulnerability is practically the same. In reality, most immigrants do not get the kind of reception or care they desire, which is a challenge.
Furthermore, they have to find their way themselves, which indicates they are susceptible to tripping. As an immigrant in the West, I interacted with natives and non-natives. I made many observations and noticed a typical pattern in how immigrants suffer in silence; seek to be tolerated, make mistakes; offend people; and struggle for attention, recognition, and significance. Then, after a period of residence, they shrink back and become very bitter from deep cultural incisions.
Natives, on the other hand, perceive immigrants differently. They rarely sense immigrants' vulnerability but instead perceive them as needy people. They see it as the responsibility of the immigrants to get integrated and adjust to the culture as quickly as possible; otherwise, they cannot relate with them. The natives do not understand the depth of confusion and burdens of expectations immigrants have. Immigrants expect support and guidance, whereas natives expect immigrants to adjust anyhow. The question then becomes, How can immigrants adapt to a new culture without practical support and guidance? Unfortunately, most newcomers may never get the kind of support to fortify their foundation necessary to thrive in the long run. It, therefore, becomes essential for them to take on self-leadership in their affairs without waiting for someone else to direct them. Moreover, they could avoid mistakes if they were conscious of subtle cultural differences. Below are a few tips on how Immigrants can acquaint themselves in a new culture
Read books on Cultural Differences
Ask a lot of questions
Minimize making assumptions
Be patient with yourself and others
Jornal your experiences
Find out what people mean when they surprise you
Accept and attend social gatherings with locals
We run seminars on cultural differences and culture shock at Haven of Treasures. If you want to know more, please email info@havenoftreasues.com or register via our website at www.havenoftreasures.com.