Cultural shock and cultural adaptation in Turkey

The term “Cultural shock” is used to describe the emotional and (or) physical discomfort, disorientation of a person who finds himself in a different socio-cultural environment, or when confronted with another culture. And also to describe a situation when a person is forced to adapt to an alien environment, where the patterns of behavior, cultural and moral values he has learned do not work.

Tips for those moving to Turkey from the Real East company

Cultural shock can occur not only when moving to a foreign country, but even when faced with a different social environment.

• When moving to a foreign country, many people have to go through a conflict of cultural norms.
• Observing any culture from afar, we, looking at it through the eyes of a tourist, often see only its facade.
• When we get into someone else’s cultural environment, we begin to see what was previously hidden from our attention.

And it’s not just about cultural customs. We are faced with a different understanding of gender roles and gender relations, family traditions, peculiarities of child rearing, understanding of beauty, sin and virtue, justice, and a person’s awareness of his role in the world and in society.

The following stages of entering into a foreign culture can be distinguished:

Falling in love

When moving to a foreign country, many people first have a feeling of euphoria, which is commonly called a “Honeymoon”, when every detail and every detail is perceived with love.

Comparison

This is the stage of contrasting the culture of your country with the culture of the host country and focusing on the shortcomings.

Culture shock

The accumulated load of internal contradictions, the absence of a familiar environment causes a feeling of irritation or depression. This is how a crisis arises, which is commonly called a culture shock.

Adaptation

This is the period when the human psyche ceases to react acutely to traumatic conditions.

Depending on his personal characteristics and the context of his life situation, it can manifest itself in various forms:

• Rejection of another’s culture and isolation in all possible ways – communication is mainly in one’s own environment.
• Assimilation, complete dissolution into another culture and abandonment of their cultural norms.
• The adoption of a different culture while preserving its cultural core.

The younger a person is, the higher his level of culture and education, the more open he is to the perception of different points of view and different opinions, the better his communication and socialization skills are developed, the easier the adaptation process is for him.

In order to reduce the traumatic factors as much as possible and make the adaptation process easier, REAL EAST experts advise all migrants to follow the following rules:

• Learn the language in your homeland as well as possible.
• Master an additional profession or craft that will help you earn even a little money in search of work. Take courses in web design, manicure, cooking, etc.
• After moving in, don’t call your friends all the time. Make an exception only for relatives.
• Don’t get hung up on communicating only with your diaspora.
• Study the habits and customs of the people.
• Find out where the points of payment for utility bills, Internet, and mobile communications are located.
• Find out the specifics of the work of medical institutions, calling an ambulance.
• Don’t give up your habits and rituals (for example, going to the sauna on Saturdays)
• Lead an active lifestyle – visit shopping malls, historical sites, museums, exhibitions.
• Do some sports
• Study the behavioral characteristics and ethical standards adopted in the business environment.

And also – watch historical series. Getting acquainted with art, with national cinema, you will begin to realize the ideals that people live by, get acquainted with their national heroes. You will be able to comprehend the spirit of the nation, shaped by its long history, and begin to understand the deep structures of culture that form the basis of people’s consciousness and determine their behavior.

Time will pass, and you will fall in love with Turkey not just with the enthusiastic love of a tourist and a traveler. True love will come to you. Mature and conscious. The kind of love that you will love not a foreign country, but your second Homeland.

Real East wishes you a comfortable relocation

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