North American Youth Exchange Network What Is This Thing Called Culture? Orlando, FloridaFebruary 2013 Jeanette M. Fregulia, Ph.D. Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh eat, worry...it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends -Maya Angelou

Introductory Remarks Acknowledgements A little about me and my involvement in RYE A Short Overview

Culture Is… Universal Cultural (today’s focus) Personal

Helping Students Understand Culture Culture is an iceberg - most of culture is hidden Ask students to consider –What is hidden v. what is visible? –What divides us v. what unites us?

Types of Culture High Context Low Context Our partners in RYE tell me...

Adjusting to a New Culture Surprise Stress Fatigue Shock

Adjusting to a New Culture

Help for Culture Shock - Symptoms Extreme fatigue/homesickness Eating and sleeping too much/too little Obsessive/compulsive behavior Hyper-irritability Excessive drinking/drug use Loss of focus Other

Help for Culture Shock - Coping Some discomfort is normal If there is no discomfort, the student is not trying to adjust Learn as much as possible about language and culture before leaving home Sometimes, students just have to build a bridge and get over it

Help for Culture Shock - Coping Accept, adapt and smile! Seek help from local resources Most clashes are temporary It’s not strange, it’s just different Do not condemn If exchange were easy, not the experience students left home seeking

Important Skills for Cultural Adjustment Language and communication Flexibility/open-mindedness Make mistakes Smile Observe then speak Do you mean I have to eat that? Time and Space – A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins. He always arrives precisely when he means to. -Gandalf

Orienting Students Well Adults involved in RYE work very hard, so students also have responsibilities Remind students: this is their exchange Host families are not obligated to... But if students... Pride and satisfaction in a successful exchange

Orienting Students Well I recommend the following dos and dont’s Students may not be ready for an exchange if Civility and hospitality A few final/practical thoughts –Language preparation –Culture matters –Keep a journal –Packing

Ask Students These Questions... What are you most looking forward to? What worries you most? What will you miss most? What will you miss least? What will your greatest challenge be? What do you want to think/feel the day you return home?

Coming Home Successfully For some students, this is more difficult About Culture – Rebound Reverse culture shock defined Difficulties occur because... Degree of reverse culture shock depends on...

Cycle of Reverse Culture Shock Surprise Stress Fatigue Shock Back to the Chart

Adjusting to the Home Culture

Help for Reverse Culture Shock Back home...student report Advise students Some things students can do Special challenges for those returning to high school

Three Home Realities House rules have probably not changed Curfew? What curfew? Capt. Jack Sparrow wondered, “but why is the rum gone?”

Discussion Questions for Students What was your biggest surprise? One important thing you learned? What make your exchange special? What made you laugh/cry? Biggest cultural mistake? Greatest personal insight? Greatest personal success? What do you not want to forget? What was your biggest challenge? Others...

Questions? - Thank you

Can I help? Jeanette M. Fregulia (w) (h) (cell)