The Stages of Cultural Adjustment
When moving from one "culture" to another, individuals pass through definite stages of cultural adjustment. This adjustment is an ongoing process as demanded by each new situation. The following discussion is based on a four-stage model as identified by Gregory Trifonovitch:
The Honeymoon Stage
Characterized by exhilaration, anticipation and excitement, the person is fascinated with everything that is new. An individual in this stage will often demonstrate an eagerness to please, a spirit of cooperation, and an active interest as you speak. These individuals are delightful to work with and to work for, BUT, in their enthusiasm to please they frequently nod and smile to indicate that they understand, when in fact, they have not understood.
When their misunderstandings mount up, they are likely to experience the second stage of cultural adjustment.
My honeymoon with India lasted about three months! See these posts Hello again, hometown! Gurgaon: A vision of the future, Random meetings with old friends
The Hostility Stage
This stage is characterized by frustration, anger, anxiety, and sometimes depression. Following the initial excitement is frustration with the bureaucracy. Sleep patterns may be disrupted and the individual may suffer from indigestion and be unable to eat. Sometimes these individuals react to this frustration by rejecting the new or predominant environment in which they feel discomfort. The internal reasoning might be, "If I feel bad it's because of them," thus blaming the external environment for the bad feelings. Some of these hostilities are translated into fits of anger over minor frustrations, excessive fear and worse, complete withdrawal.
Such individuals are in a difficult and painful stage. They can be difficult to work with and to work for. They, in particular, need your tolerance (they'll test it), your patience (they'll try it), and your willingness to work with them so that they can move on to the third stage of cultural adjustment.
For me, this stage lasted a good 12 months. It was stressful and depressing but the good part was that I threw myself tirelessly into my work to ignore my daily reality. As a result, we built a great platform to grow our fund management business in India in relatively short period of time. See these posts for some dark humor! Moving to India: The thrill is gone Moving to India: Reflections on my first year
The Humor Stage
This follows when the individual of another culture begins to relax in a new situation and begins to laugh at minor mistakes and misunderstandings which previously would have caused major headaches in the hostility stage. his more relaxed stage occurs after the individual who has made some friends is able to manage the size and complexity of the new environment, understands the work, and begins to experience successes. These individuals are generally easy to work with and for because they are relaxed, receptive, and open to direction.
The Home Stage
This occurs when the individual not only retains allegiance to his/her home culture, but also "feels at home" in his/her newly acquired one. This inidividual has successfully adjusted to the norms and standards of the new environment and should be commended for the ability to live successfully in two cultures.
Will send you a postcard when I get here!
Hi Vikram,
I really enjoyed your blog. It is a real insight into the mind of how a NRI would look at India again. Being a writer, I love to analyze what people feel at different situations. You have expressed yourself beautifully. Guess what? I really think you should get published. You have the knack for it, man! I can help you, if your interested.
Keep writing, Keep posting... so that I can keep reading...
Rachana Kumar
Posted by: Rachana Kumar | January 09, 2008 at 04:07 PM
Hi there,
Nice blog. Just love people getting into blogging from India. I intend to return back to Mumbai, m hometown, pretty soon. I had a question about the banks. Any suggestion on which bank in Mumbai could be the best bet as an NRI. I have to expect a company I join in India might send me to US again, so I do not want to close the all accounts here. Is Citibank a good choice?
Posted by: Abhang | July 09, 2008 at 01:22 PM
Hi Guys,
My name is Vasu and my family moved back to India in July. I will be moving back in October, my older daughter who is 15 years moved to Chennai and lived with my motherinlaw for the past 2 years, she loves it there. We are hoping that our younger daughter will adjust as well like her sister.
We will have to go with open mind and please do not forget that is our country which has given us birth, education etc, let us try to give back something to our motherland.
Good luck with the move
Vasu
Posted by: Vasu | September 20, 2009 at 01:50 AM
Mr. Vikram, Yours is an insightful blog. I have read a few different posts and enjoyed it very much. Regarding this post, I think culture shock is usually presented in a linear way- but it's actually circular- as life is rarely linear. As an American myself, I lived in India for a few years and I faced a lot of different kinds of culture shock. Looking back, I realized some aspects of life I adjusted to well, while others, I simply did not. But, if I look at my life in America- having been born and raised here as a 'typical American' to this day I still feel I am learning new ways to behave and act- and that too is a kind of culture shock/ life transition. That's maybe why you aren't sending your postcards- yet! Feeling totally comfortable in transitioning cultures has also to do with feeling comfy with ourselves, knowing who we are internally, and I feel it's quite spiritual, too. I made a small video on this topic, if you're inclined do take about 3 minutes to see it! Love to know your thoughts! Thanks.http://journeys.alaivani.com/videos/definecultureshock.html
Posted by: Jennifer | March 26, 2010 at 06:04 PM
Vikram,
Enjoyed your blog tremendously. I happen to be following your footsteps. I am currently in NYC, single and moving to GGN to be close to parents in New Delhi. I spent 3 months in New Delhi late last year doing up my apartment in GGN. That got me looking for a job in GGN. and Lo behold, it appeared- almost effortlessly. Obviously the heavens were answering my Mom's prayers. She seemed the happiest of us all. After spending 3 months squabbling with the contractors, almost running over divider crossing mobikes in GGN, I am dreading going there. But I am excited too. I also will sorely miss NYC, the greatest city in the world. By the way, are you still continuing to stay in India or coming back to the US?
Posted by: Sanj | January 08, 2012 at 04:40 AM