Cultural exchange program

Culture Shock and How International Exchange Students can Cope With It

November 18, 2015 by Chiranth Nataraj

Every country has its own unique culture. The traditions and cultural behavior you observe in your country comes natural to you. You even begin to expect other people across borders to follow the same ideals as you and the people you have back home. This is exactly why most people experience a sudden shock when exposed to cultures across the boundaries of their home.

What is Culture Shock?

The feeling or reaction you have to a new culture that is extremely different from what you are used to can be described as culture shock. You may be well versed with the culture that surrounds you and your home, like continuous water supply, steady electricity, the way people speak, what are the various gestures that could offend in your home country and so on. When you go to a different country you will be surprised to learn that all the things you know and practice are very different there.

Culture-Shock

Simple concepts may be alien to you like the way people dress, what they consider fashionable, how they behave, live and interact. There are tons of unique cultural aspects in a different country that can contradict what you believe and how you behave. In fact, you have already experienced cultural shock in tiny doses. Remember that first day at school? Or the first day of college? How about all the differences between your routine back home and those followed by the school kids that surround you? Being forced to wake up early for class, having to answer tests and do homework.

Remember how you felt then. Now amplify those feelings. That’s what you get when you travel to a country that has its own unique culture. You feel like an outsider, insecure and at a disadvantage. If you prepare yourself and learn how to react and interact with the new environment, you won’t have a hard time coping with things.

Cultural Adjustment Stages for Every Foreign Exchange Student

1. Initial Euphoria
It all starts off like a vacation. You’re going abroad, yay! Oh the things you’ll see, the friends you’ll make. It all sounds so dreamy and marvelous. You will even see certain similarities between the new country and back home. But after a week or even a month, reality will sink in and you will realize this was no holiday; you are here to stay much longer

2. Irritation or Hostility
Slowly you will begin to focus on the differences and even the slightest little thing may annoy you. It might be the small things that are blown out of proportion, forcing you to feel irritated. This is the hardest stage and the one commonly known as culture shock.

3. Gradual Adjustment
Once you’ve settled down, you will start to get accustomed to the new surroundings, the people and the way they work and behave. You begin to understand the various cultural clues and feel like you’ll survive.

4. Adaptation or Biculturalism
Finally, when you give it just enough time, you will begin to feel like you belong and this is actually almost the same as home. Once you adapt to the new culture, you will be able to function normally without feeling different.

Symptoms of Culture Shock

Everyone experiences, culture shock to different extents. For some it may be intense, other less so. Some common effects of culture shock include:
– Intense homesickness
– Avoiding people
– Trouble sleeping
– Looking at the host country as the cause of your feeling miserable
– Compulsive eating or lack of appetite
– Turing into a pessimist

How can International Exchange Students Cope with Culture Shock

Culture shock is a result of numerous things. Not everyone will see the same events as a trigger. The cause of culture shock may stem from lack of knowledge, feeling inadequate or having to question the culture and values you’ve been following your entire life. To help you cope, you can follow some of these tips:
– Do a little research. The more you know, the better you will understand the way things are. Once you get to the host country ask your professors and (native) classmates about the things that confuse you.
– Believe in yourself. You can totally do this. With a positive attitude you will find it much easier to get an enjoyable experience out of it all.
– Be logical when you try to make sense of things. Some cultural practices may not have meaning anymore, but they did long ago.
– Don’t be afraid to be yourself. You should not feel forced to do things differently just because everyone else is, as long as you don’t hurt someone else’s sentiments.
– Be considerate! Not only is it wrong to go around bashing the culture of your host country, it won’t help you feel better.

The best thing to do when you’re out of your element is to give in a little and change to become compatible with the new surroundings.

Taking Care of Animals the Houston Zoo Way

March 12, 2014 by Chiranth Nataraj

The cultural exchange program that helped China in promoting their zoo’s
Built in 1922, the Houston Zoo offers grand adventures with wild animals in a safe environment. With its 55 acres landscaped to give animals natural habitats, a walk around the trails itself gives a family an easy exercise routine. The more than 800 species shows the diversity of the planet earth and offers an outstanding education experience easy on the budget. All the work has paid off for the Houston Zoo handsomely in that other nations noticed and now want to improve their zoo experience. China has discovered the joys and wonders of promoting zoos in its major urban areas. To create the best zoo experience possible, China has contacted the United States for help.

Houston Zoo
Houston Zoo’s expertise comes from managing 6000 permanent animals. It has implemented a policy of continual improvement of its many exhibits. It has used best practices to manage meals, housing and even medical care. The director of animal management with the Guangzhou Zoo, Liu Xiaqing visited and came to the conclusion Houston excelled at animal management.

Tu Rongxiu the director of animal breeding and protection with the Shanghai Zoo came as well. He noted that Houston Zoo exhibits mimicked natural habitats making the zoo function as an ecological park. Rongxiu commented on the amount of training required for a zoo keeper in Houston showed in their professional treatment of animals.

A First For Both Parties

It had been the first time Houston zoo officials had hosted China officials. The cultural exchange for both parties proved to be beneficial. An article in Parent Magazine 2009 had declared the zoo in the top 10 of the nation. Chief marketing officer, David Brady, has high hopes for a partnership between zoos in different nations. He believed exchanging information on enrichment, observations and animal welfare leads to better zoo practices. The Houston Zoo’s design ensures families can watch how zoo keepers train and care for animals. Rick Barongi, the current zoo director points out the zoo has a deliberate policy of creating environments that allow even children up close observations of animals and trainers. Creative events such as storytelling, game shows run by children, and transparent tunnels that take children next to wild critters safely all make the Houston Zoo world class.
Humane Society International
The Chinese visit came about through an internship program sponsored by the Humane Society International (HSI). This group comes as the largest animal protection group in the United States. The exchange program started in 2012 with wildlife department director Teresa Telecky. Creating a positive program was an attempt to change the course of zoo management in China. Peter H. Li, who is HSI’s China policy specialist set up the exchange. The intent of the program came as a way to create a two week internship at an accredited American zoo.Rongxiu and Xiaoqing stated the program has increased awareness of what practices work best for animals and that United States officials openly admit what areas need improvement. This gives Chinese zoo directors a heads up on what not to develop and to focus on what does work. The United States willingness to share how the higher standards developed in zoo management, veterinary services, education, animal husbandry and conservation show all the possible ways a zoo can care for animals humanely.

Conclusions
Both zoo directors commented that the zoological business in China had grown dramatically in the past 30 years. The rapid growth did not make much time for planning ways that made the experience the most beneficial and safest for the animals. Upon reflection, Chinese zoo directors now wish to take a holistic approach to their practices. Visits outside their country give a fresh perspective, and new ways to approach common problems. The problem has been China and its heavy hand of censorship prevents other countries from easily sharing materials or visiting. By traveling to the United States, zoo directors get full access to global practices without much bureaucracy interfering. With a more global perspective of preserving species leads to naturally developing native habitats. It leads to developing processes and protocols that play to the best interests of all in an interactive way. Though visitors may not see the animals all the time, the native habitats offer learning experiences and enjoyment. Making zoos guardians of animal rights gives them a vested interest in preservation efforts; however they occur.

The U.S. – Peruvian Cultural Exchange Program

February 26, 2014 by Chiranth Nataraj

Young Peruvians reap the benefits of the cultural exchange program between the United States and Peru which was initiated by Graciela Fuentes de Bedoya
Graciela Fuentes de Bedoya’s cultural exchange program has been very productive in today’s ever shrinking world. She is the director and the brains behind the thriving Cultural Exchange Program between the United States and Peru. From an initial trip to the United States when she was in her late twenties, she was inspired to ensure that Peruvians could access all the resources they need. The Peruvian capitalizes on her past experience within the US to promote constructive travel between the countries. According to her, students travelling from Peru will gain a lot of knowledge and cultural experience just as students coming from the United States.

Graciela Fuentes de Bedoya’s compassion and selflessness was a motivating factor in her efforts to promote a Cultural Exchange Program. From what she saw on her first visit to the United States, she realized that something has to be done to uplift the standards of living in Peru. Since the young people hold the key to the future, her idea was to have students visiting the United States, gaining some knowledge and coming back home to apply it. Today there are more than 150 students who take part in the cultural exchange program each summer and Fuentes has sent thousands of students on exchange programs to the U.S. till date. Through her website, it is possible for students to get access to meaningful information on the cultural exchange program.

exchange program

This way, the Peruvians would have more exposure of the outside world and be in a position to uplift their own standards of living. Some of the expectations for the students visiting Peru from the United States include jobs, often related to translation and English speaking, as well as learning a new language. More and more students across Peru are looking for jobs and experiences abroad during their summer breaks. They learn to live alone without the support of family and friends and also figure out how to manage their time and money. But most importantly, they develop their personal skills, learn about others at a global level and have a new view of the world.

American students can expect to learn about a different culture and South American traditions that are not dominant in the North. The Southern continent also offers a number of allures for students visiting. This is because they can access a lot of historic information and learn the background of both the Spanish and Portuguese way of life. Peru has a good coast line with white, sandy beaches that promotes tourism in the area.

Full time Peruvian students who are 18 to 27 years of age visit the United States for a period of up to six months. The exchange students can showcase their culture, familiarize themselves with other traditions interact with people from a different background, and get paid to work legally in the US. Exchange students often come for a few months during their summer break and find work in hotels, ski resorts and pharmacies among others. For the duration that the students spend in the United States, they are able to learn new concepts, improve their English, learn real life career skills as well as enhance their resume by their work experience in American companies. The personal growth and learning for the students as well as the host families is profound and long lasting. Therefore, the cultural exchange program ends up being a favorable to-and-fro that benefits all parties in the long run.

The obvious benefits of the cultural exchange program are that it gives an opportunity for Peruvians to see the outside world. By learning directly from the knowledge and experience of a super power country, it might be possible to influence change at home. Students are the bedrock of the future because it will be up to them to reform their own country and improve their living standards. Such inter cultural learning opportunities change their lives and the exposure to another culture challenges their own cultural values. Therefore, gaining direct knowledge and insight will open up the doors to a better future. Students also gain increased maturity and skills that make them more successful in their academic as well as professional lives.

As much as the Cultural exchange program between the United States and Peru is beneficial, there might be a few hiccups at the beginning. First off, students coming from Peru as well as students coming from the United States will have to embrace a new culture and new language. Communication may be a problem as they try to come to terms with their new surroundings. This is a minor issue that can be easily surmounted with a little preparation, patience and an open mindset. After all, it’s an exciting life changing experience for most!

With Graciela Fuentes de Bedoya at the helm of the Cultural exchange program, young Peruvians and Americans alike can look forward to a brighter future.