In the blog last week , we focused on the initial steps of recovery from culture clash, the motivation to re-evaluate the context, and then making a commitment to adapt perceptions, value judgements, and behaviour. This week we will move on to defining what is meant by the recovery phase including an exploration of some simple practical techniques that can aid this process. What is meant by the recovery phase? While the concepts together with the relative positioning of the

In the blog last week , we examined the meaning, causes, and some of the consequences of culture shock. This week, we will move further into the U-Curve adaptation process by exploring the recovery phase. However, as this stage is typically determined by some personal commitment to readjust behaviour in the host context, we must initially examine the concept of culture clash that is the most frequent trigger of the need for significant change. The meaning, causes, and conseq

In the blog last week , we explored some of the negative consequences arising from the initial honeymoon experience when entering an unfamiliar cultural context. We focused specifically on the potentially debilitating encounter with the progression from overstimulation to sensory overload. This week, we will examine the concept, causes, and some of the consequences of culture shock. Finally, we shall briefly review an alternative model of cultural adaptation known as the J-Cu

In the blog last week , we explored an overview of the U-Curve process of cultural adaptation when living overseas for extended periods by briefly reviewing the four key phases known respectively as the Honeymoon, Shock, Recovery, and Mastery. This week, we will take a closer look at the initial Honeymoon period focusing specifically on the potential threat arising from overstimulation that can lead to the debilitating experience of sensory overload. The Honeymoon phase and e

In the blog last week , we concluded our exploration of the critical importance of learning more about the contrasting cultural values of our domestic and the new host nation when planning to live overseas. The English-speaking nations (ESNs) were selected as an example of a domestic or home context while the Confucian and Muslim national clusters were examined as reflecting common expat destinations. This week, we will attempt to gain an initial exploratory overview of anoth