Stage 1) Excitement aka Honeymoon stage-- feel very positive about the culture, are overwhelmed with impressions, find the new culture exotic and are fascinated, are passive...
Stage 2) Withdrawal--find the behavior of people unusual and unpredictable, being to dislike the culture and react negatively to the behavior, feel anxious, start to withdraw, and begin to criticize, mock or show animosity to the people...
Stage 3) Adjustment-- feel more settled, understand and accept the behavior of the people, feel less isolated, regain the sense of humor...
Stage 4) Enthusiasm-- feel "at home," enjoy being in the culture, function well in the culture, prefer certain cultural traits on the new culture rather than my own, adopt certain behavior from the new culture...
So what's MY stage? Well I don't really know... I still feel like I'm honeymooning but at the same time I feel like I'm withdrawing... I've become a fan of being a homebody (which is a sign of withdrawal), but at the same time I am having fun going around town.
I did have my first "night-life" experience with one of the people my supervisor's introduced me to. We are still not sure if she's a bel.of.JC. but I'm hoping to have deepr.convrstns. with her. However, for some reason, though there were many people around my age, I did not feel like I fit in with the crowd, and not to offend anyone, I felt waaay to old to be hanging out at night at the local bars and discos (aka clubs... club=brothels in Spain haha). I know I'm supposed to be trying to blend in with the crowd here, but MEH....
Analyzing my symptoms, I'd say I'm on stage 1.5... Honeymooning and Withdrawing together...
What do you think?
2 comments:
Hello ma'am!! I feel you with the honeymooning/withdrawal!! I think that's where I am!! Oh well, like they said at FPO, it's only a STAGE, this too will pass!! PTL!!! Miss you!! Love you!
I'm in the waiting to honeymoon phase mixed with the nevermind I don't want to go anymore stage! Haha.
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