Costa Rica Living Culture Shock

Why would a reasonable and normally responsible man, a high level manager of a multinational corporation working in Asia-abandon his work mid-day, take a boat to a neighboring island, strip off all his clothes and hold some local citizens hostage at gunpoint?

The principal reason for this real life situation (believe it or not) is that he was under stress related to Culture Shock.

Culture Shock is a temporary psychological disorder that occurs in individuals adjusting to life in an unfamiliar culture. It happens when they find that their previous methods of doing and perceiving result in frustration, failure and feelings of incompetence.

Normally it is not nearly as severe as the case of the armed executive, but it can result in loss of sleep, anxiety, extreme emotions and depression.

It can manifest itself in ways as simple as moodiness or feeling like one is on the verge of tears.

The bad news is that everyone who goes overseas to live for an extended period of time will experience some of Culture Shock’s negative symptoms. The good news is that you can do something about it!

There are proven strategies for overcoming Culture Shock and living happily in a foreign context, in this case Costa Rica.

Many foreigners who decide to make Costa Rica their home come with a very naïve perspective about the trials that await them. They believe that because they have had a wonderful time here as a tourist or on language learning forays that the transition to life in Costa Rica will be smooth.

My experience with new residents in Costa Rica has shown this not to be the case. Even if an individual has successfully adjusted to other foreign contexts, such experience does not guarantee that life will be easy in Costa Rica.

Culture Shock is not like the chicken pox-you aren’t immune simply because you’ve experienced it before. The best way to avoid severe symptoms of Culture Shock and have a pleasant adjustment to life in Costa Rica is to be prepared and proactive.

It may seem strange, but one of the first steps is to learn one’s own culture.

No one ever tells us that we are learning our culture, it all happens at an unconscious level. We are told that we are learning the right way to do things. Someone from the US may not realize things such as the way they engage in “small talk” is actually somewhat irritating to people from many countries around the world.

Helpful literature on culture is abundant. I recommend two books best suited for expatriates from the USA: American Cultural Patterns, by Stewart and Bennett, and American Ways, by Gary Althen.

Another very effective way to become aware of one’s own culture is to ask residents in your country from other cultures their opinions about your culture. Be prepared, because their answers aren’t always positive. Consider this quote from a visitor to the US from Colombia:

“The tendency in the US to think that life is only work hits you in the face. Work seems to be the one type of motivation.” (Survival Kit for Overseas Living, Kohls, p.43)

They, like all people, are governed by the first rule of ethnocentricity, which is: when people encounter difference, they have a tendency to evaluate it negatively. They may have a negative view of aspects of your culture that you thought everyone appreciated; things about your culture that you feel obliged to defend.

This can be especially galling to many from the USA because of our cultural predisposition of wanting people to like us. It is very important when soliciting opinions to resist the temptation to become defensive.

Defensiveness may close down dialogue and shut off opportunities for valuable learning.

The next step is to learn about other cultures, specifically the culture in which you will be living. Often there are books about culture and history that are excellent references for this.

The best book on Costa Rican culture is called ‘The Ticos’ by Biesanz and Biesanz. This is the most accessible source written for the English speaking foreigner. (You may wish to read Susan Carmichael’s interview of Mavis Biesantz in the ‘Arts & Leisure’ section.)

Finding a cultural interpreter is another great idea. This is a person who is bilingual and bicultural and can offer comparisons and evaluations of culture because they have experiences in both.

Be careful not to rely too heavily on any single cultural interpreter. Culture is so complex that each person relates to it in a unique way.

Lastly, a person needs to learn about him or herself. There are particular personality traits such as flexibility, openness and curiosity, which allow some people to adapt to new cultures more effectively than others.

Self-discovery is of principal importance because most people who move overseas have a tendency to externalize the cause for all their problems and discomforts, meaning that they want to find fault with their new environment and neighbors rather than themselves. Blaming others and developing a victim mentality is counterproductive to a successful international transition.

So, if you are going to take an international move seriously, take your preparation for Culture Shock seriously. People invest in learning about the logistics of a move, but they often fail to invest in learning about the culture. This is a grave error, because the majority of people who decide to go back home, don’t do it because they couldn’t find a refrigerator or a car, they leave because they couldn’t adjust to the culture.

Besides, nobody wants to hear any stories about crazy naked foreigners holding up Costa Ricans at gunpoint.

What well-adapted Costa Rican residents know…

1. Be flexible and curious in the face of new information and ways of living.
2. Don’t complain. .
3. When encountering behavior that is frustrating, give the benefit of the doubt. Assume good intentions and wait to be proven wrong.
4. Be proactive about getting information, getting involved and getting help.
5. When feeling a little depressed or frustrated about life in your new home, remember that it is a temporary condition and you will get through it.

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Written by Eric Liljenstolpe, M.A. Ed., who is the founder and president of the GlobalSolutions Group, an organization dedicated to creating understanding between people of diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Should you have any specific questions for Eric, please see his website at www.gsgintercultural.com

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.