Cultural Differences and Culture Shock as Opportunities

One of the most wonderful opportunities of cultural differences and culture shock is how it can loosen up "reality" for you.

It can be a challenge for sure...at first.

But there are few situations in life that will make you question reality like becoming an expat and dealing with cultural differences and culture shock will.

For me being an American, there are just certain ideas that you "know" are the truth.

There are certain ideas that you use to define who you are.

Ideas and thoughts that make some things more valuable than others.

And help you decide what is important in your life.

These thoughts and ideas help you choose how to behave with other people and make decisions about other people and the world.

And you rarely question the validity of any of these concepts...

Mainly because everyone else you know agrees with you.

That's what "culture" is.

And every country has one.

In fact, regions, cities, and even smaller groups can have them.

And we can notice the differences between city cultures and regional cultures.

But most people rarely if ever notice their country's culture...until...

They move to another country.

And then all of a sudden...

What was "reality" begins to become just another "idea"...

An "idea" that I prefer maybe...

But we start to recognize it as more of an idea and less as "the truth".

Cultural differences and culture shock is what happens when your "truth" doesn't agree with someone else's "truth".

Once it becomes an idea and not THE truth, life gets easier and dealing with cultural differences and culture shock isn't such a big deal anymore...

And as you begin to notice it more and more...

The more you notice it, the more you remember to say "silly me" to yourself and laugh...

Because that's when culture shock can transform into something interesting and fun...

And then we can look at everything more objectively and decide if we want to keep this idea the way it is...

Or if we'd rather make some adjustments to it.

Maybe it's good, but it would be even better if we made a few small changes.

Maybe it's not very useful...

So we get rid of it altogether.

And maybe it was a great idea before and it's still a great idea now...

Being an expat is an incredible opportunity to learn more about yourself in a way that is easier than if you were back in your home country.

And don't get me started on the chance to get really good at having fun with long term projects!

Since moving to France, I've learned a lot about all the opportunities that being an expat has given me...

I've learned how to turn unpleasantries into fun...you know...those things that have to be done...

At first I thought I didn't want them...

Until I noticed how much fun they could be...

It's much easier to look for the opportunities in life...and the fun...

And somehow there are always some there...

And while we're on the subject of Cultural Differences and Culture Shock as Opportunities...

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Suzanne

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