Cultural Shock

Culture shock is a term used to describe the anxiety and feelings (of surprise, disorientation, confusion, etc.) felt when people have to operate within an entirely different cultural or social environment, such as a foreign country. It grows out of the difficulties in assimilating the new culture, causing difficulty in knowing what is appropriate and what is not. Often this is combined with strong disgust (moral or aesthetical) about certain aspects of the new or different culture - WIKIPEDIA


This is a story of a guy namely "Akki" from ISM, Dhanbad. Let me start his story from Final Year. Akki was in Final Year and it was most happening year of his four years stay at ISM. He worked hard in all previous six semesters and secured 8th rank in branch. He tried his best to be the topper but barely managed to be 8th ranker. Apart from better than average academic record, He had good communication skill. His extra-curricular activities @ Ramdhani, Canteen and Library were more than enough to get selected in MNC. Although he wished, but he never imagined that he would be in the list of best company. The first job was in abroad. He got sky-high package and it was a matter of discussion in campus. Soon he became a famous guy and his glamour intensified more, when he became Mr. Srijan. Akki was more than happy when he was leaving the college. He thanked to ISM for all his happiness.

Akki's mother was quite concerned as he was going abroad first time. She reminded him to eat healthy foods and warned him not to marry Videshi Mam. Honeymoon phase was about to start. His posting was in Egypt and he whishpered, "Pyramid here I come." He landed in Egypt safely. He was a perfect stranger in an unknown city. All the time his ear was listening Arabic language, which he tried to understand unsuccessfully. Egypt was totally different country from India. He was quite fascinated by differences. He joined the company and started learning the technology. He liked each and every application of engineering basics, which he studied in ISM. He found that some colleagues are not that much educated as he was. Initially it was hurting his ego, but soon he realised that common sense is mother of every knowledge. Whosoever has it gets success in life.

He settled down himself very well after three months. He learnt functionality of each tools and every application was just mere a repetition. Repetition started bringing boredom, although it was bringing perfection. He was learning minute aspect of the job, but he was feeling bored. Very few Indians were there in other department. He rarely talked to them. There were some Egyptians friends, but he couldn't be able to enjoy that much as he used to in ISM. Life in Egypt started looking hell. He felt that what he would do with all these money if he couldn't be able to enjoy. He started suffering from Egypto-fobia.

Life is a paradox. It never appreciates what it has got and always craves for what it hasn't got. Akki was suffering from cultural shock and he never studied anywhere how to get rid of cultural shock. As a matter of fact that Cultural shock can cost your happiness, but no university seems to be telling us how to survive in unknown city. It intensifies more in a country where you don't find Indians. It multiplies more when very few people understand your second language i.e English and you don't understand the language of that country. You find yourself secluded and you get actually a cultural shock. There are couple of techniques, which will be quite useful during that stage, although it's personal opinion.

1. Meditate and stay happy in presence of yourself only. All of our life, we try to find happiness from other object. Sometimes from friend, sometimes from family and most of the time from girl/boy friend or better half. Sometimes we must stay happy for just being ourselves only. Meditation brings greatest form of happiness.

2. Mingle with different people quickly. It will not only enhance your PR skill, but also keep you away from boredom and your personal relation will help you a lot in long term of career. Make Friends. By Having friends you can talk to. There is no way to stay happy without mingling with others.

3. Love your work passionately. Look for minute aspects of the job even though it's looks like mere repetition. This will not only enhance your understanding about the job, but also gives an edge over your competitor.

4. Listen to Good Music. Music has a power to mould the heart in specific direction. Please don't listen to sad songs. It will unnecessarily mould your heart towards sadness. Make sure you carry some good music collection.

The basic idea is to stay happy in order to stay away from Cultural Shock. I hope that above techniques should work for you. If it doesn't work then find your own way to stay happy. If you can’t then quit and join in India. Stay Happy and stay away from Cultural Shock.

Beyond Wisdom

O My Mother Cow,

I thank to God
For not giving you Wisdom
That’s why perhaps
You know how to love
And how to be in love.

I always saw you
Accepting love
From Everyone
Without seeing their
Sex, Skin and Virtue.
You embrace them equally.

We do have wisdom
That makes us wisest creation
Why did we forget to love?
Why do we look for
Sex, Skin and Virtue
Why do we have
Infinite races in
A single Mankind!!!

If you don’t mind then
Let me go beyond wisdom
Where there will be You and Me
As a same spirit
And nothing else
Will be in between.
Where there will be
A complete silence
No motion, Only emotion
Time will be still till
We will be the same divine.

Come my Love, Come
Let’s Go beyond Wisdom.