As part of our relocation package it is strongly suggested that we participate in a cultural training program. This program is offered to every member of our family. It is a fact that the number one reason that foreign service assignments fail (return to home country before the contract ends) is because the "family" is not happy in the new location. I really appreciate the corporate view of the "family unit" in these training programs. I have been reading about the emotional and physical reactions that people have to "culture shock". The stages of culture shock are defined in several books that we have received from Abi's school and from the Community Center. I find it all very interesting and can identify with the descriptions of the early stages of shock. It takes a little more than 6 months to process through the stages. After the six month time frame you begin to find your equilibrium and feel balance return to your life.

Part of the adjustment period can be easier if you "know yourself" and how you react to certain experiences. As part of the "know yourself" cultural training, Tim and I had to fill out a very long questionnaire. It is sort of like Meyers Briggs. Today we got the results from this questionnaire and it was amazing how accurate the descriptions of our personalities were. This is going to be very helpful as we move through the next few months of culture shock.

I am learning by experience and by reading how important "culture" is to us. We are defined by our culture. Things that we do out of routine without thinking about why are part of our "norms" and when our "norms" are suddenly turned upside down it is a shock to our mental and physical state of being. Some examples are....what we eat, when we eat, how we eat, what we think are good manors and what is discussing, when we start our work day and when we end our workday, how we smell, what we think about religion, what we think about money, how we treat our pets, how we treat our youth and elderly, holidays that are important, how we dress, what we think is rude, how we organize ourselves to buy a ticket or get on a bus, how we drive, what it means when you honk your horn, body language, what our markets look like and how things are priced, temperature of buildings, what we consider wasteful, what we consider moral and just, what the "normal" shoe size or clothing size would be, what we think is right and wrong....etc....the list could go on forever..... I think these are all interesting things to ponder...

I guess I am a little philosophical tonight.....