Culture Shock assignment

If you were visiting and studying the Yanomamo, describe what you would have done to prepare yourself for possible culture shock.

To prepare myself for the possible culture shock with the Yanomamo, the first thing I would do is to remain calm and show no fear.  I would have let my guide approach the tribesmen first so I would feel more comfortable knowing that the tribesmen would recognize my guide.  Then I would had brought a gift to them of something that the tribesmen would find appealing, for example, in regular society you would bring a bottle of wine or something in the ordinary to show appreciation. The uncleanliness, filth, and the smell of the odor, I would not have reacted in an offended way.  I would had stood there, smiled, and nodded my head with the confidence thinking engrossed from their appearance standing half nude.  I would inform my guide to speak in their language and introduce me as a friend to the tribe by letting them know that I would be interested in learning and studying the tribesmen’s’ culture as much as possible by living with them for a year and a half.  I think that by having the tribesmen teaching me their way of living would give me a better insight and a better understanding their culture.  I would also thank them showing my appreciation, presenting them with those gifts. 

Describe a personal experience you have had where you experienced culture shock. What components of culture were you shocked by?

I experienced culture shock when I lived in Ireland for eight years in the 90’s.  I moved there as I wanted to know a little bit about my relatives.  I remember I was welcomed with open arms as an American.  I was most shocked that Derry Northern Ireland was different from the South of Ireland.  Northern Ireland also had many problems and troubles with England and the Irish Republican Army (IRA) as Northern Ireland wanted their freedom from Britain.  I had a hard time understanding my relatives and how they were thinking and why most of them drank.  Going to the bars there I noticed their lifestyle was different than the United States, as they know how to have a good time without having drink involved.   I also noticed and had learned that Northern Ireland’s currency is used by England.  South of Ireland used their Irish currency money.  It also took me awhile to understand why the people in Northern Ireland dislike the police and how they felt that the police never help them.  I also saw young kids up all hours of the night throwing petrol bottle bombs because of the IRA.  I enjoyed the traditional Celtic music and foods there.  It took some time with everything that I had learned in Northern Ireland but I eventually able to accept and feel comfortable with.