Reflection About Pop Culture

Living abroad can be a great experience, that encourages new world views. Even though, Culture sock often affects people living far from home in unexpected ways. It is more than simply being unfamiliar with social norms or experiencing new foods and it tends to impact newcomers. I did not know why I felt sad when I arrived at Chicago. But when I listened about “Stages of Culture Shock” I said eureka, I am not alone. The most of migrants moves through for these phases. Everyone has a different experience also the impact and order of each stage varies widely. I believe that I am in the end of frustration stage and very close to adjustment. Although we can´t follow the mainstream of America culture, we shall respect values.

America is as a salad bowl containing a mix of culture for example, in PopCulture Class have people from Iran, Turkey, Venezuela, China. I learned some aspects about their culture. If I want to say the name about a "famous person" such as Albert Einstein, I need to add an extra information, because in other languages, the name sound different and sometimes It is difficult to explain without a picture, Furthermore, one common custom in South America is say “Hello” with kiss on the cheek to other people of different gender. Probably for the rest of the world is a strange custom, they can even feel intimidate. In this time, America is recognizing for the capitalism system and it brings a “Consumer Era”. I saw in restaurant that most people throw food away.

Day after Super Bowl, I was surprised. Everybody talked about game, the middle time show and advertising. Also, my Ecuadorian friends saw it. Another holiday was MLK day. I knew whom is he but I have never read her life. My aha moment was when I read the biography about Martin Luther King. The life history said that he had a C in speech class. But I cannot believe it, because MLK was a leader and he fought against racism. I think that Culture is the expression of what is in men’s hearts, minds and souls. Understanding cultural difference is helpful in bringing people together. I recommend learning about culture before to move of a country. That can help you into adaptation process.