·     Culture Shock. Have you experienced any moments so far when you have felt uncomfortable or lost? Were there any moments when you felt “at home”? Describe. Next, read the culture shock article provided by program director. Have you experienced any of the stages of culture shock? Give examples. In your opinion, is culture shock a positive or negative experience? Explain your opinion.

I have felt moments where I felt disoriented and lost. Upon arriving in Madrid, and walking to different shops and restaurants, I felt lost because I was not familiar with the city or streets. Walking around a local park made me more comfortable as I gained my bearings and was able to see similarities between American parks with shops and vendors, while being aware enough o recognize differences in layout, buildings, and types of trees/greenery around. I have felt a little uncomfortable in places where I ordered food and there was initial confusion due to my limited linguistic capabilities. Despite this, I have felt very comfortable at “at home” in my homestay with Pilar. She was very welcoming and warm after a long bus ride greeting us and showing us around the city. She fed us a great meal and was very understanding of our preference to go rest for the night. She has been very accommodating and kind and has truly made me feel at home in the room she has provided at her house.

After reading the culture shock article, I have experienced a few stages of culture shock. Initially I incredibly enjoyed Madrid, the different food and restaurants, along with the local night scene. All of the buildings and museums were new, unique, and different than I had expected with an older more historic feel. After spending more time adjusting to the city and then travelling to Toledo and Grenada, I have experienced both irritation and adjustment. Some of the “normal” or common customs took some adjusting to including the regularity that set times aren’t followed as closely in Spain. I am used to being highly concerned with punctuality but in Spain more informal get togethers like meeting friends for food or to hang out puts less of an emphasis on being right on time as the time is more of a ballpark range. It has been a little consuming to be immersed in a place that does not speak my first language. Trying to understand everything that is spoken takes a lot more energy than normal which has been slightly frustrating. Currently, I believe I am in the adjustment phase and am working towards adapting to new practices while looking at them as the norm for my time living in Spain.

In my opinion, culture shock is a positive thing. Culture shock comes with uncomfortably which is what promotes and allows for personal growth. Being unfamiliar and uncomfortable with a different culture means that you are experiencing something different than you are used to. When I am able to recognize that something is “strange” from my perspective, I am able to reflect on what I view as “normal” and why I view my practice or idea as the standard. Recognizing culture shock has allowed me to appreciate customs in Spain, while also appreciating some aspects of my home life and conveniences more than I previously did. Experiencing culture shock has been a positive and growing experience.