Job Discussion Forums

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

It is.....an ailment afflicting some TESOL newbies in almost all overseas venues.Symptoms may include:
1,A sudden and miraculous feeling that the newbie "understands" everything in the new country,even though he or she may have been in the country only a few weeks or months. Laughing

2.An irresistable urge to tell other people(many who have been in the place longer)...that if they do not like it..."they should JUST LEAVE!" Laughing

3.A sudden feeling that they have arrived on the spot and they are the answer to all of the school's problems.Maybe some of them think they have the answer to ALL the problems. Laughing

4.A feeling that they understand all about "culture", maybe only on the basis of an Intro.to Anthro. course they took in their freshman year. Rolling Eyes

5.A feeling they have "everything scoped out"!(Hey.like Dude, this place is easy! I have been here for two whole WEEKS,and like, no problem,Dude!) Laughing

6.Probably the best medicine for this "disease" is a good dose of reality.....but some leave before taking the medicine....and apparently some never take it....even when they become "olbies". Rolling Eyes

Wolf · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth

Celeste · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2003 12:58 am Post subject:

Bnix-

You are describing a very real part of culture shock often referred to as the honeymoon phase. When the person in a new place is awestruck by all of the differences and goes about with rose coloured glasses. In this phase, people don't want their sense of euphoria to be spoiled by those of us in later less enjoyable stages of acclimatization. Just sit back and watch them. Smile knowingly to yourself- those rose coloured glasses will come off at some point...

bnix · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 645

I agree with your points...but some of them are so damned obnoxious during the honeymoon period.And some of them never lose the rose-colored glasses.Maybe they are wearing blinkers...not glasses.Maybe some of them should not be overseas in the first place...Think so? Smile

woza17 · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 602 Location: china

But on the other hand there are the ones that don't ever go through the honeymoon period and are continually whining about the slighest thing, give me the honeymooners any day over the complainers.
Regrds carol

khmerhit · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2003 3:03 am Post subject:

Give me the complainers any day over the backpackers.

misterkodak · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2003 9:49 am Post subject:

I'm thinking of branching out of TEFL and going into the "Backpacker Discount Dentistry" industry. Heck, anyone can be a dentist right? All you need is a pair of pliers, a hammer, a cutting utensil of your choice, and some unsuspecting customer. Anesthesia is optional. .. we can always cross the border and go to the duty free for that. If our dentistist is female, blonde, buxom, and has a really "cool" accent, or if he looks like Ken and can play the guitar and tell cool jokes and do stupid party tricks, credentials should be irrelevant. Right?
I mean, all we really want is a good time anyhow. Why should we learn necessary skills? Who cares if our customers complain? They don't even speak English. After all, we'll be back home in 3 months anyhow. Just wait til the guys at the bar back home hear about this!!

Capergirl · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2003 2:12 pm Post subject: honeymooners

This stage doesn't tend to last long from what I can remember. Culture shock sets in after a few months and then the honeymoon is over. Wink

However, there are invariably a few who will develop what I call "reverse culture shock", which is basically a permanent state of being in love with the new culture and shunning the native culture of one's upbringing. Nonetheless, most find a healthy balance.

I feel that one of the advantages of living and working in other countries is that it does broaden one's mind--even if only a smidgen--and it dispels a lot of the myths of one's youthful miseducation in the home country. Smile

Shonai Ben · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 617

Reverse culture shock.It does exist.Been there and done that.After several years in Japan and a trip back home,I suddenly realized that I was like a fish out of water,and I was in my home town.Everything seemed strange and I could understand every conversation.Information overload.I couldn't wait until I returned.If I had to stay there I surely would have gone insane.Now I realize that I can never go back to stay permanently.Anyone else suffer from this???

khmerhit · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2003 11:31 pm Post subject:

Yes, very well put, Capergirl and ShonaiBen (hope that doesnt soun