Dealing with the Life Abroad I. Culture shock of the life abroad 1) More and more people tend to go abroad —go abroad to work, s

Dealing with the Life Abroad
    Today’s lecture is about how you should deal with the life abroad, that is, some tips for you to deal with cross-cultural problems. Each year, millions of people go abroad to work, study, or travel. It is a great way to find out what life is like in another part of the world. (1) People who go abroad are probably hoping to make new friends and learn about the culture in another country—everything from attitudes and beliefs to social customs and popular foods. But constantly having to deal with new situations can be frustrating, even stressful. (2) Homesickness, stress, fear, and confusion are all symptoms of culture shock. The following tips help you deal with new situations.
    (3) No. 1, take time to adjust.
    You may feel frustrated that you have culture shock, especially since you probably spend so much time preparing for your trip. If you give yourself some time, things will gradually get easier.
    No. 2, do have an open mind.
    While it is certainly OK to feel frustrated or confused in your new surroundings, try not to form an opinion about the new culture too soon. (4) Do not think of the host culture as better or worse. It is just different and you will be more willing to try new things.
    No. 3, get involved.
    You really need to try things for yourself. Do not worry about making a mistake. If you are unsure of what to do in a formal setting, follow others’ lead. (5) Active participation in conversation is important, especially if you want to become fluent in the local language—your effort will be appreciated.
    No. 4, practice your language skills.
    Try to find a native speaker in your school or community, and ask him or her to meet with you to have conversation in his or her language. (6) Take every opportunity to talk with the native, and make a habit of going into places like a restaurant, a shop or a bank. As you become more confident in this kind of public situations, you can try to engage others in a bit of casual, polite conversation.
    No. 5, seek help and keep contact.
    (7) Do not forget the contact information about the organizations and people that are to help you. (8) You will not offend anyone, so be honest. And a good idea is to make a plan to call your friends and family every week on the same day and at the same time. If you use email while you are abroad, you will be able to keep in touch with them very inexpensively.
    No. 6, holiday advice.
    Some holidays have religious meanings. You may not share the religious beliefs of your hosts, but it is still OK to be a respectful observer. (9) Religious ceremonies can give you an insight into a culture, and your questions can lead to interesting conversations with your family and friends. (10) Gift-giving is a part of holiday traditions. In that case, a small gift for each member of your family is appropriate. Gifts that have come from your native country would make an exciting and unusual gift.
    In today’s lecture, you are given six pieces of useful advice on your life abroad. I believe if you follow these suggestions, you will be able to have a wonderful time abroad. Thanks for your attention!