You are the guys who are going off on one of the most important journeys of your life and so we have a lot of ground to cover [things to do] this semester to help you to prepare. Mostly, in our first lesson we talked about Culture Shock which is the feeling of sadness, depression, sometimes anger and alienation [feeling alone; left out; different from everyone else] that people feel when the leave their own country/culture for a new one.
The first thing to realise is that this feeling is normal. It happens to almost everyone who moves away from their familiar environment.You have to be able to recognise it for what it is and know that it will pass. Otherwise you might actually become permanently depressed or think there is something wrong with you!
Unfortunately the way many Chinese students try to cope with Culture Shock is by sticking close to other Chinese friends, eating familiar Chinese food, and staying at home together watching familiar movies, reading Chinese books or playing computer games.
Sure, there is comfort to be gained from all these things and you need to do them once in a while. But you will miss out on so much and will not benefit from your time overseas - as well as becoming more and more fed up [sad; depressed; blue] and not improving your English and communication skills - if you do this.
The best way to overcome culture shock is to BE PREPARED. Know what to expect. Become familiar with the country, the people and the culture before you get there. This is an aspect of travelling that most people find the most exciting: the preparation. Those of you who have not started to do this have wasted a lot of valuable time already. A once-a-week class cannot deal with everything: it's up to you to prepare yourselves.
This links in to what we were saying in class: remember that outside of China no-one is going to regard you as children. To the rest of the world you are adults and will be expected to behave as adults. This might sould a little harsh and frightening but, remember, being an adult is also a lot of fun and brings a lot of happiness and freedom as well. You will not have your parents or Chinese teachers around to do things for you or, more importantly, to tell you what to do or how to behave. So start right now: the Internet is a like a big Treasure Chest full of exciting things and anyone who can use a computer has the key.
Our first assignment was for each of you to find some information about Sweden and to share it with your classmates - but you must also continue doing this on your own. Look, first of all, at a map of the world: learn what other countries are close to Sweden; what Ocean is the nearest to Sweden; how far Sweden is from China; how would you get to Sweden by train? Boat? Car?Bicycle? (Yes, there are plenty of people who set off to see the world by bicycle!) How would you go and visit the UK from there? or France? or Switzerland?
Look at maps of Sweden itself. Where are the mountain? How do you get to where you are going to live from Stockholm? Where are the lakes and rivers? How would you get to Denmark from there?
Next get a map, or Google Earth and look at where you will actually be. Where is the University? Where is the town? The Parks? The cycling or riding tracks. How far is the nearest city, town? Which way would you take to go out to the country? The Forest?
Then look for pictures on Google Image of the towns near you. Find out what how far the nearest Chinese restaurant is. The movies. The museum. Historical places of interest?
Find out what kinds of cars people drive there - even the cars are going to look different. What do the trains and buses look like? What kinds of clothes do the people wear? What do people do on the weekends?
Finally get familiar with the University itself. Find out where the teaching buildings are. The small shops, the places to eat, to sports fields, your rooms? What clubs are there you can join? Is there a Volleyball court, a swimming pool, a place to play Badminton? What other courses are taught? Music? Drama? Architecture?
You can spend your first few days (or weeks) wandering around feeling lost and unfamiliar and not being able to find anything you want. Not brave enough to go anywhere on your own. Unable to join in the life of the University. Or you can arrive knowing where you are going and how to get there; excited at the prospect of seeing things you've only seen in pictures, eager to spot your first foreign car or taste your first Swedish pastry (cake). The choice is up to you: no-one is going to make it for you.
We made a list today of things you have been wondering about. I have also received information from colleagues at the University telling me what they want you to know. Together we are going to explore and discuss as many of those things as we can and YOU are going to be as prepared as you want to be.
Its going to be a big adventure and very exciting.
Well, already we learned a few new and very common words that you will never find in your textbooks and discussed some things that are not acceptable in other countries. Mostly these were concerned with bodily functions. This is important because bodily functions are considered private and some things are just not acceptable. As we also mentioned: you are going to be Ambassadors for your country. You are going to represent China and will be the first Chinese people some of your classmates will have ever met. The last thing we want is for those classmates to think that you are impolite or rude!!
So: letting gas out of our bodies - either through our mouths (burping) or our bottoms (farting) is something we try not to do in public. If you simply can't help it and it takes you by surprise after a glass of Coke or something, ALWAYS apologise. If it is a burp always cover your mouth with your closed fist (sometimes burps smell bad and we don't want to share that with others). In the case of a fart always try to get to a toilet or at least out of the room. You can't cover your bottom with your fist so just say "Oh, excuse me" or "Sorry". People might tease you a little (if you are a guy: girls just aren't really expected to do either of these things) if it happens once or twice, but if you do it regularly they will start to avoid you.
When we are tired we all want to open our mouths wide and Yawn. But people also yawn when they are bored so we don't want others - especially our teachers - think that they are boring us so we try not to do it in front of others. If we can help it we put our entire hand in front of our mouth (once again, some people's breath doesn't smell very good or they may have a cold or illness and spread germs) and will usually apologise. Also, of course, yawning is very contagious [easily spread to others] for some reason so if we don't put our hand in front of our mouth to cover it, everyone else will start yawning too. The poor teacher will think that he or she is a very bad instructor indeed and is boring the whole class!!
We also mentioned that the words "W.C" for toilet is quite old-fashioned and many people do not know what it means. Although many Chinese people have been told that saying "toilet" is impolite that is also a rather old-fashioned idea. It is perfectly acceptable to say toilet nowadays and the signs showing where they are will often say "Toilets". Also it is a universal word that everyone knows. Just as common in Europe is "loo". Different regions, people, families will have their own words which is why saying "Toilet" is better - everyone knows what that is. Don't use the American word "Bathroom" in Europe or people will take you to a room where there is a bath/shower and probably no toilet at all.
Though foreigners usually require more personal space than Chinese and don't stand so close together, some people will really crowd you and keep touching you while they talk. We call such people "Touchy-Feely" people. You might feel a bit uncomfortable (I do!) but they are just being themselves. If, however, you think that someone is touching you in an inappropriate way, or making you feel uncomfortable, then tell them so. If you are sure they are touching you in an inappropriate way tell them firmly to "Back Off!"
We did mention also that - mostly men - might not say they need the loo or toilet, but say, more directly they "Wanna take a piss". Girls say "Wanna pee" usually.
Men might also say they "Wanna take a dump" while girls would say they "Need to pooh." However niether of these things would be said unless with friends. Few girls would say it in front of boys or men.
The first thing to realise is that this feeling is normal. It happens to almost everyone who moves away from their familiar environment.You have to be able to recognise it for what it is and know that it will pass. Otherwise you might actually become permanently depressed or think there is something wrong with you!
Unfortunately the way many Chinese students try to cope with Culture Shock is by sticking close to other Chinese friends, eating familiar Chinese food, and staying at home together watching familiar movies, reading Chinese books or playing computer games.
Sure, there is comfort to be gained from all these things and you need to do them once in a while. But you will miss out on so much and will not benefit from your time overseas - as well as becoming more and more fed up [sad; depressed; blue] and not improving your English and communication skills - if you do this.
The best way to overcome culture shock is to BE PREPARED. Know what to expect. Become familiar with the country, the people and the culture before you get there. This is an aspect of travelling that most people find the most exciting: the preparation. Those of you who have not started to do this have wasted a lot of valuable time already. A once-a-week class cannot deal with everything: it's up to you to prepare yourselves.
This links in to what we were saying in class: remember that outside of China no-one is going to regard you as children. To the rest of the world you are adults and will be expected to behave as adults. This might sould a little harsh and frightening but, remember, being an adult is also a lot of fun and brings a lot of happiness and freedom as well. You will not have your parents or Chinese teachers around to do things for you or, more importantly, to tell you what to do or how to behave. So start right now: the Internet is a like a big Treasure Chest full of exciting things and anyone who can use a computer has the key.
Our first assignment was for each of you to find some information about Sweden and to share it with your classmates - but you must also continue doing this on your own. Look, first of all, at a map of the world: learn what other countries are close to Sweden; what Ocean is the nearest to Sweden; how far Sweden is from China; how would you get to Sweden by train? Boat? Car?Bicycle? (Yes, there are plenty of people who set off to see the world by bicycle!) How would you go and visit the UK from there? or France? or Switzerland?
Look at maps of Sweden itself. Where are the mountain? How do you get to where you are going to live from Stockholm? Where are the lakes and rivers? How would you get to Denmark from there?
Next get a map, or Google Earth and look at where you will actually be. Where is the University? Where is the town? The Parks? The cycling or riding tracks. How far is the nearest city, town? Which way would you take to go out to the country? The Forest?
Then look for pictures on Google Image of the towns near you. Find out what how far the nearest Chinese restaurant is. The movies. The museum. Historical places of interest?
Find out what kinds of cars people drive there - even the cars are going to look different. What do the trains and buses look like? What kinds of clothes do the people wear? What do people do on the weekends?
Finally get familiar with the University itself. Find out where the teaching buildings are. The small shops, the places to eat, to sports fields, your rooms? What clubs are there you can join? Is there a Volleyball court, a swimming pool, a place to play Badminton? What other courses are taught? Music? Drama? Architecture?
You can spend your first few days (or weeks) wandering around feeling lost and unfamiliar and not being able to find anything you want. Not brave enough to go anywhere on your own. Unable to join in the life of the University. Or you can arrive knowing where you are going and how to get there; excited at the prospect of seeing things you've only seen in pictures, eager to spot your first foreign car or taste your first Swedish pastry (cake). The choice is up to you: no-one is going to make it for you.
We made a list today of things you have been wondering about. I have also received information from colleagues at the University telling me what they want you to know. Together we are going to explore and discuss as many of those things as we can and YOU are going to be as prepared as you want to be.
Its going to be a big adventure and very exciting.
Well, already we learned a few new and very common words that you will never find in your textbooks and discussed some things that are not acceptable in other countries. Mostly these were concerned with bodily functions. This is important because bodily functions are considered private and some things are just not acceptable. As we also mentioned: you are going to be Ambassadors for your country. You are going to represent China and will be the first Chinese people some of your classmates will have ever met. The last thing we want is for those classmates to think that you are impolite or rude!!
So: letting gas out of our bodies - either through our mouths (burping) or our bottoms (farting) is something we try not to do in public. If you simply can't help it and it takes you by surprise after a glass of Coke or something, ALWAYS apologise. If it is a burp always cover your mouth with your closed fist (sometimes burps smell bad and we don't want to share that with others). In the case of a fart always try to get to a toilet or at least out of the room. You can't cover your bottom with your fist so just say "Oh, excuse me" or "Sorry". People might tease you a little (if you are a guy: girls just aren't really expected to do either of these things) if it happens once or twice, but if you do it regularly they will start to avoid you.
When we are tired we all want to open our mouths wide and Yawn. But people also yawn when they are bored so we don't want others - especially our teachers - think that they are boring us so we try not to do it in front of others. If we can help it we put our entire hand in front of our mouth (once again, some people's breath doesn't smell very good or they may have a cold or illness and spread germs) and will usually apologise. Also, of course, yawning is very contagious [easily spread to others] for some reason so if we don't put our hand in front of our mouth to cover it, everyone else will start yawning too. The poor teacher will think that he or she is a very bad instructor indeed and is boring the whole class!!
We also mentioned that the words "W.C" for toilet is quite old-fashioned and many people do not know what it means. Although many Chinese people have been told that saying "toilet" is impolite that is also a rather old-fashioned idea. It is perfectly acceptable to say toilet nowadays and the signs showing where they are will often say "Toilets". Also it is a universal word that everyone knows. Just as common in Europe is "loo". Different regions, people, families will have their own words which is why saying "Toilet" is better - everyone knows what that is. Don't use the American word "Bathroom" in Europe or people will take you to a room where there is a bath/shower and probably no toilet at all.
Though foreigners usually require more personal space than Chinese and don't stand so close together, some people will really crowd you and keep touching you while they talk. We call such people "Touchy-Feely" people. You might feel a bit uncomfortable (I do!) but they are just being themselves. If, however, you think that someone is touching you in an inappropriate way, or making you feel uncomfortable, then tell them so. If you are sure they are touching you in an inappropriate way tell them firmly to "Back Off!"
We did mention also that - mostly men - might not say they need the loo or toilet, but say, more directly they "Wanna take a piss". Girls say "Wanna pee" usually.
Men might also say they "Wanna take a dump" while girls would say they "Need to pooh." However niether of these things would be said unless with friends. Few girls would say it in front of boys or men.
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