Alexander the Great, Greek Military Leader

Alexander the Great was the son of King Philip II of Macedonia and one of his wives, Olympias, a daughter of the non-Macedonian King Neoptolemus I of Epirus. At least, thats the conventional story. As a great hero, there are other more miraculous versions of the conception. Name:  Alexander III of MacedonDates:  c. 20 July 356 B.C. - 10 June 323.Place of Birth and Death:  Pella and BabylonDates of Rule:  336-323Parents:  Philip II of Macedonia and OlympiasOccupation:  Ruler and military leader Alexander was born around July 20, 356 B.C. Being non-Macedonian made Olympias status lower than the Macedonian woman Philip later married. As a result, there was much conflict between Alexanders parents. As a Youth Alexander was tutored by Leonidas (possibly his uncle) and the great Greek philosopher Aristotle. During his youth, Alexander showed great observational powers when he tamed the wild horse Bucephalus. In 326, when his beloved horse died, he renamed a city in India/Pakistan, on the banks of the Hydaspes (Jhelum) river, for Bucephalus. Our image of Alexander is youthful because that is how his official portraits depict  him. See Photos of Alexander the Great in Art. As Regent In 340 B.C., while his father Philip went off to fight rebels, Alexander was made regent in Macedonia. During his regency, the Maedi of northern Macedonia revolted. Alexander put down the revolt and renamed their city after himself.  In 336 after his father was assassinated, he became ruler of Macedonia. The Gordian Knot One legend about Alexander the Great is that when he was in Gordium, Turkey, in 333, he undid the Gordian Knot. This knot had been tied by the legendary, fabulously wealthy King Midas. The prophecy about the Gordian knot was that the person who untied it would rule all of Asia. Alexander the Great is said to have undone the Gordian Knot not by unraveling it, but by slashing through it with a sword. Major Battles Battle of the Granicus - 334 B.C. (western Turkey) against Persian satraps with Greek mercenaries.Battle of Issus - 333 B.C. (Hatay province of Turkey) against King Darius of Persia.Battle of Gaugamela - 331 B.C. (northern Iraq) against King Darius of Persia.Battle of the Hydaspes (Jhelum) - 326 B.C. (northern Punjab, in modern Pakistan) against King Poros, who ruled a small kingdom, but had war elephants. Near the end of Alexanders expansion. (Although Alexander had intended to go further, and was soon thwarted by his own men, he thought he was near the edge of the earth.) Death In 323, Alexander the Great returned to Babylonia where he became ill suddenly and died. The cause of his death is unknown. It could have been disease or poison. It might have had to do with a wound inflicted in India. Alexanders successors were the Diadochi Wives Alexander the Greats wives were, first, Roxane (327), and then, Statiera/Barsine, and Parysatis. When, in 324, he married Stateira, daughter of Darius, and Parysatis, daughter of Artaxerxes III, he did not repudiate the Sogdian princess Roxane. The wedding ceremony took place in Susa and at the same time, Alexanders friend Hephaestion married Drypetis, Stateiras sister. Alexander provided dowries so that 80 of his companions could also marry noble Iranian women. Reference: Pierre Briants  Alexander the Great and His Empire. Children Herakles, son of Alexanders wife/mistress Barsine [Sources: Alexander the Great and His Empire, by Pierre Briant and Alexander the Great, by Philip Freeman]Alexander IV, son of Roxane Both children were killed before they reached adulthood. Source: www.pothos.org/alexander.asp?paraID71keyword_id12titleChildren Alexander the Great- Children Alexander the Great Quizzes Why Did Alexander Burn Persepolis QuizAlexander the Great Quiz I - The Early YearsAlexander the Great Quiz II - From Empire-Building to Death Other Articles on Alexander the Great What Color Was Alexanders Hair?Was Alexander the Great a Greek?

Roman Empire and Nero - 1045 Words

Explain the role and contribution of Seneca to the reign of Nero Seneca was the personal advisor of Nero during his reign. He was a stoic philosopher who played a vital role in the running of the empire. Seneca contributed in many aspects of Nero’s reign by introducing reforms, bringing stoicism into practice and playing a key role in the senate. Seneca aided in important decision-making. He led Nero down an appropriate path, particularly when Nero became extremely erratic. He served Nero well and made an excellent contribution during his reign. Seneca understood the problems of Rome so he was able to introduce reforms, which benefited the people. He made conditions for slaves more humane, introduced fiscal reform and introduced a†¦show more content†¦Credit for this successful relationship must go to Seneca who put the words into Nero’s mouth and was able to satisfy the senate by giving them what they wanted. A cooperating senate meant that the empire was able to run much better during Nero’s reign. Further on in Nero’s reign, Seneca began to see a change. He grew more erratic and extreme. From here it became the role of Seneca to curb his enthusiasm. Tacitus describes this job as â€Å"To direct his deviations from virtue into licensed channels of indulgence.† The shows that Seneca fulfilled his job by avoiding activities that would result in scandal. Nero’s frustration grew out of many of his liberal ideas failing and it was the role of Seneca to alert Nero about his policies if they were ineffective or bad policy. Although Seneca was unable to change the personality of Nero and his behaviour, he was able to contribute to the outcome of his actions. Seneca benefited the empire by avoiding decisions, which would consequence in revealing Nero’s awful erratic side. This benefited the empire in that Nero was still able to be favoured as the Romans did not see the worst of his erratic and extreme personality, as well as stopping Nero from making rash dec isions that would not help his reign by informing him when policies or ideas were not recommended. Seneca’s contribution was beneficial for all aspects of Nero’s reign. He was able to advise Nero on important decision-making andShow MoreRelatedThe Roman Empire and Nero Essay944 Words   |  4 PagesThe Roman Empire and Nero It is the beginning of the first century A.D. Seneca, chief Roman tragic writer and philosopher in the time, who just came back from exile is summoned to the Roman emperors castle by the old emperor Claudius wife Julia Agrippina. He is assigned to tutor her son, Nero. Nero is a spoiled little twenty-year old fat freak hungry for gladiator-ism. He hates his step- father, Claudius for he always treats him as a good for nothing child, which he is. 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Application to Customer Satisfaction

Question: Discuss about the Application to Customer Satisfaction. Answer: Introduction Customer interest is mostly imperative to the sales procedure. Gaining customer interest is mostly done in the initial stages however; interest in the good requires to be maintained throughout the sales procedure. Once a company has gone through the procedure of gaining attention of customers, maintaining interest of customers and encouraging desire is imperative. There are several techniques, whichhelp to maintain customer interest towards the goods mostly depending on the technicality of the commodity (Walker, Fincham Dickerson, 2014). Coca Cola The report mostly provides an overview about Coca Cola and the importance of customer satisfaction to the Company. It is mostly a carbonated soft-drink company that is manufactured in Atlanta, United States. Businessperson Asa Griggs Candler, whose marketing strategies led Coke to its supremacy of the world soft-drink market during the 20th century, bought out the Company. The name of the drink refers to two of its original ingredients, which are kola nuts as well as cocoa leaves (Jakeman et al., 2014). However; the present formula of Coca Cola stays a business secret. The Company has on occasion introduced other cola drinks under the name of Coke. The most popular drink of these is Diet Coke whereas; others include Zero Vanilla, Caffeine-Free Diet Coke as well as Caffeine-Free. The report provides a brief description about the meaning of customer and the customer satisfaction. It then provides a brief overview about the importance of customer satisfaction to Coca Cola and methods used by the Company to keep track of customer satisfaction. The report illustrates about the customer of the company. Meaning of customer A customer is an individual or trade that acquires the commodities or services manufactured by a business. Attracting customers is the major goal of most public-facing trades as the customers generates demand for commodities and services. Most of the businesses compete through advertisements or reduced prices in order to attract an even-larger customer base. According to Crook Wood (2014),the proverb that the customer is always right is mostly followed by a business as it is considered that happy customers mostly continues to purchase commodities and services from companies that meet their demands. Several companies mostly monitor the relationship closely that they have with their customers. A customer may or may not be a consumer however; the two concepts are different even though the terms are mostly confused. A customer is the one who buys products and the consumer is the one who uses them. An intermediate customer is not a consumer at all. An external customer of an organization is a customer who is not closely associated with the organization (Bell, LedoitWolf, 2014). On the other hand, an internal customer is the one who is closely associated with an organization. Internal customers mostly include stakeholders, workers as well as shareholders. Coca Cola considers the preference of customer as the core value. For the Company it indicates the building of true relationships that generates sustainable value as well as profitable growth. In order to meet the preference of the customer, the Company follows five core objectives that include availability, affordability, acceptability, activation as well as attitude. Customer Satisfaction Customer satisfaction is a frequently used term in the concept of marketing and it is often abbreviated as CSAT. It is used to measure goods and services that are supplied by a company in order to meet or surpass the expectation of customers. Customer satisfaction is described as the total number customers or percentage of total customers, whose detailed experience with a firm is more than the specified satisfaction objectives. Customer satisfaction can only be accomplished if the customer has an overall good collaboration with the supplier. It is also considered as the part of the experience of customers that exposes behavior of suppliers on the expectation of the customers (SrivastavaKaul, 2014). It is also an abstract notion that involves factors such as the quality of the commodity, the quality of the service provided as well as the atmosphere of the location where the goods or service is purchased. In order to gauge customer satisfaction, most of the businesses make the use of c ustomer satisfaction surveys. It is required for an organization in order to interact as well as communicate with customers on a daily basis in order to increase satisfaction of customers (Zablah et al., 2016). The importance of customer satisfaction to business Customer satisfaction is mostly imperative to business as it provides marketers as well as business owners with a metric that they in order to manage and improve their business can use them. It is considered as a leading indicator of consumer repurchases objective and allegiance (Duze, 2016). Customer satisfaction is considered important to a business as it is considered as the best indicator of how likely a customer will make an acquisition in the future. It is important to ask a customer to rate their satisfaction on the scale of 1-10. A customer who will give rating of 7 or above can be considered as satisfied. On the other hand, if the customers provide a ratingof 9-10, they will be considered as customer advocates (Krn, 2014).However, scores of below 6 acts as a warning sign that reflects that a customer is not happy and he is at risk of leaving. Customer satisfaction is important to a business as it acts as a point of differentiation. Customer satisfaction is viewed as a major differentiator in a competitive marketplace where businesses competes for customers. Businesses that are able to succeed in this competitive environment are the ones that are able to provide customer satisfaction a major element of their business strategy. According to Peppers Rogers (2016), customer satisfaction is also important, as it is able to diminish customer churn. It acts as a metric that can be used to diminish customer churn. By measuring and tracking customer satisfaction, a company will be able to put new procedures in place in order to raise the total quality of the customer service. The lifetime value of the customers is also increased as it helps to determine the amount of revenue that is generated by a customer in a business. The importance of customer lifetime value is required to acknowledge a successful business. The negative word of mouth is also reduced by customer satisfaction as a result, it is important to a business. A business often looses out customers if they are not satisfied with the customer service and as a result, they are not satisfied. It is reasonable to keep hold of customers than to acquire new ones. This is mostly required as it costs a lot of money to acquire new customers (Alexandrov, LillyBab akus, 2013). Methods to keep track customer satisfaction The methods that will help to keep track of customer satisfaction are as follows: Customer satisfaction surveys: One of the standard methods that help to keep track of customer satisfaction is the customer satisfaction surveys that make use of three diverse types of surveys: InApp Surveys: With the help of this type of survey,a company will be able to accomplish a subtle feedback bar from inside the website of the company. Under this type of survey, the customers are asked for their opinion while theyare engaged with the company. These surveys are especially useful to measure some of the standard metrics of customer satisfaction (Kumar, 2016). Post-Service Surveys: This type of survey helps to track satisfaction of customers that it mostly focus on the satisfaction of customers with a precise service that is received by the customer (SorescuSorescu, 2016). This type of survey is conducted with the help of email support with a rating link in the mail. It can also be done over the phone however; sometimes it take more time from the customers. Email Surveys: This method is more useful to keep in-depth track of customer satisfaction as compared to the above mentioned surveys. Itprovides customers with a lot of time in order to answer multiple queries (Krn, 2014). Transactional Surveys: This type of survey is mostly referred to as event surveys that are mostly focused on the satisfaction of customers with a precise interaction as well as touch point. It acts fresh in the mind of the customers as this survey is conducted soon after interaction with the customers (Orel Kara, 2014). This in turn helps to keep track of customer satisfaction. Providers who expertise in transactional survey mostly offers dashboards in order to monitor the results in-time. In order to keep track of customer it is also important to determine the goals of the analysis. It can be done in the following ways: Qualitative and Quantitative approaches:The company requires to have an idea about the types of question that they require to ask as well as the type of data that they require to gather. Qualitative data would include personal, emotional as well as subjective data. On the other hand, quantitative data comprises statistical records that show how often a customer revisits stores to purchase the particular good. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques have specific strengths and weakness that requires to be considered (SorescuSorescu, 2016).Qualitative research proves to be helpful as it provides insightful information about the perception of the customers about the products. On the other hand, quantitative research provides more discrete data and results. Primary Data Collection: Some Companies maintain that customer satisfaction is a key function of the difference between what the customers had anticipated to get from the commodity purchased and theinsightsabout what they received (Fallon, 2016). The customer of Coca Cola The company, Coca Cola mostly exists in order tosatisfy the requirement of the customers. The Company mostly seeks to have a better understanding about the impact of Coca Cola business along the overall value cycle. The direct customers of Coca Cola includes outlets, such as leisure centers, cinemas, supermarkets, service station as well as several other retailers that sells soft-drinks. The end-customers of Coca Cola include thousands of individuals who consume soft drinks globally (Hossain et al., 2016).The customers of Coca Cola looks for a better understanding regarding the effect of the Coca Cola trade along the culture value cycle. The customers of the Company mostly look for methods that help to reduce costs as well as improve sales and profits and deliver an enhanced quality. The customers who are likely to purchase Diet Coke include baby boomers or women and adults who are health conscious. Customer satisfaction tracking process The customer satisfaction procedure that is used by Coca Cola are as follows: Periodic Surveys: The Company makes the use of this survey that involves getting in touch with the customers and gathering feedback from them directly. There are several forms of periodic surveys, whichinclude email surveys as well as online surveys. This type of surveys is mostly conducted at regular intervals that range from weekly to yearly held surveys. The advantage that is associated with periodic survey is that the company that makes use of the survey gets direct feedback from the survey. However, the disadvantage that is associated with this survey is that if they are conducted at intervals, it might have an impact on the behavior being measured. Customer loss rate: The Company also makes the use of customer loss rate that measures the customer satisfaction. Several causes that lead to loss of customers include the quality of the product, logistics as well as incorrect commitments(Lun et al., 2016). It can also take place due to some alteration in the products or due to different products launched by the competitor. Survey Monkey: It is considered as the leading online survey tool that is used by Coca Cola that helps to create any other type of survey besides customer satisfaction. With the help of Survey Monkey, Coca Cola receives a large-scale enterprise option. It also provides free, customizable surveys that comprise of data analysis as well as data representation tools. Conclusion It is imperative to track customer satisfaction as it helps to predict the future revenue. Satisfied customers are more likely to repeat the purchase of the particular commodity that meets their demand. However, an unsatisfied customer will tend to go elsewhere to purchase other products. Customer satisfaction also helps to outpace the competition. In drenched markets, customer satisfaction sparks competition for the loyalty of customers. It can also be concluded that it is reasonable to keep customer than to get customers. A satisfied customer spends more long term and it is easier to keep them happy rather than trying to get hold of a new customer.It can be concluded that customer advocacy is a very effectual form of marketing. A positive word of mouth is very important for companies like Coca Cola that has several competitors. It can also be concluded that the present customer satisfaction tracking process used by the company is the Survey Monkey that helps to track customer satisfaction of Coca Cola. With the help of this survey, the Company is able to get the feedback regarding the fact that whether they like Coke more as compared to Pepsi. With the help of this survey, they are also able to keep track regarding how often the customers purchase Coca Cola. The Company also makes the use of customer loss rate that also helps Coca Cola to reduce the loss of customers. It also referred to as customer churn rate that gives details of the total customers who stopped using the product. With the help of this, the Company is able to acknowledge the causes that stop an individual to use the product. Periodic survey also helps the Company to gather data on present topics in pediatrics. Recommendation It is also recommended that the Company should make the use of monitor competitor performance beside the three tracking procedures. With the help of this tracking process, that will help the Company to decide who has a comparatively better customer satisfaction. A mystery shopper is another way that helps to track customer satisfaction. With the help of this, Coca Cola will able to figure out how its product is represented to its customers or how its competitors product is represented to the customers. The mystery shopper will help to monitor competitor performance as they offer an accurate as well as reliable method of quality control that provides with a means to recognize both good customer services. Shoppers are chosen from the database as per their location as well as their appropriateness in terms of the sort of commodity programs. This will enable individuals to compare the performance of every outlet as well as reward that demonstrate the best customer service. References Alexandrov, A., Lilly, B., Babakus, E. (2013). The effects of social-and self-motives on the intentions to share positive and negative word of mouth.Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science,41(5), 531-546. Bell, D. R., Ledoit, O., Wolf, M. (2014). A new portfolio formation approach to mispricing of marketing performance indicators: An application to customer satisfaction.Customer Needs and Solutions,1(4), 263-276. Crook, R., Wood, D. (2014). The customer is always right? Consumerism and the probation service.European Journal of Probation,6(1), 57-66. Duze, B. E. (2016).A Study to Diagnose the Effect of Customer-Based Brand Equity on Brand Loyalty(Master's thesis, Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU)-Do?uAkdenizniversitesi (DA)). Fallon, M. (2016).Primary Data Collection.InWriting up Quantitative Research in the Social and Behavioral Sciences(pp. 147-155).SensePublishers. Hossain, M., Robin, R. H., Rajon, N. I. A. H., Chowdhury, A. A. K. (2016). PROJECT REPORT ON LOCATION ANALYSIS OF COCA-COLA COMPANY. Jakeman, B., Lim, S., Porcini, M., Bhar, Y., Malone, M., Murphy-Reinhertz, N. (2014).U.S. Patent No. D716,093. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Krn, S. (2014).Analysing customer satisfaction and quality in constructionthe case of public and private customers.Nordic journal of surveying and real estate research,2. Krn, S. (2014).Analysing customer satisfaction and quality in constructionthe case of public and private customers.Nordic journal of surveying and real estate research,2. Kumar, V. (2016). Introduction: Is Customer Satisfaction (Ir) relevant as a Metric?.Journal of Marketing,80(5), 108-109. Lun, Y. V., Shang, K. C., Lai, K. H., Cheng, T. C. E. (2016). Examining the influence of organizational capability in innovative business operations and the mediation of profitability on customer satisfaction: An application in intermodal transport operators in Taiwan.International Journal of Production Economics,171, 179-188. Orel, F. D., Kara, A. (2014). Supermarket self-checkout service quality, customer satisfaction, and loyalty: Empirical evidence from an emerging market.Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services,21(2), 118-129. Peppers, D., Rogers, M. (2016).Managing Customer Experience and Relationships: A Strategic Framework. John Wiley Sons. Sorescu, A., Sorescu, S. M. (2016). Customer Satisfaction and Long-Term Stock Returns.Journal of Marketing,80(5), 110-115. Srivastava, M., Kaul, D. (2014). Social interaction, convenience and customer satisfaction: The mediating effect of customer experience.Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services,21(6), 1028-1037. Walker, J. S., Fincham, M. M., Dickerson, J. B. (2014).U.S. Patent No. 8,712,860. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Zablah, A. R., Carlson, B. D., Donavan, D. T., Maxham III, J. G., Brown, T. J. (2016).A cross-lagged test of the association between customer satisfaction and employee job satisfaction in a relational context.Journal of Applied Psychology,101(5), 743.

Culture Shock When Studying Abroad Research Paper Example

Culture Shock When Studying Abroad Paper Studying abroad and culture shock Are you planning to study in the UK? Are you looking forward to an exciting time, with high expectations of life in Britain? If you have been to the UK already, then you will roughly know what to expect. If it is your first time in the country and perhaps your first time abroad you may find that settling in is not an automatic process but that it requires a bit of effort. You may be surprised by this, and at some stage you will probably use the term culture shock to explain your reactions. But what exactly is culture shock? What does it feel like? Can you prevent it? Probably not but you can minimise its effect. Read on and find out how. You may settle in more easily if you know in advance how you are likely to feel after your arrival. Research into culture shock For over thirty years, culture shock has been a bona fide field of research for European and American anthropologists and psychologists. They have studied the reactions and experiences during the first few months in a new country of travellers and diplomats, business people and international students. The anthropologist Dr. Kalvero Oberg was the first to use the term. Others have since experimented with ‘culture fatigue’ and ‘role shock’ but these have not made it into everyday usage. Culture shock is snappy and somehow we all know what it means to us, although if asked, we may find it as difficult to define as ‘jet lag’ or ‘homesickness’. Some researchers describe five stages; others believe it is a six or even seven stage process. Not everyone experiences the exact stages but most travellers will go through the highs and lows, the positive as well as the negative aspects of living in a new culture. The different stages roughly are as follows: At first you are excited by the new environment and a few frustrations do not spoil your enthusiasm. When experiencing some difficulties with simple things like, for instance, making telephone calls, or using public transport, you tend to down-play negative emotions. Then follows a period in which cultural differences in behaviour and values become more obvious. What previously seemed exciting, new and challenging is now merely frustrating. You may feel isolated and become withdrawn from life around you. You seek security in the familiar. Food from home, possibly even what you never particularly enjoyed, becomes a focus, maybe an obsession. We will write a custom essay sample on Culture Shock When Studying Abroad specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Culture Shock When Studying Abroad specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Culture Shock When Studying Abroad specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In the next stage you may reject what is around you, perhaps becoming opinionated and negative. You may feel that everyone is against you and that nobody understands you. Limpet-like you cling to other students from your home country, hoping to have your negative stereotypes of the British and life in Britain reinforced. However, you are beginning to re-assert yourself. Based on your successes in negotiating a variety of social situations and, maybe, increased language skills, your self-esteem grows. You can accept the negative differences and tolerate them. Knowing that you cannot change your surroundings you now enjoy certain aspects of British culture and feel relieved and strengthened from having overcome the difficulties. You may even feel a sense of belonging. The symptoms Just as everyone’s experience of culture shock is unique, the symptoms associated with it vary, too. They can range from the physical headaches, lethargy, sleep problems, loss of appetite and digestive irregularities to the psychological, irritability and anger over minor frustrations, confusion about morals and values. Suffering from culture shock often leaves people feeling moody, isolated and insecure. Researchers believe that the beginning of the negative phases happen most often within two to six months of living in a new culture but many travellers experience the full gambit of emotions associated with culture shock in a much narrower time span. Not everyone experiences culture shock But what about all those many people who immediately feel at home at Britain? Who embrace everything wholeheartedly and enthusiastically? Who experience no problems in settling in? Research has shown that the more well-travelled and practised at absorbing, accepting and adapting you are, the more easily you overcome culture shock. If you are confident from speaking the language and possess a thorough knowledge of your new home, you can feel settled after a relatively short period. If you have adjusted well to your new environment, you perform competently the roles that each social context requires and thus avoid the frustrations resulting from inappropriate behaviour. Some individuals do not seek cultural adjustment, either because they do not agree with the values and behaviour prevalent in the new country, or because they fear to loose too much of their own cultural identity. Living in a cultural vacuum may not be easy and can lead to feeling, and being treated, like an outsider. Others deny or even reject their own culture and unquestioningly embrace everything new. Whilst living in Britain, this may seem a viable course of action but on returning home can lead to re-integration problems. Those who neither completely reject their own culture nor that of the new country tend to be most successful at overcoming culture shock. They will attempt to mix and merge aspects of both cultures and thus become bicultural. Preparing for culture shock What strategies can you use to minimise, and cope with, culture shock? Research has shown that our expectations affect how we react to a new country. Therefore, thorough pre-departure preparations are necessary; Read the very useful booklet ‘How to live in Britain’ (from the British Council) Perhaps you know someone who has lived in the UK, or better still studied at the university or college you are going to. Talk to them but beware, they may indulge in some nostalgia when looking back on their student days. Ask them what problems and disappointments they have experienced. To contact former students, find out whether the institution you are going to supports an alumni group in your country. Read all the pre-departure literature sent to you by your university or college. Write to the International Welfare Officer for information if you are unsure about anything. Before leaving home, try and find out some social survival skills: how to address people in different social groups how gender roles affect social relationships what constitutes acceptable behaviour in a range of everyday situations how gestures and body language differ from your country’s Do not rely on TV or cinema films to provide you cultural pointers. British soap operas and films only give you a stereotypical and often idolised view. How to overcome culture shock After arriving at your new university or college, the following suggestions may assist you in reducing the strain of culture shock: Be aware of the signs, including the physical symptoms. Soon after arriving, explore you immediate environment. Having taken advice on personal safety, walk around and get to know your neighbourhood. Create a mental map of your surroundings. Be courageous and introduce yourself to you neighbours. If you live in university accommodation, these are likely to be other students who feel just the way you do. Locate useful places such as he post office, the doctor’s surgery and the university welfare office so that you know where they are when you need them. Read a local newspaper and find out what the topical issues are. If you are well informed, you can hold conversations with British people without always feeling the outsider. If you are unsure of your English, boost your confidence by remembering that most British peopl e do not speak a foreign language. Make an effort at improving your language skills by watching TV and listening to the radio. You institution may run free courses for international students. Take a break from studying and take part in social activities. Enquire about things like etiquette and dress code if you are at all unsure. Ask questions about social customs from people with whom you feel comfortable. You will always find someone who will assist you in finding out about life in Britain. This can be a two-way exchange, with you telling people about life in your home country. Keep in touch with your own culture. The university’s International Welfare Officer should know, for instance, where the nearest temples and mosques are and where you can buy the cookery ingredients that you are used to from home. Avoid mixing only with compatriots or other international students. Contact with British people allows you to adapt more quickly. By asking questions you have a point of contact when trying to make friends. A good way of meeting British people is to take part in a hosting scheme where British families invite international students into their homes for a meal, or a weekend stay. Ask the International Welfare Officer about this. Ask yourself which situations irritate or confuse you the most. Are you sure that you have always understood people’s reactions to you, or could it be that you misinterpreting their behaviour? Avoid comparing them and us, good and bad. Establishing why people behave the way they do and placing their behaviour in a social or economic context is more helpful. Help to reduce stress on your body by keeping fit physically. If you are feeling very low, talk to someone about it. This could be your fellow students, your landlord, or university staff such as the International Welfare Officer or Student Counsellor. Write down things you like and do not like. Can you change them? If not, perhaps you can find a way of living with them. And finally, remember that other students probably go through the same experiences as you do. Even British students have to adjust to living away from home. Adapting to a different climate, different social conventions and different cultural values can be a complex and sometimes painful process, but coming out at the other end is rewarding, enriching and definitely worth the effort! Author: Christine Eickelmann, University of Northumbria, U. K What Is It? Culture shock isnt a clinical term or medical condition. Its simply a common way to describe the confusing and nervous feelings a person may have after leaving a familiar culture to live in a new and different culture. When you move to a new place, youre bound to face a lot of changes. That can be exciting and stimulating, but it can also be overwhelming. You may feel sad, anxious, frustrated, and want to go home. Its natural to have difficulty adjusting to a new culture. People from other cultures (whom youll be hanging out with and going to school with) may have grown up with values and beliefs that differ from yours. Because of these differences, the things they talk about, the ways they express themselves, and the importance of various ideas may be very different from what you are used to. But the good news is that culture shock is temporary. What Causes Culture Shock? To understand culture shock, it helps to understand what culture is. You may know that genes determine a big part of how you look and act. What you might not know is that your environment — your surroundings — has a big effect on your appearance and behavior as well. Your environment isnt just the air you breathe and the food you eat, though; a big part of your environment is culture. Culture is made up of the common things that members of a community learn from family, friends, media, literature, and even strangers. These are the things that influence how theylook, act, and communicate. Often, you dont even know youre learning these things because they become second-nature to you — for instance, the way you shake hands with someone when meeting them, when you eat your meals each day, the kind of things you find funny, or how you view religion. When you go to a new place, such as a new country or even a new city, you often enter a culture that is different from the one you left. Sometimes your culture and the new culture are similar. Other times, they can be very different, and even contradictory. What might be perfectly normal in one culture — for instance, spending hours eating a meal with your family — might be unusual in a culture that values a more fast-paced lifestyle. The differences between cultures can make it very difficult to adjust to the new surroundings. You may encounter unfamiliar clothes, weather, and food as well as different people, schools, and values. You may find yourself struggling to do things in your new surroundings that were easy back home. Dealing with the differences can be very unsettling; those feelings are part adjusting to a new culture My experience with culture shock in the UK My experience with culture shock in the UK Below is an excerpt from a letter I wrote home in November 2004, several weeks after I arrived in Cheltenham, England, after spending ten years stationed in Hawaii. It describes my experience in coping with culture shock. In adapting to England over the last several weeks, I would say that the culture does not feel foreign, so much as different. It’s like seeing something odd out of the corner of my eye; I shift my perception to take it in more completely, and spend a little more time processing it, but what originally caught my attention does not seem so strange as it did at first glance. What wears me down is the sheer number of times I have to stop and process the new and somewhat different information, and attempt to relate it to what I already know. The signs are in English, although the English is often not quite the same usage as what I would anticipate. The street signs are strange but generally understandable, after a few moments observation of the traffic and the area. The food often has funny or incomprehensible names but usually tastes good, although not quite like anything I’ve ever had at home, either. The coins look odd and sound funny when clinking together in my pocket (and the denominations are slightly different as well) but they work as coins ought to when I need to use them. The accents of the people I pass by on the street often render their speech incomprehensible, but if I end up chatting with those same people, eventually something clicks in my brain and the words fall together (albeit usually not until after an embarrassing pause whilst my brain furiously processes the shift in pronunciation and the slightly different grammar and usage). On top of this is my knowledge that most of these people have no problem understanding me, because they have been watching American films and TV shows their whole lives and have no problems at all understanding an American accent and American English usage. Brits do like Americans, though, so any problems I have understanding them usually injects a bit of humor in an otherwise awkward situation (as long as I am polite about it, of course). This is why I stated in my previous letter that I have not been unhappy here, simply overwhelmed. I have met so many nice people and when I am willing to express my confusion, they are always willing to help me clear it up. The only times I do not try to clear things up are when I am already at my limit and feel that I can no longer take in new information. Ah, the wisdom of maturity. Only a few years ago, I would have been constantly berating myself for not understanding everything instantly. Something that a constantly changing military lifestyle has taught me, though, is patience with myself and a better understanding of my learning curve and my limits. I am confident, now, that I will learn what I need to learn eventually, and I am willing to grant myself the time to learn it (usually). For those of you who received my Australia trip e-mails, you may recall that I mentioned that Australia felt less foreign than Hawaii. Modern Hawaiian culture has such a strong Asian and Pacific cultural influence that Hawaii often appears to feel more like a foreign country than a U. S. state. So I must admit that when I say that England does not feel really foreign, I am again comparing it to my experience in Hawaii. Mainstream American culture often feels closer to English culture than it does to Hawaiian culture. I would like to emphasize, though, that I don’t consider this to be either a good or bad situation; I truly enjoyed my experience in Hawaii, and the strong Asian influence simply made it more interesting. I’m just commenting on the differences between the cultures. Well, enough philosophizing! Onward to the specific bits†¦ Of course, no discussion of the differences between our two cultures would be complete without mentioning the traffic. I have had a truly difficult time learning that the British drive on the left†¦ and I am only referring to my experiences as a pedestrian! This IS foreign, no doubt about it. I have crossed more busy streets here in the last several weeks than I have in the last several years, and every time, it is a challenge for me to remember which lane contains traffic going in which direction. It is as if I learned American traffic patterns in infancy, when I can’t even remember learning them, and now I cannot unlearn them, or at least adapt them to these new conditions. My car will be arriving soon. My American friends here tell me that it really isn’t too difficult learning to drive on the left side of the road, that you just follow the cars in front of you and you usually do okay. I do suspect that once I have been driving for a while, that will help me learn the drive-on-the-left traffic patterns much better than just being a pedestrian. I had an awesome time in England. I met many wonderful people, both at work and outside of it, especially in my A Course in Miracles study group. I eventually adapted quite well and took the opportunity to travel both locally and further afield, to Scotland and the Shetland and Orkney Islands, and on continental Europe (which I mentioned in an earlier post about driving through the Alps). On the one hand, I wish I’d been able to stay longer in England (I was originally supposed to be there for 3 years, but was there only 1 year). On the other hand, a few months after I arrived back in Quincy, I met my future husband. Well †¦ I guess it was a good trade. Good culture shock , Introduction Leaving home and travelling to study in a new country can be a stressful experience. Even though it may be something you have planned and prepared for, the extent of the change and the effects it has on you may take you by surprise. If you find that you are surprised by the effects of the change, it might be helpful to realise that your experience is quite normal. This applies whatever country you come from, and wherever you are going to study, even though some cultures are more similar than others because of geographic, historic, demographic and other connections. What is culture shock? Culture shock describes the impact of moving from a familiar culture to one which is unfamiliar. It is an experience described by people who have travelled abroad to work, live or study; it can be felt to a certain extent even when abroad on holiday. It can affect anyone, including international students. It includes the shock of a new environment, meeting lots of new people and learning the ways of a different country. It also includes the shock of being separated from the important people in your life, maybe family, friends, colleagues, teachers: people you would normally talk to at times of uncertainty, people who give you support and guidance. When familiar sights, sounds, smells or tastes are no longer there you can miss them very much. If you are tired and jet-lagged when you arrive small things can be upsetting and out of all proportion to their real significance. The following are some of the elements that contribute to culture shock: Climate Many students find that the British climate affects them a lot. You may be used to a much warmer climate, or you may just find the greyness and dampness, especially during the winter months, difficult to get used to. Food You may find British food strange. It may taste different, or be cooked differently, or it may seem bland or heavy compared to what you are used to. If you are in selfcatering accommodation and unused to cooking for yourself, you may find yourself relying on â€Å"fast† food instead of your usual diet. Try to find a supplier of familiar food, and eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Language Constantly listening and speaking in a foreign language is tiring. If English is not your first language, you may find that you miss your familiar language which at home would have been part of your everyday environment. Even if you are a fluent English speaker it is possible that the regional accents you discover when you arrive in the UK will make the language harder to understand. People may also speak quickly and you may feel embarrassed to ask them to repeat what they have said. Dress If you come from a warm climate, you may find it uncomfortable to wear heavy winter clothing. Not all students will find the British style of dress different but, for some, it may seem immodest, unattractive, comical or simply drab. Social roles Social behaviours may confuse, surprise or offend you. For example you may find people appear cold and distant or always in a hurry. This may be particularly likely in the centre of large cities. Or you may be surprised to see couples holding hands and kissing in public. You may find the relationships between men and women more formal or less formal than you are used to, as well as differences in same sex social contact and relationships. Rules of behaviour As well as the obvious things that hit you immediately when you arrive, such as sights, sounds, smells and tastes, every culture has unspoken rules which affect the way people treat each other. These may be less obvious but sooner or later you will probably encounter them and once again the effect may be disorientating. For example there will be differences in the ways people decide what is important, how tasks are allocated and how time is observed. The British generally have a reputation for punctuality. In business and academic life keeping to time is important. You should always be on time for lectures, classes, and meetings with academic and administrative staff. If you are going to be late for a meeting do try to let whoever you are meeting know. Social life is a little more complicated. Arranging to meet to see a film at 8pm means arriving at 8pm. But if you are invited to visit someone’s home for dinner at 8pm, you should probably aim to arrive at about ten minutes after eight, but not later than about twenty past. When going to a student party an invitation for 8pm probably means any time from 9. 30 onwards! These subtle differences can be difficult to grasp and can contribute to culture shock. Values Although you may first become aware of cultural differences in your physical environment, e. g. ood, dress, behaviour, you may also come to notice that people from other cultures may have very different views of the world from yours. Cultures are built on deeply-embedded sets of values, norms, assumptions and beliefs. It can be surprising and sometimes distressing to find that people do not share some of your most deeply held ideas, as most of us take our core values and beliefs for granted and assume they are universa lly held. As far as possible, try to suspend judgment until you understand how parts of a culture fit together into a coherent whole. Try to see what people say or do in the context of their own culture’s norms. This will help you to understand how other people see your behaviour, as well as how to understand theirs. When you understand both cultures, you will probably find some aspects of each that you like and others that you don’t. A model of culture shock The process of culture shock can be illustrated by a model known as the â€Å"W† curve (see diagram on the following page). This model may not relate to your experience or only partially. Sometimes the process is faster or slower. Many people go through different phases of the process of adjustment several times, so parts of the curve in the diagram may repeat themselves. For instance, at significant times such as important family dates or festivals you may feel distressed or lonely, while at other times you feel quite settled. However, many people have reported that this model has reflected something of their experience and they have found it helpful to realise they are not the only ones to have had these feelings. The process can be broken down into 5 stages: 1. The â€Å"honeymoon† stage When you first arrive in a new culture, differences are intriguing and you may feel excited, stimulated and curious. At this stage you are still protected by the close memory of your home culture. . The â€Å"distress† stage A little later, differences create an impact and you may feel confused, isolated or inadequate as cultural differences intrude and familiar supports (eg family or friends) are not immediately available. 3. â€Å"Re-integration† stage Next you may reject the differences you encounter. You may feel angry or frustrated, or hos tile to the new culture. At this stage you may be conscious mainly of how much you dislike it compared to home. Don’t worry, as this is quite a healthy reaction. You are reconnecting with what you value about yourself and your own culture. 4. Autonomy† stage Differences and similarities are accepted. You may feel relaxed, confident, more like an old hand as you become more familiar with situations and feel well able to cope with new situations based on your growing experience. 5. â€Å"Independence† stage Differences and similarities are valued and important. You may feel full of potential and able to trust yourself in all kinds of situations. Most situations become enjoyable and you are able to make choices according to your preferences and values. Diagram of  W-Curve: Stages of adjustment experienced during orientation. Adapted from  Orientated for Success, edited by M Barker, Australian International Development Assistance Bureau, 1990. Some of the effects of culture shock Some of the symptoms of culture shock can be worrying themselves. For example, you may find your health is affected and you may get headaches or stomach aches or you may start worrying about your health more than previously. You may find it difficult to concentrate and as a result find it harder to focus on your course work. Other people find they become more irritable or tearful and generally their emotions seem more changeable. All of these effects can in themselves increase your anxiety. How to help yourself Though culture shock is normally a temporary phase, it is important to know there are things you can do to help so that some of these worrying effects can be minimised. Don’t feel â€Å"this isn’t going to happen to me†. Culture shock can hit you whatever culture you come from and however experienced or well-travelled you are. ? Simply understanding that this is a normal experience may in itself be helpful. ? Keep in touch with home. There are several ways you may be able to do this: for example telephone, letter, fax, email. Several telephone companies offer greatly reduced charges for international calls. Check your Student Services, Students’ Union or International Office for information. If you live close enough to travel home at weekends, it is a good idea not to go home too often as this will make settling more difficult. Once or twice a term is probably best. Newspapers and satellite TV will also be an option for some people, again, see what is available for international students in your college or university. ? Have familiar things around you that have personal meaning, such as photographs or ornaments. ? Find a supplier of familiar food if you can. Your student adviser or a student society may be able to help. Eat a healthy and balanced diet. ? Take regular exercise. As well as being good for your health it can be a way of meeting people. ? Make friends with international students, whether from your own culture or from others, as they will understand what you’re feeling and, if possible, make friends with the local students so you can learn more about each other’s culture. Be prepared to take the first step and find activities which will give you a common interest with UK students e. g. sports, music or volunteering. ? Take advantage of all the help that is offered by your institution. In particular, the orientation programme offered by most colleges and universities can be a valuable way of meeting people and finding out about things that can help you. ? Use the university or college services, where there will be professional and experienced staff. For example the health service, the counselling service, the International Office or hall wardens will provide a friendly, listening ear. Even if at home you wouldn’t consider such steps, in the UK it is quite normal and they may help when your familiar helpers are missing. If you are finding settling down difficult, your personal tutor probably also needs to know. She or he may be able to help, particularly with adjusting to a different academic system. ? For some students linking with a faith community will put you in touch with a familiar setting, whether it is a church, mosque, synagogue or temple. Many universities have a chaplaincy in which several faiths may be represented. There may also be religious student societies. Many chaplaincies welcome students of all faiths for pastoral or social activities. ? Investigate the Students’ Union and its societies. There may be an opportunity to learn a new sport or activity or continue an interest from home. A further advantage is that these societies bring together students from different courses and countries with a shared interest. There are often national societies that will celebrate significant occasions such as Chinese New Year or Thanksgiving. For UK students, student societies can be one of the many ways of making new friends. ? Above all find some one to talk to who will listen uncritically and with understanding, rather than isolating yourself. Finally It is important to stress that culture shock is entirely normal, usually unavoidable and not a sign that you have made a mistake or that you won’t manage. In fact there are very positive aspects of culture shock. The experience can be a significant learning experience, making you more aware of aspects of your own culture as well as the new culture you have entered. It will give you valuable skills that will serve you in many ways now and in the future and which will be part of the benefit of an international education. Useful resource Whats up with culture? is a web-based training resource, designed for US students abroad but potentially of interest to any international student wanting to learn more about cultural transition. for information about how to make such an application.