CanAChineseYoungLadyBecomeAnAmericanWoman?

Environmentssignificantlyinfluenceone’scognition,effect,andbehavior.Onefeelstheimpactofthedifferentcultureespeciallywhenonecomesintoaforeigncountry.Shen-Lan,whoisfromTaiwan,wassatisfiedforherfirsttwenty-fiveyearsoflifebecauseshewassurroundedbythepeoplewhohavelovedherandwhomshehasloved.Herfriendsusedtoaskherwhyshelookedveryhappyalltime.Eventhoughherparentslimitedherbehaviororactivitiesbecauseofsocialbias,sheacceptedthosecontrolsbecausesheunderstoodherparentsreallylovedher.Also,herparentsdideverythingforher,suchastakingcareofher,cookingforherandmakingdecisionsforher.Shecompliedwithwhatherparentsexpected.ShehadneverlefthomebeforeshecametoAmerica.WhenshecametoAmerica,cultureshockobviouslyinfluencedherself-concept,self-esteem,andself-presentation.

InChineseculture,shewastaughttobeinterdependent.Shehadtocarenotonlyaboutherselfbutalsoaboutthepeoplewhowerearoundher,forexampleparents,siblings,andfriends,evenneighbors.However,inAmericansociety,shenoticedthateveryonewasveryindependent,andmindedhisorherownbusiness,andnobodycaredaboutoneanother.Becauseshedidnotwanttogethurt,sheknewthatshehadtomakesomechanges.Inherself-concept,shechangedherinterdependentviewtoanindependentview.

DiscussionQuestions:

1.WhatcultureshockdidShen-Lanexperience?

2.Whatchangestookplaceinher?Howcouldshehaveavoidedorlessenedthecultureshock?

3.Ifyouwereinhersituation,whatwouldyouhavedone?Whatothersuggestionswillyougivehersothatshecouldenjoymorepleasantandmoresuccessfulcross-culturalexperience?