Managing Culture Shock When Living Abroad

Dealing with culture shock is a matter of improving your understanding of your retirement destination.

Yesterday’s post was a trick question. The country with the large number of murders, people in poverty, infant deaths, STD’s, and political unrest was the United States and not some Third World country. Yes, all those statistics describe America. The purpose of the trick question was to introduce you to the concept of culture shock.

A good part of your ability to successfully retire abroad is your frame of mind and how well it can adapt to an entirely new cultural environment. I have read many forums, from many different countries that I considered as a possible retirement destination. In doing so, I’ve discovered many expatriates who were absolutely miserable with living overseas, while others who were happy as can be.

Usually, the unhappy expatriates will go through great pains in explaining why they dislike a particular culture or country. While their feelings are real and genuine, I often feel that a lot of their problems stem from a lack of perspective about that country, the USA, and the world.

Here are some of the more common compaints and perceptions that I read about in these various expatriate forums:

Culture Shock Perception #1:  The people of this country are corrupt and will cheat you whenever they can. They pretend the corruption isn’t there or they are part of it.

The reality is that corruption exists in every country of the world. It is difficult to gauge whether one country is more corrupt than another. But it is not difficult to see that over time, residents in any country become blind to corruption because it is so complex and difficult to understand. And most individuals feel helpless to do anything about it. So the blinders go up.

If you need an example from America, just take a look at the recent financial crisis where banks and other lenders nearly took the world into another global depression. In the end, governments all over the world ended up bailing out these lenders who acted out of greed and engaged in questionable business practices for profits. American taxpayers will be paying for this economic bailout for years, and the magnitude of that big ripoff will make any Third World dictator look like Mother Teresa in comparison.

But how many Americans really see this as corruption, with the state in collusion with these corporations? Politics as usual occurs in every country, but the magnitude is probably greatest and most invisible in America.

Culture Shock Perception #2: The people of this country are racist and treat me badly because I am American.

The reality is that every country have “protectionist” laws in place to protect their countries from foreign influences.  These laws are intended to discriminate against non-citizens and to protect the citizens of a country. Whether or not these laws make sense or do what they claim to do is another matter, but they exist in every country.

To put it all in perspective, take a look at America’s debates on immigration and free trade. These are all debates around setting up special rules to protect Americans against foreigners. When you step onto foreign soil, you should expect the same in return and learn how to negotiate this territory.

Culture Shock Perception #3: There is one price for locals and another price for foreigners.

The reality is that in most economies there are markets where the price is fixed and there are markets where prices are not fixed. If you enter a market where prices are fixed (e.g. a large supermarket) prices don’t discriminate. On the other hand, if you enter a market where prices are not set and have to be negotiated, expect the opening price to be high. And, if you look wealthy, expect the opening price to be even higher.

You will need to learn to negotiate the price in markets where the prices are not set. This takes a while to get used to, but you will need to develop these skills in many countries. Think about this – where in the USA are prices not fixed? You normally encounter this when purchasing from individuals or in small local markets like a swap meet. These basic rules generally hold in a market where prices are not set: if the product is scarce and in demand, it is a seller’s market. If the product is available from multiple vendors and has less demand, you are in a strong buyer’s market. The same economic forces are at work in this situation whether in the Philippines or a swap meet in California.

Culture Shock Perception #4: This is a polluted, filthy country.

Sadly, the reality is that pollution exists everywhere. If your retirement destination is a large urban center, there will be more air and noise pollution than if you live in a suburban or rural retirement destination. It’s more of an urban and environmental phenomenon than a national phenomenon.

From a global perspective, the filthiest country on the planet is the United States which produces more pollution per person than any other country on the planet. It amuses me that Obama is scolding some Third World countries for not supporting global warming efforts. Yes, and even Al Gore on any given day probably produces more pollution than 20 people from any Third World country.

Culture Shock Perception #5: This country is full of crime and poverty.

The reality is that poverty and crime exists in every country. But if you are an American, you know how to minimize your exposure to risk in America. Life taught you that. When you start living abroad, you may not know the rules so are at greater risk for running into crime and poverty.

But take a look at it statistically. Although a country like the Philippines has a higher poverty rate, the total number of people living in the USA is about the same number of people living in poverty in the Philippines. Like in the USA, the problem is greatest in the city, particularly if the city is growing rapidly and cannot absorb a growing population into the economy. This is one of the underlying causes for squatter settlements in developing countries and ghettoes in America.

Culture Shock Perception #6: The women of this country are whores, liars, and scammers and just looking for an American sugar daddy.

This complaint usually comes from single men who are overseas who have been disappointed in the romance department. The reality is that prostitution levels are probably no better or worse than the United States itself. If you live in an urban setting, prostitution is likely to exist and be visible.

If you select a significant other who makes a living from prostitution, you are probably more likely to experience more problems than if you select a well-educated middle class girl. The same social reality is true in the United States.

And even if you select someone with a decent upbringing, Americans probably have a better than even chance of getting divorced … it is more ingrained in American culture than in other societies.

Culture Shock Summary:

The debate over whether one country is better or worse than another is probably a pointless debate.  The trick may be to understand what is happening to you when you are living abroad and how you have to adapt to the culture in your new retirement destination. This involves becoming familiar with the urban environment, the economy, and cultural practices wherever you might be living abroad.

Once you develop these understandings, you will find it easier to navigate and live in your new retirement destination – in the same fashion you have managed to avoid certain problems that exist in America. America is a great country, but it has its pimples. Most Americans have learned to ignore or deal with the pimples. If you decide to retire abroad, one of the first things that you will notice are the pimples of your new home. In time, you adapt to that reality – just as you did when you were in the USA. If you can’t adapt, you will continue to see the boogieman around every corner.

Related Posts:

• Understanding Urban Poverty When Living Abroad

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