ColeStudebaker

GEOG1113
October24th2013
CulturalShock:ACloserView
Themassiveworldinwhichweallliveisfilledwiththousandsofdifferentcolors,races,
andculturesofpeople.Manypeopleintheworlddonoteverinteractwithpeopleoutsidetheir
closeproximities,thereforethesepeoplebecomeverysusceptibletoaculturalphenomenon
knownasculturalshock.Thistermisusedtodescribethesocialimplicationsthatindividuals
undergowhenoneencountersvariouspeopleorapersonthatisunliketheirownculture.These
culturalshockscomeinmanyshapesandsizes.Everythingfromanawkwardpresencesto
weirdstaresareculturalshocks.Livingintheglobalizingplanetwedo,culturalshocksare
becomingmoreandmoreprevalent.Ineverthoughtthiswouldbethecaseformyself,an
averageAmericanguyfromDallasTexas,butonedayoutofnowhereIexperiencedmyfirst
culturalshockthathassincealteredmyperceptionsaboutourculturallydiverseplanet.
Aboutayear,myfatherandIdecidedtoventureintotheheartofDallasforsomeexotic
food.WecameuponasmallThairestaurantthatseemsveryappealing.AfterorderingourAsian
foodandwaitingforthefoodtobeservedtous,Idecidedtogocasuallyusetherestroominthe
backofthebuildingadjacenttothekitchenwherethefoodwasbeingmade.Iusedtherestroom,
andimmediatelyafterasIwaswalkingbacktomyseat,Inoticedachildhoodfriendofmine
workinginthekitchenonourdinner.Iwavedwithmypalmandfingersfullyextendedatmyfriend
assumingawavebackinafriendlymannerrather,onceIhadcompletedthegestureIwas
hostilyapproachedbytheheadThaichefwhodemandedthatIapologizedorleaved.Iwas
completelydumbfoundedandfoundthatididnotunderstandwhatIhaddonewrongtothese
people.Beforethesituationescalated,myfriendsteppedinandexplainedtohiscoworkerthe
innocentintentionsbehindmyactions.Afterabriefdeliberation,thechiefunderstoodthe
situationandapologized.Ihadjustexperiencedmyfirstcultureshock.Whatiunderstoodtobea
simplehandgesturetorecognizeanoldfriendofminewasperceivedbytheThaiworkerasa
hostileinsultnottobetakenlightly.Thetwodifferingperceptionsbetweenourcultureswas
becomingclearer.Ireallystartedtounderstandthatwhatwasacceptableinourcultureisnot
acceptableeverywhereelseaswell.ThisentiresituationwasacultureshocktomebecauseI
didnotunderstandthis.Ididnotunderstandthateventhesmallestandmostharmlessof
gestureshadthepotentialtobetakeninacompletelydifferentlight.Ihavesincelearnedfrommy
mistakeandhavebecomeamoregloballyawareindividualintheprocess.
WhatgeographicthemeswerepresentinmyencounterattheThairestaurant?Thefirst
wastheprincipleoflocation.AlthoughmyfatherandIwereintheheartofamajorurban
AmericancityinthesouthoftheUnitedStates,specificconcretelocationscanbecomehubsfor
specificethnicandculturalgroups.Eventhesmallrestaurant,nobiggerthanaregularsmall
cuisine,heldaculturalsignificancefortheThaipeopleoftheareaasasourceofpersonal
income.Therefore,itisobviousthatthelocation,assmallandconfinedasitwas,retainedthe
culturaltraitsoftheThaipeople.Asaresult,myAmericanactionsintheThailocationgenerated
amajorculturalshockformeasourdifferingperceptionsofonegesturecreatedaproblem.
Spatialdiffusionwasalsoatworkthatday.AclosermoreindepthviewatThai
restaurantsrevealthisspatialdiffusion.Spatialdiffusionisageographicphenomenonthat
occurswhenaculturalgroupenters,ordiffuses,intoanewcountryorregionandrelocatesor
groupsintocommon,orspatial,locations.TheThairestaurantwevisitedthatdaycouldnothave
beenvisitedifIhadlivedinaruralsettingbecauseThaiimmigrantsareobservedtomainly
settleinanurbanenvironmentsuchasDallas.BecauseofmyonecultureshockintheThai
restaurant,bothgeographicthemesbecomepresentandmyunderstandingofculturesand
identityexponentiallyincrease.