culture shock

culture shock

A sudden feeling of confusion or surprise when confronted by an unfamiliar situation or cultural environment. It is often a huge culture shock for American women traveling to the Middle East when they are expected to wear head scarves and be accompanied by a man at all times.
See also: culture, shock
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

culture shock

A state of confusion and anxiety experienced by someone upon encountering an alien environment. For example, It's not just jet lag-it's the culture shock of being in a new country. This term was first used by social scientists to describe, for example, the experience of a person moving from the country to a big city. It is now used more loosely, as in the example. [Late 1930s]
See also: culture, shock
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • unknown country
  • uncharted waters
  • unfamiliar
  • unfamiliar territory
  • unfamiliar waters
  • murky
  • murky waters
  • murky/uncharted waters
  • SAM
  • in (the) Sam Hill?
References in periodicals archive
Marx, E., (1999), Breaking Through Culture Shock. London: The Electric Book Company
The paper therefore explores one site through which the migrant is made subject through their relocation abroad--the GMI where the expatriate is taught what they 'need' to do in encounter through the treatment of culture shock. The paper draws upon Foucauldian understandings of the subject to look at how we can understand the mobile subject, seeing the 'expatriate' as a subject of knowledge, a discursively produced object to which individuals can orient themselves towards.
Culture shock is undoubtedly going to set in (Coppi, 2007).
He explained that Kalervo Oberg, developer of the current form of culture shock, was born in British Columbia to Finnish parents living in a multicultural neighbourhood.
"I think without a doubt it's a culture shock," he said.
"Culture shock occurs when people interact with members of a very different culture and experience a loss of control.
"Quest for the Other Kingdom: The First Book of Journeys" is the story of a kingdom that widely uses slavery, and the culture shock of a free woman who visits it.
--Diarmuid De Faoite, culture shock and humour columnist
"Tonoharu: Part One" is the start of his story as Daniel must deal with everything coming with his new job--language barriers, culture shock, it's a lonely existence.
This is the tale of his long journey from there, to the refugee camps and finally to the small town of Coffeyville, Kansas, "Home Away From Home" both a story of appreciation and culture shock, and a deftly written account of an oft-forgotten set of immigrants.
Now in a completely revised and updated second edition that includes references to the latest communications technology (e-mail, instant messaging, cell phones, online games, etc.), crucial advice with regard to personal safety, and notes concerning ongoing changes in society and family life that affect travelers, The Exchange Student Survival Kit covers everything from practical packing to learning to identify "red flag" emotions that are likely triggered by culture shock to preparing for reverse culture shock on the trip home.
Culture shock and Japanese-American relations; historical essays.
Lucy, they throw their heads back in a "celebratory howl" which is "exultant and terrible." The growing pains, the victory over culture shock, are so suggestive that we don't know where our sympathies lie.
In November, the Sick Step Crew, along with Teresa Espinosa of Beat Freaks and Groovaloos, and Arnel Calvario of Culture Shock Los Angeles held hip hop, breaking, and popping workshops at Project: Hip Hop.
A CITY'S motorists are suffering a "culture shock" after a new regime of council traffic wardens issued nearly as many tickets in one month as police had in an entire year.