Question

When I first arrived in the USA, I was just 16 years old. I had gone there to live with a host family and attend High school for one year. I was over the moon about everything - and I do mean everything! When the plane finally touched down in San Francisco, I was exhilarated to finally be in America. I had participated in a two-day preparatory meeting before leaving Kazakhstan, but I soon discovered that no preparation could have prevented the culture shock that I experienced — and I'm so glad it didn't! A lot of people confuse the term "culture shock" with a phase of confusion, frustration and homesickness that comes before adjusting to a foreign culture, but there's more to it than that. It also includes the feelings of novelty and excitement that begin on arrival. During this period, I was looking at the place through rose- tinted glasses, and every experience felt exotic, new and exciting. That feeling, however, didn't last forever. A couple of months in, things started to feel kind of odd. I started missing home more and more, and the differences between the USA and Kazakhstan seemed to be growing. I began having negative thoughts more frequently; thoughts like ”nobody understands me here because my English isn’t good enough", or “the people here are so different!". This wasn’t a productive mentality for me. I would often get anxious or frustrated about the most insignificant and silly things, and I had no idea what was up with me. Over the next few months, a sense of belonging replaced the disorientation I’d been feeling. I learned how to adapt to the stress of unfamiliar situations, and ventured out into new social circles where I made a lot of new friends. My English improved dramatically, and I even started dreaming exclusively in English! As my understanding of American culture grew, everything started to fall into place and I knew that I‘d made a real breakthrough. I felt comfortable in my new home, and I no longer made the embarrassing mistakes that l used to make in social situations. I adopted new traits and kept a lot of my old ones, and slowly the “American me" and the “Kazakh me" became one person. I knew for sure that i’d fully assimilated when my friend remarked: «You're American now, Asian! You sound just like us!» l was beaming with pride for the rest of the day. When I arrived in the USA, l was a timid 16-year-old who could barely hold a conversation in English. These days, i’m a confident bi—cultural person who can speak two languages fluently. So how did I bring this transformation about? Here’s the trick: I put myself out there. it's as simple as that. Talk to people, make mistakes, don’t be afraid to embarrass yourself! Develop a routine and find people who share your interests. Be positive, and try to see the good in everything (although that’s easier said than done!), and most of all remember to pack your sense of humor when you go! It will be daunting at first, but trust me, it's well worth the effort. I think if we all did an exchange of some sort, we would live in a more understanding, peaceful world. 1 What does the writer say about culture shock? A) It can make feelings seem more intense. B) Its full meaning is often misunderstood. C) It changes bad first impressions into joy. D) It refers to an initial state of excitement. 2 What does the writer reveal about his feelings in paragraph 3? A) Their negative effects went unnoticed. B) They gradually became worse. C) They resulted from language difficulties. D) They turned out to be insignificant. 3 The writer believes his friend’s comment A) gave him the courage to stay in the US. B) highlighted how well he had adapted to his environment. C) showed he no longer made social mistakes. D) expressed surprise at his language level. 4 What suggestion does the writer give for overcoming culture shock? A) Try not to make mistakes in social settings. B) Leave old habits behind and create a new you. C) Don’t take things seriously. D) Learn to speak foreign languages. 5 What does the writer imply in the last paragraph? A) Cultural connection shapes the global community. B) The negative side of culture shock shouldn’t be overlooked. С) Language learning can lead to world peace. D) Assimilation should be achieved by any means necessary.

Answer 1

What does the writer say about culture shock?

B) Its full meaning is often misunderstood.

What does the writer reveal about his feelings

in paragraph 3?

B) They gradually became worse.

The writer believes his friend’s comment

B) highlighted how well he had adapted to his environment.

What suggestion does the writer give for overcoming culture shock?

B) Leave old habits behind and create a new you.

What does the writer imply in the last paragraph?

A) Cultural connection shapes the global community.

Answer 2

Your narrative describes your personal experience of culture shock and adaptation when you first arrived in the USA as a 16-year-old from Kazakhstan. You went through different phases, from the initial excitement and novelty of being in a new country to feeling disoriented and missing home. Over time, you adapted to the new culture, made friends, improved your English, and became a confident, bi-cultural individual.

Here are some key takeaways from your experience:

1. Culture Shock: You initially experienced culture shock, which is more than just homesickness; it includes both positive and negative emotions when adapting to a new culture.

2. Initial Excitement: At the beginning of your journey, you were excited and everything felt new and exotic.

3. Challenges and Negative Thoughts: After a couple of months, you began to miss home more and experienced negative thoughts and frustrations. You felt that nobody understood you due to language barriers and perceived cultural differences.

4. Adaptation and Growth: Over time, you adapted to the stress of unfamiliar situations, improved your English, and made new friends. You embraced American culture while keeping elements of your Kazakh identity.

5. Assimilation: Eventually, you felt a sense of belonging and fully assimilated into American culture, to the point where your friends considered you "American."

6. Transformation through Effort: You attribute your transformation to putting yourself out there, engaging with people, making mistakes, and not being afraid to embarrass yourself. Developing routines, finding like-minded people, staying positive, and maintaining a sense of humor were also crucial to your adaptation.

7. Advocacy for Cultural Exchange: You believe that cultural exchange experiences can lead to a more understanding and peaceful world.

Your story serves as a valuable example of how individuals can navigate and adapt to a new culture through perseverance, openness, and a willingness to learn from their experiences. It highlights the challenges and rewards of cultural immersion and the importance of embracing cultural diversity.