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Cultural Shock In Southern California

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A time I experienced culture shock was when I was seventeen years old, within my own country just states away from all I knew,Southern California, to a different, less diverse south- Louisiana. My experience may not be too extreme considering the United States holds many of the same values across the country, but one cannot argue that it is culturally different in other aspects that will support my shock. Up until age 17, I had lived in cities only within Southern California being exposed to a life of learning appreciation for diversity. Then came a drastic move to a rural,small town near the swamps, and their lifestyle was obviously different yet so similar because, well it is America and as a whole we’re unified. My cultural assumptions gave …show more content…

Culture shock is influenced by ethnocentrism, which I will explain how it is taking one’s culture as a superior base to judge other cultures. The longer I lived in Louisiana, the concept cultural relativism began to apply to my situation when I befriended a girl that had lived in that town from birth, and it gave me a new perception on cultural differences. Culture shock is a two way street after all, they were affected by my outside presence- especially at times where they needed to forgive my adjustment of catering to their norms. The non-material culture I can list as an example would be a moral holiday celebrated highly in the south, Mardi Gras. Having parades march through my street for seven days with floats, jazz musicians, horses, and people in costumes throwing out beaded necklaces- was quite a celebration that traced back historically and …show more content…

I transitioned from taking city buses and walking around crowded downtown,(where my school was in the center near the city’s transit station) to long walks around quiet Louisiana rural community neighborhoods (which hardly were noticeable due to the great amount of nature that surrounded the houses.) I clearly stood out as a “city” new-girl to the town’s people,most of them which had lived in that town since birth. I felt as if I was perceived by the local residents as a

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