Expat Blues

You´ve inevitably used the phrase “culture shock” in letters home, journal entries, long-distance telephone chats and embarrassing poetry. Most associate the phenomenon with something as fleeting and easy to overcome as jet lag. But a good night´s sleep and a few days time won´t keep culture shock (the textbook term is “acculturation”) at bay. In fact, it is a very real and challenging process with distinct stages—and whatever name you give it, it can last from six months to over a year. So how do you differentiate between normal, healthy acculturation and a more serious condition like depression?

On the flipside, a brief bout with mild depression—as well as confusion, frustration, anxiety, paranoia, sadness, excitement and a whole host of other feelings—is typical of the four-part acculturation process. These extreme emotions reflect what´s going on inside your head as you attempt to absorb the strange beauty of the Czech Republic while remaining loyal to your own heritage.

Here, we cut through the psycho babble to help you recognize and anticipate the phases:

The numerous Western taboos up for grabs in Prague—sex, drugs, cheap and plentiful alcohol—also play a role in your euphoric arrival. It´s important to maintain a cool head during this stage (yeah, yeah easier said than done we know), keeping your party habits and cash flow in check. Eventually the honeymoon comes to a halt and then it´s high time to find work, an apartment and traverse the mind-boggling bureaucracy of residency permits and visas.

Some will remain mired in this stage until they leave Prague for good, isolating themselves from the Czech community and existing inside of a protective, English-speaking bubble. At first, the bubble may feel protected, safe, right. But beware: it can, and usually does, burst. The expat experience is a highly transient one with friends, places and faces coming and going at breakneck speeds. If you want to really live here, it´s important to create a safety net, learn a little Czech and ground yourself in the community at large.

During this stage some will opt to pack it in. And so what? Not everyone has to adore Prague. If you´re on the verge of calling it quits ask yourself why you came here in the first place. More often than not the answer is “to escape.” Could escaping yet again mean that your problems run deeper? Probably. Give yourself time to think things through.

Others may fall prey to extremism as their transformation unfolds. Extremists reject their own language and verbally disparage their home country´s customs and politics in an effort to embrace all things Czech. Before denouncing your citizenship and marrying into the country, keep in mind that this is likely a phase and severing all ties with your homeland can prove a rash decision!

Exceptions to the rules and special circumstances clearly exist. No one is suggesting that something as complex as your emotions can be ordered so succinctly. Yet culture shock to some degree will be a part of your life no matter what. Allow for adjustment time and be patient.

Still finding yourself in a funk? Regardless of your geographic locale, reevaluating your behavior is key (in the immortal words of Mom, drink less, quit smoking, exercise more and eat your leafy greens). With sensitivity and an open mind you´ll eventually find your way.