Episode 5: Intercultural experience

Hello readers,

This time we were asked to write something about the intercultural experience we had so far. Let’s start with a well-known theory on adjusting to life in a new country. This theory says that many students go through different stages during their exchange period: the honeymoon period, the negotiation phase, the adjustment phase and the mastery phase. In the honeymoon period, everything is exciting and you are enjoying new experiences and are very positive about your new home. My honeymoon period started when I had found a room and lasted approximately one month! Then normally the negotiation phase follows, in which students start to compare their host and home cultures more in depth and this usually leads to anxiety and frustration about the new culture. Students can get irritated by cultural differences and feel disconnected from the new culture. Well, I truly believe that I skipped this phase, because I immediately got accustomed to the new culture after the honeymoon period. 
In this adjustment phase I developed new routines, like playing football twice a week and going to the supermarket on Mondays for example. Also, I got used to my schedule of lectures etc. This period did not last that long, maybe two weeks. I think because I already started with developing this new routines during my honeymoon period. So, I think I am in the mastery phase now, because I found a balance between the Dutch and the Spanish culture and I do feel comfortable in the host culture. After this quite theoretical part, it is time for some practical examples! ;) Which aspects of the Spanish culture were easy for me to get used to? First of all, the cultural aspect which is about eating and drinking. In general, I do like the Spanish food and I especially like the fact that Spanish people seem to think about food (and eat it) all the time, just like me! By the way, I included a picture of my favorite tapas dish: rollitos de salmon! Secondly, I like the relaxed atmosphere. It is hard to explain, but I believe that Dutch and Spanish people work as hard, but Spanish do not worry so much, which feels good. Of course, some other aspects were somewhat more difficult to get used to, such as the long waiting queues.

I try to get integrated in the Spanish culture, and I think so far I managed to do this partly. On the one hand, I often eat Spanish dishes, I speak Spanish quite a lot, I play football with mostly Spanish girls, I walk on the right side of the escalator, etc. On the other hand, I do eat Dutch dishes too and my friends here are mainly international students. So in that sense, I cannot deny that I partly act in an “exchange student culture”, but I try to escape from it as often as possible. For example, I do not like Erasmus parties so much, I prefer going out to places where the Spaniards go.

Well, I hope you enjoyed reading about my intercultural experience!

Bye!