Brave New World—Adapt or Perish Dr. Bikram Lamba

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Dr. Bikram Lamba

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-Shakespeare in his The Tempest “makes his heroine Miranda cry out in amazement at seeing the new world that had been denied to her because of exile of his father. Her cry “Brave New World” seems to be echoed everyday by immigrants when the touch the soils of their new adapted land. People migrate to different countries, especially Canada, USA and Australia on account of various reasons, such as employment, higher education studies, formal/informal visits.But it is that category of people who have come to be transplanted that are at first awe-struck and then starts the process of disillusion. Often the back home attracts them; some are reduced to be nervous wrecks that are often pitiful. But they have burnt their bridges.

More often not, there is no going back. So why not adapt to the new environs.  It is not easy for human beings to adapt. The early habits are so deeply ingrained that it is well nigh impossible to get over the pulls of the past. However, one must always leave no room for misconceptions or misunderstandings and try to deal with adjusting to a different environment. A few steps can be recommended in cross-cultural teachings for the following people to make their transition easy:

1. Those who want to feel comfortable in new and foreign environments. Feeling 'at home' in a new city or country is a process. Walking into unfamiliar territory can bring tremendous rewards and also many challenges. Cross-cultural coaching helps you sort out your experiences and helps you balance your rewards and challenges to create more comfort in your new environment. You should try to adapt to the new culture. Those who cling to the old system are like bats and belong to neither. Change your dress, your way of life, your style and become one of them. The cry of back-home culture is a cry of those who either want to prey on your helplessness or have themselves been marginalized. 

2. Those who want to regain their identity and freedom while living abroad.When we move, we have to learn, unlearn and relearn ways of doing things in a new place. Sometimes, we feel "at the mercy of others" for our day-to-day activities. Things we took for granted 'back home', like finding our favorite food, knowing how to make friends, being successful at school or work, driving, or any other daily activity, can become difficult or feel impossible to do in our new cultural and social situation abroad.Sometimes, cultural situations that we may not understand happen to us, and we'd like to discuss them with someone who's neutral, who won't judge us and who can maybe provide us an insider perspective. And here is an opportunity to make friends with those who have been here for a longer period and have got over the hangover of their past.

3. Those who believe cultural adjustment is an ongoing process that affects many aspects of our lives and relationships. Life is all about relationships. When we move abroad, we experience different kind of stresses on our relationships, something that we may not have experienced if we were 'at home'. Basic, daily situations, even as simple as communicating with 'strangers', co-workers, new friends or others suddenly require a lot more effort than before.Misunderstandings seem to happen more frequently and quickly than in our 'native cultural environment.' Lessons in cross-cultural coaching can help you sort out aspects of cross-cultural relationships in your community, within your friends' circle and within your family environments to create comfort.

4. Those who want to balance cultures and spiritual traditions in their cross-cultural and interfaith relationships and marriages. Now-a-days one doesn't have to leave one’s own country to experience cross-cultural relationships. In our global world, people from different cultures, countries, spiritual traditions, religious backgrounds and ethnicities can intermingle freely. Bringing together people from different backgrounds can be rewarding, but it also poses some unique challenges in balancing approaches to life, traditions, day-to-day behaviors and much more.Cross-cultural understanding helps you explore and find your own unique solutions to your cross-cultural relationship questions in your friendships, dating life, engagements, marriages, and extended family circumstances. Never go by the stereotypes and brand cultures or link them to the skin colour, nor always try to glorify your own back-home culture

5. Those who already know English and want to be better understood by others  in daily life situations. Having had studied English grammar, vocabulary and idioms in one's own country is very essential in preparation to coming to the new worlds. However, many people are bewildered when they come to these countries and realize that they can't seem to understand daily conversation in grocery stores, doctor's offices, daily greetings among strangers and the multitude of other areas where language is used.  Try to understand and realize that your mastery of the language shall make you one of them and not set you apart.I am not against your language, but that is for use at home. Stressing your own culture or language shall make you live in mental silos and ghetto dwellers can never be useful citizens. Become a citizen in word and deed. That way lies your salvation in the new countries that you adopt.