Cultural Transitions

As people from different cultures move across the world, they embody a diverse range of unique experiences. People follow various cultural pathways, nonetheless, all journeys possess certain aspects in common: the need to acknowledge, and adjust to, new circumstances, people, ideas, practises, and modes of communication.

What is culture?

A common representation of culture is the "iceberg model of culture" (Ford et al., 2004). Certain components of culture are exposed (like the tip of an iceberg above the ocean), while others are concealed, according to this idea. Food, art, clothing, language, and festivities are examples of visible characteristics, whereas values, beliefs, traditions, and assumptions are examples of unseen aspects. The approach considers culture is a "thing," thus not managing to portray its dynamic nature, while leaving little space for personal interpretations and choices.

Culture is a vastly complicated term that is rooted deeply in the realities of daily life. Culture cannot be removed from the social circumstances in which it occurs, or from the individuals who are both impacted by and shape it. Recognizing the important role of social reality, as well as political, geographical, and economic factors, leads to a more complex understanding of culture and the avoidance of simplified interpretations. In this toolkit, we approach culture as something that is formed through relations between people and as something flexible in how it expresses itself, which is constantly changing depending on the circumstances that its members face (Hong, 2013).

According to this view, culture is a process in the making that is negotiable and susceptible to individual choice, as well as a dynamic activity whose boundaries are renegotiated and redefined in response to group or personal needs and circumstances. From this perspective, identity, in connection to culture, is continually 'under construction' - a lifetime activity of role-taking and role-making mediated by extrinsic (societal, political) as well as internal (psychological, emotional) factors (Ohana & Otten, 2012). If we see our identity and the identities of others as something that constantly changes through encounters, we allow ourselves to constantly reshape our identity based on our expectations from the world, rather than what the world wants from us. More importantly, we enable others to establish their own identities and avoid categorising, labelling, or seeing them through the frame of stereotypes.

Resources to help you manage and think about the process of cultural transition as an African international student

Image Becoming a minority As African international students leave home to study in North Europe & North America, they can experience being part of a minority group for the first time.	Image Culture shock Culture shock refers to the emotionally or psychologically challenging part of the experience of leaving one’s culture behind to move to a different culture.
Image Celebrating culture For international students, participating in different cultural activities and practices can create feelings of belonging.	Image Money issues Practical suggestions for keeping your finances in check.