The Poster Child for Culture Shock

Ok, I'll admit it. I'm experiencing culture shock. It's that crazy feeling when you've been outside the country and then you come back and you think is my home country really all that fantastic? A lot happened while I was away... and before I can really get adjusted, I've decided to run off again. Smart? To some people maybe not. For me, it's what I need to do.

Five Stages That People May Experience With Culture Shock

Stage 1: Excitement and fascination with the new culture. This is where they will overlook minor problems and look forward to learning new things.

Stage 2: Crisis period. This is where excitement turns to disappointment and there are more and more differences that occur. Problems start to be overwhelming and irritating and may use the "fight-back" technique by saying rude remarks or making jokes.

Stage 3: Adjustment phase. This is where they learn to accept the culture and to change their negative attitude to a positive one.

Stage 4: Acceptance and Adaptation phase. This is where they will feel at home and become involved in activities and may enjoy some of that countries customs.

Stage 5: Reentry shock. This is experienced upon returning to the home country and the return may follow with initial euphoria, crisis or disenchantment. It may be hard to readjust and may feel like they are not accepted.

Chamillions and Communication

I had a conversation with a friend last night about being a multi-dimensional human being. With me, what you see ain't what you get - there are so many experiences and life moments I carry that I just can't be a "typical 2nd generation Desi girl" And trying to do that just goes against my nature.

My friend called himself a chamillion. He's able to fit in to various crowds and surprise people with the layers beneath his surface. I think of it more in terms of languages and communication. I have never considered myself a strong communicator - but I'm realizing that's not true. My entire life I've been embarrassed about my writing, always thinking it wasn't good enough and believing that I was a terrible writer. My friends tried to convince me otherwise, but I never accepted it. Ok, so maybe I'm not the strongest writer or speaker... but I'm still a master of many languages. Perhaps I don't know all the grammatical rules and my vocabulary is limited, so what? I can still listen, understand, reply and get my point across - which at the end of the day I think is the most important. I can no longer believe that:

if (shobs == engineer)
then shobs != good communicator

That would be a typical engineering attitude. Ok so here's a rundown of the languages I speak.

"Formally" I speak Hindi, English and French. Hindi was the first language I learned and I spoke it with my family until I was 5. English is a given. And French I picked up in high school, reinforced in a study abroad program and rounded out with a minor in French at UCSB. I am so proud of that minor - originally engineering students weren't allowed to minor in liberal arts subjects because it would deter them from their "4 year track" Because I graduated 1.5 years late, the rules had changed by the time I applied.

I also speak a little Spanish - just from living in So Cal and being around Mexicans. But I've never invested much time into learning more. I push Spanish speakers to use their English and I encourage them by being open and understanding to what they refer to as "poor English"

I speak "bleep bleep blurp blurp" My friend refers to my engineering/computer science talk as bleep, bleep, blurp, blurp.

I speak customer service. I've worked behind the counter, behind the front desk, I've been in the kitchen and on the catering staff. Those are environments I'm familiar with. I think my love for travel draws me to those places.

I speak green. I'm all about conservation, saving, giving back to mother nature. In high school I volunteered for the Ivy Project which involved pulling Ivy off trees to save them. I also ran the pop can recycling project for Key Club where we collected cans and bottles turned them into cash.

I speak video composition, graphic design, web design, art and animation. Well I don't speak animation so well yet, but I will continue to learn.

I speak leadership. Cat crew, UCSB RHA, gymnastics coach in the US and abroad, camp counselor, career peer advisor - I have loads of leadership experience.

I speak compassion. I feel for old people, strugglers, "free loaders" hehe, people lacking education - helping them helps me. And I love animals. Pets are usually very friendly with me.

I speak corporate life. Not an environment I like too much, but I've been there. In 7th grade I was made president of a mock company - a project my teachers Mr. Filer, Mrs. Gordon and Mr. Whitten had masterminded. I was not excited by the placement... I had wanted to be the accountant. Still, I rose to the ocassion. We formed Dreamcatchers Inc. We were one of the most successful companies - turning the largest profit amongst my peers. Not being very business minded, I spread myself thin over all aspects of the company and ended up being entirely worn out.

I understand military. I've worked with General Dynamics customers, and Raytheon consultants. A large group of my classmates ended up at Raytheon, so I know the environment. I've been cleared by the Danish navy. I've traveled to SAAB underwater systems where they build torpedoes and underwater vehicles at least 5 times. I've been offered a position with STL, a very low profile government run project in Santa Barbara.

I speak Scandinavian. Even though I never learned Swedish too well, I still picked up on a lot by being there. I speak European, West Coast, and Indian. Working on the Indian part and I think my travels to India will help with that. I speak minimal Hungarian. I speak Australian and New Zealand thanks to all my friends at summer camp.

I speak adventure, unpredictability, and excitement. 6am train rides, 4am flights, my life is organized in my own mind and chaotic to everyone else. It makes it fun.

How may we help you?

I hate automated phone systems. Seriously the most frustrating thing ever. No "Jane" I'm not trying to go from Bora bora, Boontown to Out-There, Psychoville. I'm trying to get from San Diego to Portland. Thank you.

Give me someone to talk to. Please?

I Speak Mom

I don't know what it is. My Mom and I - we have a special language that noone else in the family seems to have.

So I have made this monumental decision to settle in the Pacific Northwest, which is so exciting, because after years of living in boxes and anticipating my next move I can finally unpack and call a place home. Yay. Travel hungry Shobs has decided to give it a rest... temporarily. Ok so I'm a walking, living contradiction. Deal with it people.

Anyway, a stroke of brilliance came to me today. Lets go back in the Shas3 time machine... 3 kids, my mom, house full of random crap which was accumulated by my Mothers absolute passion for garage sale-ing. The lady is addicted.

There is no taking bargain shopping out of my mother, it would be as painful as removing her pinky finger. Ouch. Anyway jump forward to 2009 - Shobs has discovered she has amazing kitchen gadgets packed away in boxes - so what has she done? She has created a garage sale in her own house. Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen - 9am-3pm there is an exclusive members only garage sale for one Mrs. Shastri and one lazy spoiled baby Shastri. First come first go. Love it.

Shumi

Really. Seriously?

Something I've noticed since my return has been the extensive use of the words "really" and "seriously" in conversations.  Maybe I even talked like this before, but it has really stuck out in my mind.  My personal favorite is:  "I mean, like, really?  Seriously?"  It's not just Californians, but it's definitely American.    

Mastering Swedish

Yes. I can relate.

Giggle

Original text:

Mandag den 20. oktober 2008 inviteres alle til housewarming på Fabriksvangen 1, hvor der på parkeringspladsen foran bygningen vil være en pølsevogn, betjent af to kønne piger. Pølsevognen vil være åben i kantinens almindelige åbningstid.

Translation: Danish » English

Monday 20 October 2008 invited all the house warming on Fabriksvangen 1, where the parking lot in front of the building will be a Pølsevogn, operated by two pretty girls. Sausage Cart will be open in the canteen normal trading hours

I Heart Google

5 words:

THANK GOD FOR GOOGLE TRANSLATOR!

Now that I'm on the RAS R&D mailing lists I keep getting all these e-mails in Danish and I have no idea what they mean - oh, but wait a minute, yes I do! I've enjoyed translating the RESONNET internal announcements - those have been fun :)

From Santa Barbarian Chica Meats Denmark

Original text:
For helvede da også….

Translation: Danish » English
Goddamn also ....