An Experience of Culture Shock -- Aoi

 When I moved to New Zealand from Japan, I experienced culture shock for the first time in my life. Everything felt new and strange. I was excited, but at the same time, I felt confused and nervous. In this essay, I will describe the thing that shocked me the most, how I tried to overcome it, and how long it took to adjust.

The biggest shock for me was the way people communicate, especially with teachers. In Japan, students show strong respect to their teachers. We use polite language, and we never call teachers by their first names. We need to call them by their surname with honorifics. However, in New Zealand, students speak very casually and often use the teacher’s first name. At first, I did not know how to act, and I felt uncomfortable in class. I was afraid to make mistakes and did not speak much.

Another cultural difference was the food. New Zealand meals are different from Japanese meals. People eat more bread, meat, and dairy products. The taste was okay, but I missed Japanese rice, miso soup, and vegetables. I also noticed that the amount of food was much bigger. This made me feel more homesick, especially in the first few weeks or months.

To overcome the culture shock, I started talking to other international students. I learned that they also had similar feelings and experiences. I also joined school activities such as the Language Match project and tried to talk to local people in social places. This helped me feel more confident and comfortable.

In conclusion, I was not afraid to live in another country and try new things, so I was able to start enjoying life in New Zealand. I still miss my home country, but now I can accept the differences and learn from them. Experiencing culture shock was difficult, but it helped me grow as a person.