We very much hope you will have done some pre-field cultural training. By that we don’t mean the specifics of the culture you are now dealing with – that is what orientation is all about. Rather, you need some understanding of your own cultural baggage – that is, your own cultural norms and biases that might hinder your adjustment to the new culture. Then you also need some idea of the usual trajectory and symptoms of culture shock, so that you are able to recognise the stages of adjustment as you are going through them. This is not an ‘exact science’ but there are some helpful insights you need to help you manage expectations (your own and other people’s) during this transition! (If you have not gone through any of that preparation, all is not lost. Our Crossing Cultures 101 course is designed to be helpful at any stage!).

At this stage you need to take a long view. Especially if you have a new language to learn, it is going to take a while (months or even years!) before you can communicate effectively - so give yourself plenty of grace and time to settle and adjust. Let your supporters know that the process you are in is likely to be a lengthy one. If you are part of a new team, watch out for each other for signs of culture shock setting in, and remind each other of the positive fact that reaching the worst depths of culture shock is actually a sign of finally letting go of some of your culture of origin and starting to adjust properly to the new culture. That means you will soon be emerging from ‘culture shock valley’ and climbing up the other side!

It is very easy for people at home who have never lived interculturally or been faced with major cultural differences in their day-to-day life to be unrealistic as to the challenges faced by a new arrival on the field. Also, it can be hugely discouraging to receive well-intentioned enquiries from home about how many are being reached with the gospel, while the transition to the culture is still underway!

The learning curve is steep and long. That is why we recommend that some at home at least do a little bit of cross-cultural training themselves, so as to understand more of what is involved. Then, if they start to pick up on some symptoms of culture shock or despondency about how tough it all is, they will be able to encourage the one on the field with the assurance that “this is normal” – it is exactly what they were forewarned about. Make sure your new mission partner knows it is OK to be honest however tough they are finding it and that the church is behind them whatever happens.

We very much hope you will have done some pre-field cultural training. By that we don’t mean the specifics of the culture you are now dealing with – that is what orientation is all about. Rather, you need some understanding of your own cultural baggage – that is, your own cultural norms and biases that might hinder your adjustment to the new culture. Then you also need some idea of the usual trajectory and symptoms of culture shock, so that you are able to recognise the stages of adjustment as you are going through them. This is not an ‘exact science’ but there are some helpful insights you need to help you manage expectations (your own and other people’s) during this transition! (If you have not gone through any of that preparation, all is not lost. Our Crossing Cultures 101 course is designed to be helpful at any stage!).

At this stage you need to take a long view. Especially if you have a new language to learn, it is going to take a while (months or even years!) before you can communicate effectively - so give yourself plenty of grace and time to settle and adjust. Let your supporters know that the process you are in is likely to be a lengthy one. If you are part of a new team, watch out for each other for signs of culture shock setting in, and remind each other of the positive fact that reaching the worst depths of culture shock is actually a sign of finally letting go of some of your culture of origin and starting to adjust properly to the new culture. That means you will soon be emerging from ‘culture shock valley’ and climbing up the other side!

It is very easy for people at home who have never lived interculturally or been faced with major cultural differences in their day-to-day life to be unrealistic as to the challenges faced by a new arrival on the field. Also, it can be hugely discouraging to receive well-intentioned enquiries from home about how many are being reached with the gospel, while the transition to the culture is still underway!

The learning curve is steep and long. That is why we recommend that some at home at least do a little bit of cross-cultural training themselves, so as to understand more of what is involved. Then, if they start to pick up on some symptoms of culture shock or despondency about how tough it all is, they will be able to encourage the one on the field with the assurance that “this is normal” – it is exactly what they were forewarned about. Make sure your new mission partner knows it is OK to be honest however tough they are finding it and that the church is behind them whatever happens.