Introduction
The aspects of a different culture that would be the hardest to adjust to would probably be the basic norms of life. For instance, one might expect that a certain state is less or more advanced than others and anticipate seeing buildings and cars that are either more modernized or underdeveloped.
Discussion
Nonetheless, not being familiar with small facets of a nation’s material and nonmaterial culture may pose difficulties (“Why it matters,” n.d.). In the example of Danielle, people seem shocked by her not being taught how to perform actions that are standard to other individuals (“Why it matters,” n.d.). Similarly, not being socialized in a certain culture means not knowing such little details as that it may be all right to use one’s hands to eat (“Why it matters,” n.d.). Therefore, in a significantly different culture, it would probably be the toughest to adjust to small aspects of life that one may not even consider to be distinct in other communities. Furthermore, what the citizens of another country might find shocking about my culture would potentially depend on their experiences with Peace Corps volunteers. For instance, if the local population had interactions with the organization’s recruits, then they might be familiar with some American norms.
Conclusion
Nonetheless, if I were one of the first Peace Corps service people the residents met, then they may be surprised by ways that my behavior may differ from their standards of conduct. For example, if I were in a country where it is not acceptable to initiate a conversation with a certain person, the citizens may be shocked to see me starting dialogues (“Why it matters,” n.d.). Consequently, my behavior may seem startling to individuals from other nations if their norms are significantly distinct from those in the US.
Reference
Why it matters: Socialization and interaction [PDF document]. (n.d.).