Is adapting to the a new culture even more difficult than learning the language of that culture?

Question

I learned Spanish in the US, and now I live in Mexico. It's been over a year and I still haven't completely adapted to the culture. Speaking the language is definitely handy, but my inability to absorb the culture undercuts my linguistic profiency and makes my experiences that much more frustrating!

Has anybody else gone through something similar?

Answer 1

It's hard if you try just to "understand" it. Generally, what you have to do is just to "accept" the way it is.

I'm Argentinian and I learned some English since I was in High School, but it was not until I've met the wonderful person who is American and now is my wife that I could actually get to know better the culture involved. If you grow up in a certain environment you take for granted a lot of stuff, things that you never question. What you are used to is the "normal" way to you, even 99% of the rest of the world think it's weird or can't find an "understandable" explanation to it.

I've also been in contact for the last 12 years with the Deaf culture, here in Argentina and in the States, and I can assure you that you might know some signs to communicate with them, but to say that you speak ASL (American Sign Language), LSA (Argentinian Sign Language), or any other sign language, you need to know the culture involved that it's not the same of the hearing people.

Language is just part of certain area's culture. You'll get it eventually. The key here is: DON'T EVER COMPARE... learn it separate from your previous experience and remember that TO BE DIFFERENT IS NOT NECESSARY A BAD THING.