Dear Friend,

“Madam….Madam, did you forget this?”

“Surely this isn’t happening again,” I thought to myself as I turned around to see the clerk at the grocery store racing after me with my forgotten groceries dangling from his outstretched arms.

“Oh thank you so much!” I responded as I took the bags from his hand.

Over the last month and a half or so I have forgotten groceries at the checkout counter almost every single time I go shopping. This may not seem like a big deal but for me it is; I am not someone who typically forgets things.

The first couple times this happened I simply shrugged it off as no big deal, but when it continued happening I began to wonder if there was something wrong with me. I would try to consciously remind myself not to forget while waiting in the checkout line, but somehow I would still forget and walk off without them. Every time this happened I would feel embarrassed and wonder what the clerks were thinking about me.

During our time at AFM summer training we were told that we could expect to experience “culture shock,” which according to Wikipedia is, “is the personal disorientation a person may feel when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life due to immigration or a visit to a new country, or to a move between social environments.’ Because our standard of living here is not all that different than it was in the states, and because Bangkok caters to tourists, I wondered if we would ever experience “culture shock.” However I have come to realize that in the midst of the stress of transitioning into a new way of life “culture shock” has been affecting us in ways that we haven’t realized until recently.
As a result of my “grocery forgetfulness” I began to do some research on how “culture shock” affects people, and how it manifests itself. Below you will see my findings:

• Feelings of helplessness and withdrawal
• Irritability
• Anger
• Mood swings
• Glazed stare
• Desire for home and old friends
• Physiological stress reactions
• Homesickness
• Boredom
• Getting “stuck” on one thing
• Excessive sleep
• Compulsive eating/drinking/weight gain
• Stereotyping host nationals
• Hostility towards host nationals
• Withdrawal (e.g. spending excessive amounts of time reading;
avoiding contact with host nationals)
• Feeling isolated or helpless
• Suffering from various body pains and aches
• Excessive concern over cleanliness

We praise God that we have not experienced “culture shock” in drastic or destructive ways and that so far our transition has been relatively mild. However we recognize that “culture shock” takes on different forms and will affect us at different times. Please pray for us as we continue adjusting to a new way of life, may the Lord bless you all!

Sincerely,

Cindi & Kyle Tumberg

p.s. Don’t forget to let us know how we can pray for you.

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