Before You Read
1.If you have a chance to live in another country for a year，can you find something quite different from that of your home？
2.What will come to your mind when we speak of cultural differences？
3.What attitudes should we hold towards cultural differences？
4.How do you solve the problem in case you cannot obey the local cultural customs？
5.Culture shock can be described as consisting of four distinct stages:honeymoon，negotiation，adjustment，and adaptation.How do you think of them？
Reading 1
The Most Memorable Cultural Shock
In summer of 2015，I was in Helsinki，Finland〔1〕for an internship.Although，I had read that Finnish people are reserved and like to stay within their space，I had not expected it to be this:
（旁注：internship［'ɪntɜ:nʃɪp］）
（旁注：n.实习生职位；实习期）
（旁注：reserved［rɪ'zɜ:vd］）
（旁注：adj.含蓄的；缄默的）
At a bus stop:You are alone in the shade of the stop and that is your space.No one will come to bother you.
Inside a bus:You enter a bus and see that all the window seats are occupied.You don't have a seat and have to stand.Respect that space！（This is rather extreme，but you definitely get anxious as to where should you sit.）
（旁注：occupy［'ɒkjupaɪ］）
（旁注：vt.占用）
（旁注：definitely［'defɪnətlɪ］）
（旁注：adv.肯定地；明确地）
（旁注：scared［skeəd］）
（旁注：adj.害怕的）
（旁注：signal［'sɪgnəl］）
（旁注：v.（发信号）通知、表示）
（旁注：guilty［'gɪltɪ］）
（旁注：adj.有罪的；内疚的）
You are scared to shout to the driver to stop the bus:I was running to catch the bus and signaled the driver by my hands to stop the bus.I entered the bus and saw all eyes were turned to me.I have never felt so guilty of anything.
I caught my Finnish neighbor sneaking into his room and pretending that he didn't see me in the hallway:
（旁注：sneak［snɪ:k］）
（旁注：vi.偷偷地走；偷偷地做）
（旁注：hallway［'hɔ:lweɪ］）
（旁注：n.过道；门厅；走廊）
There was seemingly no traffic and I decided to cross the road while the light was still red.I looked back and saw a man shaking head in discontent.I waited for it to turn green next time onward.
（旁注：discontent［'dɪskən'tent］）
（旁注：n.不满）
Finns don't like small talk.You ask general questions and a long，detailed answer follows.
In Japan，during my first week here，I had to go through a medical check-up in the university clinic，a normal procedure for the new students and old ones as well.
（旁注：clinic［'klɪnk］ɪ）
（旁注：n.诊所）
（旁注：procedure［prə'sɪ:dʒə（r）］）
（旁注：n.程序；手续；步骤）
I didn't know where the clinic building was，so I asked another student about it.She told me that she was on her way to the clinic too，and that she could show me the place.While we were on our way，she began asking me where I was coming from and so on；as I was replying to her，I noticed that she was wearing a face-mask，one exactly like this:
I thought that perhaps it was a must to wear a face-mask before going to the clinic，as a kind of protection against some prospective infections.
I asked her:“Is it necessary to wear a face-mask before going to the clinic？”
（旁注：prospective［prə'spektɪv］）
（旁注：adj.预期的；未来的）
（旁注：infection［ɪn'fekʃn］）
（旁注：n.传染；传染病；影响）
She replied:“No，no...I just didn't do my makeup today.”
Language Focus
1.as to：至于；关于；按着；根据
e.g.:He is very uncertain as to whether it's the right job for him.
究竟是否适合做这项工作，他实在拿不准。
A question arose as to who should be the monitor.
关于谁当班长的问题出现了矛盾。
2.turn to：求助于；转向
e.g.:I had to turn to the dictionary for help.
我只得求助于字典了。
We should turn our thoughts to practical matters.
我们应把思想转向实际问题。
3.go through：经历；通过
e.g.:It requires courage and patience to go through the undertaking.
要完成这项工作，需要耐心和勇气。
You will never know what she went through to educate her children.
你永远也不会知道她为了教育孩子，吃了多少苦。
4.on one's way to：往……去的路上
e.g.:I was on my way to school when I met him.
见到他的时候，我正在去学校的路上。
On his way home，he saw a very beautiful bird.
在回家的路上，他看到一只非常漂亮的小鸟。
Related Background Information
Finland（芬兰）
芬兰共和国，简称芬兰，位于欧洲北部，北欧五国之一，与瑞典、挪威、俄罗斯接壤，南临芬兰湾，西濒波的尼亚湾。有岛屿约17.9万个，湖泊约18.8万个，有“千湖之国”之称。
芬兰是圣诞老人的故乡。1927年，芬兰电台的一个广播节目宣称，圣诞老人和两万头驯鹿一起就住在拉普兰省的“耳朵山”上，正是因为有“耳朵”，圣诞老人才能在北极听到世界上所有孩子的心声。从此，故事中的“耳朵山”就成了圣诞老人的故乡。
芬兰是一个高度发达的资本主义国家，国民享有极高标准的生活品质。芬兰人含蓄而朴实。SISU精神是芬兰文化的一部分，很难直接译成别的文字，但可以理解为意志、决心、毅力和理性面对逆境。芬兰人喜欢用“SISU”来形容自己的民族性格，体现了芬兰人善良诚实、遵纪守法、性格内向、不善言谈，以及坚韧顽强的精神和异乎寻常的耐性等特点。
Reading Comprehension
Decide whether the following statements are true or false.Write“T”for True and“F”for false.
1.In summer of 2015，I went to Helsinki，Finland for a new job.（ ）
2.As we know，Finnish people are hospitality and like to stay with others in public places.（ ）
3.In Finland，people would not like others sitting beside them while on the bus.（ ）
4.You may have to stand on the bus even if there are many seats.（ ）
5.If the stop button at the bus stop doesn't work，you can yell to the driver to stop.（ ）
6.My neighbour didn't greet me because he didn't notice me when he entered his room.（ ）
7.If the light is still red，no people in Finland cross the road even if there is no traffic at the moment.（ ）
8.If you ask Finnish people some questions，they will give you a very detailed answer.（ ）
9.It is a must to wear a face-mask when going to the clinic，as a kind of protection in Japan.（ ）
10.New students have to take a normal medical check-up in the university clinic as the old ones do.（ ）
Reading 2
Living in China
February 26
Dear Lin Yue，
I am Laura.Right now，I'm in my host family in China.I really worried about whether I could fit in the new environment before I went to China；but now the host family turn out to be really nice and hospitable.So I really enjoy the life here.
（旁注：hospitable［hɒ'spɪtəbl］）
（旁注：adj.好客的）
Though my host family go out their way to make me feel at home，I still find many things are really different from those in my country.
My biggest challenge is learning how to behave at the dinner table.As you can imagine，things are very different from the way they are at home.In France，everyone has their own plate of food，so we don't need to share food with others.But here in China，the dishes are placed on the table and everybody shares.I know this is one of the customs in China but I just feel uncomfortable with it.
Chinese people often use chopsticks instead of spoons and folks.It took me a long time to adapt to this.Sometimes the host will serve me some dishes with their own chopsticks to show his or her hospitality.I think this is disgusting and very impolite at first.But then I try to accept it and now I am OK with this.Meanwhile，guests are not supposed to turn a fish over and debone it by yourself，because superstitious people deem bad luck will ensue and a fishing boat will capsize if you do so.
And in school，I also have some problems.The teachers and classmates in China don't use the same way to study as us in France.In our class，students have many interactions with the teacher.But in China，teachers often give lectures all the time and no student speaks，because all the students are busy taking down notes.Also，the plenty of notes always drives me mad.
（旁注：adapt［ə'dæpt］）
（旁注：vi.适应；适合）
（旁注：disgusting［dɪs'gʌstɪŋ］）
（旁注：adj.令人厌恶的）
（旁注：debone［dɪ:'bəun］）
（旁注：vt.将（鸡、鸭、肉等）去骨）
（旁注：superstitious）
（旁注：［.su:pə'stɪʃəs］）
（旁注：adj.迷信的）
（旁注：deem［dɪ:m］）
（旁注：v.认为；视作）
（旁注：capsize［kæp'saɪz］）
（旁注：v.倾覆；翻转）
（旁注：interaction［.ɪntər'ækʃn］）
（旁注：n.互动交流）
Although I experienced some cultural shock，as a saying goes，“Those who suit their actions to the times are wise.”〔2〕If we are in other countries，sticking to one's own convention is unwise.We should“do as the Romans do when in Rome”.〔3〕This not only provides you a happier trip，but also helps you learn more about the local tradition and culture.
（旁注：convention［kən'venʃn］）
（旁注：n.惯例）
Yours，
Laura
Language Focus
1.fit in：适应，融入（群体）
e.g.:I desperately tried to fit in my new school.
我很希望能融入新学校，成为其中的一份子。
Brought up in a big city，he found it quite difficult to fit in the countryside.
由于在城市长大，他发现自己很难适应农村的环境。
2.turn out：结果是……；证明是……
e.g.:The film turned out to be a great success.
这部影片结果大获成功。
Sometimes things don't turn out the way we think they're going to.
有时，事情的结果并不像我们所想的那样。
3.make sb.feel at home：无拘束；随便；感觉像在家里
e.g.:We will do everything we can do to accommodate you and make you feel at home.
我们会尽力为您服务，使您和您的家人有一种舒适如归的感觉。
A good command of English will make you feel at home when you study and live in English-speaking countries.
在英语国家学习、生活时，精通英语会让你觉得无拘束。
4.feel uncomfortable with：对……感到不自在
e.g.:People always feel uncomfortable with strangers.
和陌生人在一起人们通常感到不自在。
The boy felt uncomfortable with his new classmates.
这个男孩和新同学在一起感到不自在。
5.It take（s）sb.some time to do sth.某人花费（时间）去做某事
e.g.:It took him ten years to qualify as a vet.
他用了10年的时间才获得兽医资格。
It takes me 5 hours to finish my homework today.
我今天花了5个小时完成家庭作业。
6.adapt to：习惯于……，使适应于……，其中to是介词，后接名词或代词宾格。
e.g.:It is very easy for her to adapt to a new environment.
她很容易适应新环境。
The professor adapted his lecture to his audience.
教授使他讲的课适合于听众。
7.be supposed to do：应该、被期望、理应，用来表示根据规定或传统习惯人们不得不做的事。
e.g.:Everyone is supposed to wear a seat-belt in the car.
每个人在小汽车里都应该系好安全带。
You're supposed to start work at 8∶30 every morning.
你应该每天早晨8点半开始工作。
8.turn over：翻过来
e.g.:If you turn over you might find it easier to get to sleep.
你翻翻身，就容易睡着了。
In this instance，confession really helps，as it gives people a chance to turn over a new page.
在这种情况下，忏悔真的会起作用，因为它给了人们重新做人的机会。
9.all the time：一直
e.g.:I can't brush your hair if you keep wriggling all the time.
你要是一直扭来扭去，我就没法给你梳头了。
Then the scales fell from my eyes:he had been lying all the time.
我恍然大悟：他一直在撒谎。
10.be busy（in）doing/with sth.忙于做某事；忙于某事
e.g.:At the end of each year，people are busy doing Spring Festival shopping.
每到年末，大家就要忙着采购年货了。
The plan for the new book is on ice at the moment.I've been busy with too many other things.
写那本新书的计划暂时搁一下，我一直忙于太多其他的事情。
11.stick to：坚持；遵守；其中to是介词，后接名词、代词宾格和动名词。
e.g.:If you stick to the truth，you've nothing to fear.
你要是坚持真理，就可以无所畏惧。
Related Background Information
Cultural Shock（文化冲击）
文化冲击是指从其固有的文化环境中移居到一个新的文化环境中所产生的文化上的不适应。二战后，随着人口的大量流动，产生了大批的移民，他们从一个国家移居到一个新的国家，从一种文化背景移居到新的文化背景，等待他们的是诸多跨文化的社会心理问题，文化冲击这个词就应运而生了。
文化冲击可以是多方面的，从饮食、语言、服饰，直至行为举止、人口密度、政治经济环境等等；既有身体的因素，更多的是精神因素。
文化冲击大体经历4个阶段：蜜月阶段、沮丧（或敌意）阶段、恢复调整阶段和适应阶段。
Reading Comprehension
Make the best choice according to what you have read.
1.Before Laura came to China，she was worried because_______.
A.she didn't know whether her host family would be friendly to her or not
B.she knew that she would miss her family
C.she knew nothing about China
D.she didn't know whether she could fit in the new environment
2.Laura enjoys her life in China，for________________.
A.she likes Chinese culture very much
B.she makes many new friends in China
C.her host family are really kind and hospitable
D.life in China is similar to life in France
3.Her host family go out their way to make her feel at home but she_________.
A.is still unhappy B.still finds things different from that of her hometown
C.still miss her family very much D.still feel lonely
4.The biggest problem Laura meets is_________.
A.how to communicate well with local people
B.how to behave well at table
C.how to get on well with her host family
D.how to ask for help when in trouble
5.The great difference when French people and Chinese people are at table is that_________.
A.French people like to share food with others
B.French people use chopsticks to get food
C.Chinese people use chopsticks to get food
D.Chinese people like to share food with others
6.Laura doesn't like the way the hosts serve her some dishes with their own chopsticks and she thinks_______.
A.it is not the way French do B.it is disgusting and impolite to do so
C.it is Chinese custom D.it is the way the hosts shows their hospitality
7.In China，guests are not expected to turn a fish over while at table，because people think that__________.
A.the fish will not be tasty and good-looking
B.the host will unhappy
C.a fishing boat will capsize and bad luck will come superstitiously
D.the guests don't enjoy the food
8.In France，students have many interactions with the teacher.In China，___________.
A.students have many interactions with the teacher in class
B.students give many speeches in class
C.students like taking notes instead of speaking in class
D.teachers often discuss with students in class
9.When one is in other countries，sticking to one's own convention is_________.
A.not a wise behavior B.quite accepted
C.not common D.quite normal
10.If we follow the convention of the place we are travelling，we will____________.
A.have a happier trip there
B.get used to the life there
C.learn about the local tradition and culture
D.A and B