PLEASE GRADE - Culture Shock and Confusion (4)

 

Culture Shock and Confusion

Kyrgyz teahouse (Chaykhana, 2010)


While Japan and Kyrgyzstan both draw on collectivist traditions, the way social order is organized can feel very different, even confronting. In Japan, interaction is structured through clear hierarchy, formality, and language forms such as keigo, which help maintain harmony and predictability (Shen et al., 2024, p. 63). Social life relies heavily on subtle cues, shared expectations, and stable institutions, making public behavior feel ordered and controlled.

Rather than relying strictly on formal rules, relationships, personal networks, and reputation play a larger role in maintaining order. A Japanese person, including me might be shocked to find that community peace is not maintained by formal rules, but by bribing police to avoid interference or using gossip to solve disputes likes business transactions and even arranged marriages (Schweitzer, 2022, p. 236). This dual nature of the chaikhana, a public space that uses private rooms with shades to hide certain activities from the state is a jarring shift from the transparent, rule bound social structures of Japan, yet one could also question whether there is any "underground" activities taking place in Japan. 

Nevertheless, these difference can lead to a sense of culture shock, particularly a loss of clarity around how to behave or interpret situations. Without familiar cues, I might feel uncertain, overwhelmed, or even stressed as my usual ways of understanding social interactions no longer apply. However, this discomfort can also be reframed as part of the learning process. Taking time to observe, stepping back when needed, and gradually adjusting expectations when visiting Kyrgyzstan can help manage this experience. Over time, what first feels chaotic may begin to make sense as a different, but equally functional way of organizing social life (Hottola, 2004, p. 448). 

*I have not used AI in the process of writing this blog post.



References


Chaykhana. (2010). Flickr; Chaykhana | Chaykhana - tea house - is traditional Central A… | Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/zz77/5081541735 

Hottola, P. (2004). CULTURE CONFUSION: Intercultural Adaptation in Tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 31(2), 447–466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2004.01.003

Schweitzer, R. (2022). The Role of Teahouses in Central Asia: A Case Study of the Ferghana Valley. Securitization and Democracy in Eurasia, 229–241. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-16659-4_15

Shen, Z., Pang, B., Li, X., & Chen, Y. (2024). An Exploration of Japanese Cultural Dynamics Communication Practices through Social Pragmatics. Journal of Pragmatics and Discourse Analysis, 3(1), 60–72. https://doi.org/10.32996/jpda.2024.3.1.4

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