Sensory short circuit: An analysis into the sensory effects of Culture Shock.

They say that when you visit a foreign environment, it is natural to experience a phenomenon known as Culture Shock. This is supposedly a physical and psychological reaction of your body to being immersed in something that it is not used to. Upon reflection on this idea, it sounds reasonable indeed. When you move object A into environment B, whereas environment B is  different than environment A, object A will react differently than when it is in its natural environment. For example, when a ground squirrel is taken from its natural home of earthen tunnels, and placed accordingly on the surface of an antarctic ice shelf, it will freeze to death within a short span of time. The same would happen if an Emperor Penguin was placed in the middle of the Sahara in August. With this principle established, It would appear that when I am removed from my native environment and put into another one I should also experience some sort of adverse effect on my body. 

This change however is not one of climate, but one of varying mental stimuli. This stimuli comes in all five of the senses as well as an emotional reaction. The first of these sensations, come from the olfactory sense, that is, smell. Russia carries with it a very different smell from that of Canada. This smell is one of old stone and mold crumbling concrete, mixed with the lingering scent of tobacco. These old smells cling to the past, and conjure up memories of days gone by in Russia's story of tumult. Canada seems to reek of new life and freshness. One can walk down a Canadian street and feel free, without an oppressive weight bearing down from the centuries of regimes that have risen and been toppled. 

The second sense that is triggered by immersion in a new environment is that of optical perception, or, sight. One of the major things that triggers different sensations is language. While language may seem better suited to fall into the auditory section, the constant bombardment of written text that we experience in everyday, especially urban, life carries with it a whole other spectrum for which our brains have to analyze language. Another visual stimulation here that is not native to Canada, is the Lada. Those cars are cool! 

                                                                               Cool Russian Lada.

 The third sense that is stimulated, is the auditory sense, or, hearing. This is the sense where language comes largely into play. Everywhere from the street to the Metro to a smoky PECTOPAH, one can hear the Russian language in full use. When I had first arrived in the country, this seemed to my ears and brain as inane babble and arcane machines from the foundry of a mad god. Now however, as my mind and body adapt to this environment, I am starting to recognize words and separate the sentences apart. This is truly in part to my active pursuit of learning the language, but also the immersion that I am in has changed the way my mind hears words thus expanding my horizons.

Fourthly, the sensation of touch has to be covered in this dialogue. There is a feeling of grime that covers this city, and I do not believe that it stems from uncleanliness as its unique quality, as all large cities have a dirty feel to them. The grime here feels as if it is oozing from the history and memory contained within the walls, streets, and monuments of the land. As I scrape back the layers of grime, I learn more about the past and thus enrich my future. Who knew dirt could be so exciting.

The final one of the five senses to be stimulated by cultural change, is that of taste. What can I say, Russian food is good! Here you can eat well for very little, and it is especially good if you happen to enjoy a hearty rye bread and soup. Oatmeal is also good, as are various sugary treats. Russian blinni pancakes (basically crepes) are also quite appetizing. But my favourite thing is Chooda yogurt. It is tasty, generously sized, and with a great price of 27r how can you go wrong!?

The final aspect of cultural adaptation that I will discuss at present, is the emotional side of the mind. When you enter a new environment as autonomous creatures (Calvinists, do not start on this one) you feel more than just physical change. As social human beings, we have attachments to various things from our native environments, such as family, friends, and various things that stimulate the aforementioned senses. When we are taken away from these familiarities, we then can suffer from the symptoms of so-called "culture shock" (of which numerous publications have been written and since I am no psychologist, I will ignore here). Nonetheless, we can be emotionally effected by immersion in a different cultural situation, and depending on our mental and emotional fortitude we will either fall into shambles, or emerge stronger in character. 

Judging from the past hour or so that I have just spent composing this rather peculiar look into cultural differences and their ability to affect our sensory perception of the world, I would say that it is time for me to go to sleep and contemplate how to face the new challenges of the coming day. All in all, I am glad that I am a human being blessed with the opportunity to study in this marvelous city instead of a ground squirrel freezing to death on the Weddell Shelf.