Culture Shocks While Living in the Phillippines

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Culture Shock While Living in the Philippines
My family, composed of me, my husband and our two kids will purpose to move to the Philippines in about two months. The idea of relocation gives us fear, mainly due to the uncertainty that comes with such change, especially regarding how to get assimilated into and survive within an entirely new society. The Filipino culture does not have significant differences compared to the American culture, due to the amalgamation during colonization. However, the little differences cannot be underrated.
Just as expected, the cultural differences will give us problems. It could take a lot of effort to finally align with the new cultural norms, especially concerning dressing, cuisine, social structure, and leisure activities. The Philippines is a nation surrounded by the ocean, such that seafood will make a more substantial part of our diet. My family will, therefore, experience the challenge of learning new recipes. We may not enjoy the food at first before we learn the right and preferred cooking method for each food item. Another issue may be how to communicate with some people since I expect that despite English being an official language in the country some people will be more comfortable speaking in Spanish which is also an official language. A good majority may be fluent in English, so social interaction should not be too much a problem.
However, the differences in cuisine and language present an opportunity to advance our culinary skills, explore new food and to learn a new language.

The Filipino are also said to value the community spirit, which primarily refers to being accommodative of one another and offering a helping hand where needed. This contrasts with the American lifestyle, whereby neighbors do not show much concern over the issues of each other. I, however, do not expect this to present any problem to us, for it is natural human nature to be social. The nature of the Filipinos makes it even much more comfortable to initiate socialism, and that is a good attribute. This characteristic of the Filipinos will also be advantageous to us as visitors since it makes them more approachable, and it is likely to get us assimilated into their culture faster than expected.
I expect my family to learn and understand Filipino culture. Developing and keeping a positive attitude towards the new culture will result in positive communication and interaction (Pilhofer 13). It will as well contribute to how swiftly we adapt to and overcome the challenges that come with the cultural change.

Work CitedPilhofer, Katharina. Cultural Knowledge – A Critical Perspective on the Concept as a Foundation for Respect for Cultural Differences. Diplomica Verlag, 2011. EBSCOhost,