Get Ready For the COVID Culture Shock

by | May 26, 2020

Darcy Luoma is one of America’s most highly credentialed coaches. She’s worked in 48 industries, with more than 500 organizations, and has impacted tens of thousands of leaders and employees.

After high school, I did a gap year (way before that was a thing!) in Oldenburg, Germany before starting college. I studied German for four years in high school, and my teachers prepared me to expect a period of adjustment when I arrived. 

The culture shock was real!

I was taken aback by the amount of freedom teenagers had. Definitely more than I had in Minnesota! Teachers didn’t take attendance, and there wasn’t anything stopping you from leaving during the school day. My hot pink sweaters, freshly permed hair, and purple eyeshadow (this was 1989 by the way) didn’t fit in at all with the style of my German classmates. And there wasn’t any monitoring or concern about underage drinking.

However, one of the biggest shocks for me was the food.

Not only was the food different, but mealtime was as well. For my entire life, meals were quick and rather utilitarian. At dinner, we usually sat down for 15 minutes before we were all up doing the dishes. I rarely remember eating breakfast at a table, unless it was a special occasion, because we were off to a whole host of activities. 

It was an entirely different experience in Germany. Meals weren’t just about the food. 

Whether at home or in a restaurant, both the food and the conversation were to be savored. 

On the weekends, my host family and I would all sit down for brunch that lasted for hours. There were different cheeses, meats, multiple jams and honey, Nutella, quark (my personal favorite!), boiled eggs (in your own personal cute little egg holder), fruit, smoked fish, and of course, every kind of seeded bread, soft pretzel rolls or Brötchen (all warmed to perfection) you could imagine. The perfect tablecloth and colorful cloth napkins complimented the fresh flowers. And we each had our own personal pot of hot tea with rock crystal sugar (2 lumps for me!). 

The food was amazing, but the conversation and warmth of the overall experience was even more delicious.

It took me a while to get used to this. I felt uncomfortable and uncertain of what we were supposed to be talking about for so long. I wondered why everyone wasn’t rushing to get to their next activity. But after a few weeks, these brunches became one of my favorite things about my time in Germany!

Get ready for reverse culture shock

I was prepared for the culture shock when I arrived in Germany. But what I didn’t expect was the culture shock when I came back home. My freedom was gone! Everybody else’s hot pink sweaters looked much brighter than I remembered. And meals returned to being just about eating food. This was how I lived my entire life, and yet it felt suddenly foreign to me. 

When social distancing and stay at home orders first started, did you experience a bit of culture shock? I know I did. I am used to working from a home office, but things still changed for me. I have spent more time on Zoom in the last two months than I did in the last two years! I’ve had to figure out how to share the space with my daughters homeschooling all day, and I haven’t gone this long without getting my hair dyed since I was pregnant. 

My current work culture is very different than it was pre-COVID. Now that stay at home orders are lifting, this culture will be changing again.

Let’s set aside the differences that are likely waiting for us when we head back into the office (wearing masks, social distancing, etc.). The fact is, even if everything was the same, you’ll be going back to a culture that is very different from the one you’ve had for the last two months. 

Navigating your culture shock 

When I think about the advice I received when going to Germany, I think a lot can be applied to this current situation. Consider the following:

  • It might not hit you right away. There is a honeymoon period when you are first immersed in a culture. The sadness or discomfort of culture shock might be more of a slow build. When you first walk in the office, you might ride the excitement for a few days and then start to miss what you had before. If you notice a downturn in your energy, it’s totally normal.
  • Be gentle with yourself. Whenever it hits you, be kind with yourself. Things are different. Give yourself the permission to get used to the new (old) environment. And be mindful that others are likely going through the same thing you are. Be gentle with them too, and give them the benefit of the doubt if tempers are short.
  • Consider what you want to keep. Things won’t be the same in the office as they were at home. That doesn’t mean you can’t bring some “souvenirs” with you. Think about what might be possible to hold on to. Do you start meetings with a more personal check-in? Do you want to find more time to go for walks? Consider what you can keep that could make the transition just a bit easier.

Always engage your core

Culture shock doesn’t last forever. Eventually, you get acclimated, even if some level of homesickness remains. Be ready for it. These feelings are completely normal, and you will get to the other side. 

If you’re noticing that you’re experiencing culture shock as you return to the office, remember to engage your core. Pause and take a moment to breathe. Think about what you’re experiencing and what choices you have. And then Act to take care of yourself and focus on what you can control. 

Das schaffst Du schon! (That’s German for “You can do it!”)

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