Culture Shock No more

Culture shock is a term used to describe the anxiety produced when people move to a completely new environment. It encompasses the feelings of not knowing what to do or how to do things; not knowing what is appropriate or inappropriate. It can be both physical and emotional discomforts experienced when the way we lived before is not the norm in the new place.

The following is just one of the many valuable lessons I have learned.

6 tips on how to voice a complaint:

1. Before voicing a complaint, give the offending party the benefit of the doubt. Assess whether your complaint has merit.
(meaning don't be a royal pain)

2. Establish a relationship with the person you are voicing the complaint to. Address them by name.

3. Voice your complaint immediately.
Follow up with a phone call or a letter.

4. Speak in a very friendly, pleasant tone. Customer service is more likely to identify with you if they feel that you are a normal and reasonable person.

5. State the facts in a clear and concise manner.

6. Don’t forget to thank them ( by name) for taking care of your complaint and for their ability and willingness to help you.

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Flashback to last friday, 5.11.2007

Grocery pet peeves:
1.non return of grocery carts
2.cutting in line
3.people that do not follow the limit in the express check out.

I am extremely vigilant about not annoying myself.

I had an argument with an over-zealous cashier.
She took policing the express lane to the extreme.
Although I was embarrassed--I was not sorry.

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G said: "Nanay, that was so embarrassing, I actually had to put my hand on my forehead!"

Me: "I know G, I am sooooo sorry for embarassing you"
"I had to stand up for myself though, because she was being a bully--and that is what you have to do."

G: "Did you not have enough dollars?"

Me: "I had enough but she thought we had too many items"

G: "Did you get that other box of tissue?"

Me: "No--because I wanted to be sure we did not go over 12"

G: "So we could have bought that other box of tissue?"

Me: "Yes!"

G: "I didn't understand what you were fighting about so I just concentrated on looking at the flowers."

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I think it is safe to say that after almost 14 years of moving away from the Philippines,
I am no longer suffering from culture shock.