In 1997, I traveled to Durban, South Africa, unaware of the cultural differences I would encounter. It was my first international trip, and I was unprepared. Little did I know that my first encounter with the people would leave me feeling utterly foolish.

“Why aren’t you all celebrating the 4th of July?” I naively asked, only to be met with a response that shook me. It turned out that Independence Day was not a cause for celebration in this foreign land. I was dumbfounded. Not only that they were only a few years out of apartheid.

This encounter marked one of the most embarrassing moments of my life, as well as a profound culture shock that I had never experienced before. It was as if I had stepped into an alternate reality, surrounded by people whose perspectives and ways of life differed vastly from mine. The differences in culture continued to astonish me throughout my time in Durban.

One peculiar difference that caught my attention was their reference to traffic lights as “robots.” It took me a moment to comprehend the meaning behind this unusual terminology related to traffic lights. It served as a reminder that the English language does not always have the same universal meaning, even within English-speaking countries.

Another eye-opening revelation came when I encountered what they defined as a “busy signal” while attempting to make a phone call. In Africa, a busy signal indicated that the number I was trying to reach was engaged. However, in America, it meant that the phone line was busy. This seemingly insignificant distinction sheds light on how even the most mundane aspects of daily life can vary greatly across cultures.

This experience went beyond a mere language barrier; it was a clash of cultural norms and practices. It fascinated me to witness how a simple conversation about a vacation was a conversation about a holiday. These stark differences were a shock to me.

Often, we find ourselves in shock when witnessing viral videos of weird behavior on social media. Anything that is outside the norm of a culture can be a potential culture shock.

Over the past decade, I have been exposed to an abundance of strange and deviant behavior. If you want to create a viral video, you only need to do something outside the norm. Deviance and culture shock are often entangled. Deviance is not considered acceptable behavior by mainstream society. So behaving in deviant ways can cause shock.

For instance, imagine someone walking through a crowded mall in a predominantly black neighborhood with the “N” word plastered all over their shirt. If the person is black, it may not attract much attention. However, if a white person were to do the same, it would undoubtedly go viral due to its deviation from societal norms.

The impact of culture shock on our psyche is profound, prompting us to pay close attention. It is important to note that not all deviance is culture shock, and not all culture shock is deviant. However, the first encounter with culture shock is an unforgettable phenomenon.

This phenomenon is precisely why MindSnap Social is such a significant site. The human mind can be snapped in various ways, some positive, some negative, and some psychologically damaging.

It all depends on how shocking the encounter may be.

Culture shock often refers to the disorientation and discomfort one experiences when encountering unfamiliar customs, beliefs, and behaviors in a new culture. Deviant culture shock, on the other hand, involves encountering cultural practices or behaviors that are not only unfamiliar but also considered deviant or outside the norm within that culture.

It’s important to note that what is considered deviant varies greatly between cultures and can change over time within a culture. Additionally, what may be considered deviant to one person or group may be completely acceptable to another. Culture shock related to deviant behavior highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity and understanding when interacting with diverse societies