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Culture Shock!
By Stephen Herold
Feb 14, 2002 -- We all have seen them in our travels around the world--hordes of tourists, singly and in bleating groups, rapidly moving from one tourist site to another clicking their cameras and loudly showing their vulgar ignorance. Alas, all too often they are Americans, whose isolation behind two ocean moats gives them little experience in understanding foreign customs and style. In this same silly mode there are innumerable travel books telling us where to stay, where to eat, what we must see, and even a rigid tour plan--"eight countries in seven days."As useful as these books can be for our material comfort and peace of mind, as well as giving us a checklist of places to see so we won't be embarrassed when we tell everyone about our trip, they reduce other countries to a mere collection of objects. The people, the language, the culture, the style of living are all reduced to Disney-like props in our travel video. How American, in our material and object oriented universe, to seek out the trivial objects and ignore the living culture that is the only sane reason for travel.
Standing out above this indistinguishable mass of "yet another place guide" is the wonderful Culture Shock! series of books. Begun around 20 years ago with a simple book on Thai customs and living style, the series has now expanded to almost 75 volumes covering much of the world. Each volume is written by an experienced inhabitant and, in those covering countries I know, they are accurate and full of essential insights. Although originally intended for people planning to live in a country for an extended period, the same information is a life saver for tourists. With blunt clarity the books explain how life is set up, how to shop, how to deal with the post office and banks, how people socialize and expect us to act and all those other things that make it possible to pleasantly exist in a country.
In the Middle East when people want to treat you with respect they speak right in your face and loudly, in the Czech Republic that same behavior will get you the cold shoulder. The Czechs eat early and restaurants close by 9 p.m., in Spain the cafes seldom open before 9. Vegetarians are in serious trouble in Germany, but in India they can thrive. You can flirt all you want in Italy as it's a national pastime, in Malaysia it can land you in jail. In Mexico bargaining on purchases, except in fancy tourist shops, is expected but in the Czech Republic prices and terms are rigid. Other basics covered are knowing how to rent a dwelling, take a train, shop and deal with bureaucracies all around the world.
My son and I are planning a grand tour of the Habsburg triangle--Vienna, Budapest and Prague--and the only books we know we have to read are the Culture Shock! volumes. We can find the sights for ourselves, but these books will let us travel and live in happy comfort. And the best part is that they are inexpensive at only $13.95 a volume. Nazdravi.
Stephen Herold is a scholar, poet and calligrapher who spends his life creating books and running wonderful bookstores. He currently runs Books A to Z, a digital publishing service company, and Wit's End Bookstore & Teashop in Fremont.
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