Likewise, if you’re American and are teaching where they drive on the left – you get the idea. So if you’re British and are teaching in a country where they drive on the right, then you’re in luck. I use the context of being used to driving on a different side of the road. I teach be used to and get used to together, because get used to is much easier to explain straight after setting a context for be used to. This can be widened to any new life experience, living alone after living with one’s parents, moving from a village to a town, getting married, having a child. Students share their culture shock experiences. I had to get used to eating with chopsticks! I had to get used to putting my hand in front of my mouth every time I smiled, as it is rude for women to show their teeth. I had to get used to travelling in terribly crowded trains and being pushed on the train by a professional pusher with white gloves. In Japan, I had to get used to bowing all the time, every time I met another teacher or anyone to whom I had to show respect.
It was difficult getting used to having no electricity or running water when I was living in Africa.
I can tell you, it took me a long time to get used to some of the local customs. I have spent a year teaching in Africa and two years teaching in Japan. Have you ever lived or worked abroad? If you have, you probably went through culture shock.
