Ep. 2 - Navigating Culture Shock and Culture Stress

Culture shock can shake overseas workers, even when they are prepared for it and expecting it. But if you haven’t experienced culture shock, it can be hard to understand what these workers are going through. Eva Burkholder, member care team lead for Christar U.S., talks about ways to prepare global workers for culture shock and how it differs from culture stress. Eva and Sue discuss their own experiences with culture shock as well as the coping skills that helped them deal with it. Listen to discover how to better understand it and how you, as a friend, family member or church support team, can come alongside those encountering culture shock.

Resources

“What Cross-Cultural Workers Ought to Know about Culture Stress” by Ronald Koteskey

Together to Thrive, which supports the member care programs of Christar U.S.

"Not Optional: How Member Care Supports Cross-Cultural Ministries" by Sue Eenigenburg

Guest Bio

Eva Burkholder is a third-culture kid, wife, mother, grandmother, former global worker, author and the member care lead for Christar U.S., all of which add a global and soul care dimension to her writing. She is the author of Favored, Blessed, Pierced: A Fresh Look at Mary of Nazareth and co-author of Grit to Stay, Grace to Go: Staying Well in Cross-Cultural Ministry. She and her husband live in Texas, where she rejuvenates by crafting and spending time with her two sons, their wives and her granddaughter. Connect with Eva via www.evaburkholder.com, Facebook and Instagram.

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