Thang Nguyen experienced culture shock when moving to Kajaani, Finland from another country in August 2011. Some initial challenges included loneliness, harsh winters, and difficulty with the Finnish language. However, over time he grew to tolerate and even enjoy aspects of Finnish culture like the clean streets, nature, law-abiding citizens, and winter activities such as ice skating and mushroom picking. He is now working to learn the Finnish language again after an initial period of frustration.

1. Culture Shock
Thang Nguyen

2. Facts
• I arrived in Kajaani in August 2011
• Lots of trees and lakes!
• Clean streets, pure air (in the forest)
• Winter temperature
• Wintersport
• Law-abiding citizens

3. Stages
• Hard to clearly define the stages
• At first: loneliness and homesickness
• After a while: got over that stage
• Hate Finnish language at first – now I am learning it
again!
• Tolerate Finnish way of life

4. Finnish foods

5. Activities
• Ice-skating
• Mushroom and berries picking
• Horse riding
• Ice swimming!