© ESL Study Guide
Topic: When people move to another country, some of them decide to follow the customs of the new country. Others prefer to keep their own customs. Which one do you prefer? Support your answer with specific details.
Nowadays, in our growing global society, people often move from one country to another. When they do, some people decide to follow the customs of the country they have moved to. On the other hand, others prefer to continue following the customs of their home country. In my opinion, it is better to follow the customs of the new country because by understanding these new customs I will be able to understand the culture, and it will help me make more friends easily.
It is never easy to adapt to different customs, but when moving to another country, it is a good idea to follow new customs in terms of better understanding the culture. If a new resident in a country tries to understand the customs of their new neighbors, it will help them assimilate into their new culture. For example, different countries have different actions that are considered polite or rude. In western countries, it is polite to shake hands when you meet someone new, while in eastern countries, a bow is considered to be the appropriate action. By learning this custom, it helps me understand in more detail how I am expected to act at work and what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Therefore, understanding the new customs helps immigrants adjust to the new society.
In addition, one of the hardest things when moving to another country is making new friends. It is hard enough to make good friends in an unfamiliar setting. However, if a person takes the time to understand the customs, the transition will be smoothers. For instance, when I moved to the United States, I was very unfamiliar with their styles and sense of humor. In fact, some of the things that Americans say to their friends could be considered very rude by other cultures, but they find low-level insults and sarcasm to be funny. At first this was difficult, but as I started to participate in that kind of humor, I was readily accepted and was able to make some very good friends. If I had not tried to understand their customs, my time in the United States would have been very lonely.
Of course, it is never easy to adjust to a new set of customs. However, in order to understand the culture and make friends, it is a good idea to learn the new customs, even if immigrants are confused at first. Following the new culture and its customs enables them to more quickly and easily adjust to and fit into the new society.