Chapter 6-The next big deal

Moving to another country has many consequences on the situation of a man’s life.knut came face to face with a new culture and way of life.Culture facilitates communication between people.By so doing one does not need to explain what one does or says.It becomes a a reference point which one shares with others.It becomes obvious and often disguised for us.Conflicts can emerge when individuals from different cultures interact.

Culture is a pattern of behaviour we inherit from our parents,assimilate and pass over to our friends and relations without indicating what we feel about it.In addition , one can participate in both swedish culture and in his case Ghanaian culture at the same time.Diverse cultures can arise from being classmates who share a common experience from the same school or colleagues or friends from the old homeland.Meeting across cultural borders is a way of interpreting our view of the world in comparison with others.A sense of purpose is crucial for our self-esteem. Surviving dramatic changes in a person’s life such as a divorce or going into exile or emigration to another calls for an inner feeling of coherence which gives us motivation and hope when we are under great pressure.

Knut’s professional identity or occupation as a journalist provided the background for how others perceived him.He lost that point of departure when he migrated and subsequently his identity.In the ensuing emptiness he often asked himself “Who am I now?”

What happens when we lose our identity, personal belongings,language,professional identity , give up our dreams for the future, musik ,way of dressing ?How does one recreate a new identity? Knut was compelled to adopt a low profile in the process of recreating a new identity.

Working as a newspaper distributor played a crucial role in his efforts to recreate his identity.It gave him mental stimulation and a boost to his sense of self-esteem..Learning a new language also dramatically limited his ability to express himself verbally. The rate at which he produced articles for the press was considerably reduced.

In addition he nedded to make new friends having left behind his social network at home adapt to a much colder climate and a different diet.