"Culture Shock" Isn’t About Culture. It’s About Systems.
- AHOM RMC
- Dec 13
- 3 min read
Systems Are Neutral. Humans Are Not. And Translation Is Required.
I just returned from a trip to Africa, and the difference in systems was a renewed shock to my decades regulated now familiar Canadian system.
The contrast couldn’t have been more stark.
There was a different kind of ease as I navigated my temporary surroundings.
I was moving from a system where rules, order, and procedures quietly govern daily life, into a system where people regulate each other — where structure is carried by humans, not paperwork.
People dropped in randomly, and you fed them. Feasts!!!
Plantain and banana trees grew along the side of the road.
Guava trees were everywhere.... I counted six different types of palm trees lining both sides of the street.
Variegated pothos climbed up buildings.
Monstera deliciosa grew freely, almost casually, as if it belonged everywhere — because it did.
It was a different kind of structure.
A different kind of order.
And it worked.
That experience made me think about all of us who move between countries that are fundamentally different from the ones we come from. What we often call “culture shock” suddenly felt misnamed.
Because it isn’t just about food, language, or customs.
It’s a change in system architecture.
When you enter a new country, you’re stepping into an entirely different way life is organized — how rules are enforced, how help appears, how expectations are communicated, and how people find their place within it.
That kind of shift takes time to navigate, to translate, and to understand.
And without that translation, it’s very hard to thrive — or to truly belong.
So maybe it’s time we redefine culture shock for what it really is:
A need for translation — not of language, but of systems.
Countries like Canada are kind and welcoming — not better or worse than others — simply structured in a different way. For many newcomers, Canada represents safety, opportunity, and the refuge we are seeking during times of uncertainty and global instability.
Canada’s systems are orderly and well designed. They rely on rules, documentation, timelines, and quiet compliance.
When understood, these systems work very well and offer a strong foundation for long-term stability.
For many of us, arriving in Canada is not just a choice — it is shaped by geopolitical realities beyond our control. We come grateful to be welcomed into a country that opens its doors and offers the possibility of rebuilding our lives with dignity.
At the same time, generosity does not automatically equal simplicity.
Canada’s systems assume a level of familiarity that newcomers are still developing. They assume an understanding of how credentials are evaluated, how housing markets function, how employment pathways open, and how institutions expect to be engaged.
None of this is written down in one place.
None of it is intuitive if you did not grow up inside it.
This is not a flaw.
It is simply how systems work.
And this is where translation becomes essential.
The Canadian Newcomer Empowerment Program (CNEP) is a program designed by CNAP Immigration and Settlement Services Association to help newcomers move from arrival to stability, confidence, and belonging.
CNEP focuses on the practical areas that make the biggest difference in a newcomer’s ability to thrive:
Housing Stability — understanding how housing systems work and how to secure long-term stability
Foreign Credentials Assessment and Recognition — helping newcomers understand how their education and experience are evaluated and positioned in Canada
Intercultural and Intracultural Training — building awareness of how cultural expectations operate within institutions, workplaces, and communities
Family Financial Wellness — strengthening financial understanding so families can plan, decide, and move forward with confidence
CNEP is designed for all newcomers — individuals and families — who want to build stable, self-sufficient lives in Canada and feel a genuine sense of belonging.
We don’t replace existing services, and we don’t create dependency.We strengthen understanding, decision-making, and confidence — so people can participate fully in the systems that welcomed them.
That is how generosity turns into opportunity.
And how opportunity becomes belonging.
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