1 . “A fish out of water.” “A bike without a chain.” There are many metaphors for culture shock, all of which attempt to describe the unique experience of being far from one’s home country and culture.

Scientists have studied culture shock for over a century. Rather than focus on the purely negative aspects, psychologists describe it as a process of stress and adjustment. The first stage is the honeymoon phase, when we are filled with excitement about being in another country. Eventually, as daily challenges arise, we enter a state of crisis and anxiety, harboring unfriendly feelings about the host culture. The longer we are immersed in the culture, we adjust and recover from those negative feelings. Finally, after some time we adjust even more and fully accept the new culture.

One of the factors that determines how we react to cultural stress is our personality. Not surprisingly, extraverts (外向者) tend to have an easier time adjusting to new cultures. That is because being in a new country means meeting many new people and spending a lot of time around them, and extraverts thrive in these situations. But introverts simply prefer to be alone after spending time in groups, and only have limited energy to spend in social settings.

Cultural intelligence, or CQ, also plays its part. Cultural intelligence is defined as the capability of an individual to function effectively in situations characterized by cultural diversity. It has to do with our interest in interacting with people from culturally diverse backgrounds, and our ability to adapt to new cultural context. It is argued that the higher our CQ, the lesser the effect of culture shock on our ability to cope in new situations.

Many effective coping strategies are interpersonal. A recent study found that relating to others with empathy is significantly associated with lower stress levels abroad. The more we are able to take on other people’s points of view, the more positive our interpersonal relationships and thus our adaptation to the stress of culture shock.

4 . I can’t leave my house because there’s 45 cm of snow on the ground, I’ve had some time to think about my running goals for the coming year. Setting running goals is a great way to stay motivated to run, and the start of a new year is the perfect time to think about what you want to achieve. Here are some tips for setting reasonable goals:

Choose practical goals. Never set a goal that you can’t achieve. For example, you’re not going to cover 5 km in 25 minutes with your best personal record being 35 minutes. Your chances of achieving your goals will be much better if they’re practical.

Don’t take on too much. If you have too many goals, you’ll burn yourself out and may not achieve any of them, leaving you feeling disappointed and unsuccessful. Instead, just focus on a few key goals and the steps you need to take to reach them.

Set small, easy goals. If you have a great goal, make sure that you have small, easy goals along the way, so that they can help you make progress and prevent you from getting frustrated. If your goal is to complete a 10K, first try to run a 3K or 5K, and then 8K every time. An added advantage of setting these small, easy goals is that even if you don’t meet your final goal at last, you’ll still achieve other success along the way.

Pick some fun goals, too. Not all your running goals have to be performance-related. Come up with some creative goals, such as running a race on a holiday, running a race for charity, reading a book about running, and making some new friends while running. Non-performance related goals can keep you from feeling unsuccessful even if you give up some of your other goals.

6 . Broadway Musicals Quiz

The Enchanted Clock tower

In a small village nestled in the mountains, a mysterious clock tower is rumored to possess magical powers. When young siblings Anna and Jack stumble (偶然碰见) upon it, they are transported back in time to an era of knights and dragons. Now, they must find a way to return home before they become trapped in the past forever.

Rhythms of the Heart

Follow the journey of a struggling dance troupe as they compete in a prestigious competition that could make or break their dreams. With tensions running high and personal rivalries (对抗) threatening to tear them apart, the dancers must learn to trust each other and find the courage to shine on stage.

Echoes of Eternity

Set against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic world (后世界末日), this musical follows a group of survivors as they search for hope and redemption in a desolate landscape. As they face their past mistakes and inner demons, they discover that the key to their future lies in the bonds of friendship and the power of love.

Whispers in the Wind

In a quaint seaside town, a young girl discovers a hidden treasure map that leads her on a thrilling adventure. Along the way, she encounters a colorful cast of characters, including pirates, mermaids, and mythical creatures, as she unlocks the secrets of the past and her true destiny.