Different Languages Kai Ting’s Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Conflict in Dealing with Culture Shock

41 custom’s values. Socialization is the process by which someone or a social group interacts so they can function within it Elkin, 1960, p. 4. In the socialization, one will learn and internalize appropriate patterns, values, and feelings. According to Elkin 1960, socialization includes both learning and internalizing of appropriate patterns, values, and feeling in which by learning the ways continuing group, the immigrant becomes socialized into the life of his new country p. 4. Since socialization is needed for one to be accepted in the new culture, it will be one indicator of the cause of culture shock. Kai lacks of socialization among the society in Panhandle because of his condition. He is the only Asian, and the only nonblack and the only certified no- question-about-it non-fighter in the district. He is kept indoor by his mother until the age of seven and he experiences lack of interaction with other children in his age. It makes him experience less social interaction which affects his ability to adjust to the culture. On the first day of the fi rst grade, Kai’s mother walks him to the school. She begs the principal of the school, Mrs. Wyatt, to give him special help in which it will protect him from the bullying of other kids in the school. He has special condition and rare skin condition that worsen in sunlight. Please, keep him inside the school building while the other children are outdoors. Not knowing English, or having too much sun, could be very dangerious for him p. 35. It illustrates that Kai limits his interaction with other kids in the school. At the age of seven, without outdoor playing, he learns everything without socialization. As a consequence, some of the preschool kids on the block where he lives do not know that he is the member of the block since they have not seen his dawn runs to school. 42

a. The Intrapersonal Conflicts

Culture shock leads someone to conflicts because when dealing with culture shock someone cannot fulfill two or more mutual actions. Kai experiences conflicts due to the incompatible condition between his origin as a Chinese and new life in Panhandle. Conflict that happens within an individual indicates the presence of different idea, opposing, feelings, and activities named intrapersonal conflict Ghaffar, 2013, p. 333. There are several ways to handle the conflict. Kasschau 2003 purposes four types of intrapersonal conflict situation and resolution of based on their type. Those four types are an avoidance- avoidance, an approach- approach, an approach- avoidance, and a double approach- avoidance pp. 415-416. While dealing with culture shock, Kai experiences the intrapersonal conflicts. He deals with some experiences that he has to struggle in order to fulfil two or more mutual actions to choose. The intrapersonal conflicts he experiences occur because of his own confusion. Due to Edna’s attempts to erase every vestige of China from the household and his friends’ bullying, he is confused whether to stay or leave Panhandle, whether to make friends, or whether to fight. 1 Staying or Leaving Panhandle Since Kai lives with his stepmother, he is plunged into the intrapersonal conflict. Kai is confused whether he has to stay or leave Panhandle. His stepmother always tries to Americanize him by doing some abuses. Kai is beaten when his father is overseas. He feels desperate about this condition. His worst beating by Edna occurs when his father is overseas, at the bank, or at meetings.