A Thematic Analysis Of Cross-Cultural Adaptation Of Chinese Sojourners In Somalia

This article is a qualitative study on the cross-cultural adaptation of Chinese sojourners in Somalia.As the first country in East Africa to establish diplomatic relations with China,Somalia has maintained a friendly relationship with China.Following the end of the Somali Civil War,some Chinese come to invest and work in Somalia’s peaceful areas.However,the local infrastructure and medical conditions are not perfect,and Chinese sojourners also don’t speak Somali.Furthermore,Somalia is a Muslim country,historically dominated by nomadic tribes.Present-day Somali society maintains many cultural practices that originated during the nomadic period,setting it apart from China which traditionally relies on agricultural practices and lacks a unified religious identity.Therefore,it is a worthwhile topic to investigate how Chinese sojourners integrate into Somali society for an extended period.The study employed participatory observation of four Chinese-funded enterprises in Hargeisa,the capital of Somaliland,and conducted semi-structured interviews using a snowball sampling technique to identify 11 eligible interviewees in Somalia.The interviews lasted from 1 to 2.5 hours and were analyzed using the Braun and Clarke six-step thematic analysis method.The analysis generated 11 themes,including pre-departure cognition,motivations,expectations,family and friend support,information search,cognition in Somalia,negative emotions,self-evaluation,encountered difficulties,coping strategies,social active participation,and media use.The research then divided the 11 themes into six dimensions based on the communication form and social environment in which communication activities occur.These dimensions included intrapersonal,interpersonal,and mass media communication in the original society,and intrapersonal,interpersonal,and mass media communication in the host society.Ultimately,the investigation constructed a framework model of the cross-cultural adaptation process of Chinese sojourners in Somalia.This article examined the cross-cultural adaptation of Chinese sojourners in Somalia in terms of intrapersonal,interpersonal,and mass media communication.At the intrapersonal level,cross-cultural adaptation mainly manifests in the psychological aspect,such as cognition,motivations,emotions,and self-evaluation.Although Chinese sojourners gradually deepen their understanding of Somali culture over time,personal biases may still persist.Motivations and expectations significantly affect the process of cross-cultural adaptation,and psychological stress may alter initial motivations and expectations,leading to adjustments or changes.The frequent occurrence and resolution of negative emotions reflect the dynamic balance of individual adaptation to the new environment.In addition,the self-evaluation of the cross-cultural subjects may be inconsistent with their behavior in the specific environment.That’s to say,they pay more attention to self-inner balance rather than integration with the host society.At the interpersonal level,cross-cultural adaptation is mainly evidenced in direct interactions with the local society.Chinese sojourners in Somali society face various challenges,including dietary restrictions,bribery,and influences of religion.When dealing with these challenges,the predominant coping strategy is selfregulation to reduce psychological stress.Furthermore,in public places,Chinese sojourners tend to follow local customs,while in private spaces,they retain their original social habits,forming a Chinese community to alleviate the pressure of adapting to the host society.At the mass media communication level,cross-cultural adaptation is reflected in the selection of media sources and host society’s mass communication ability.However,there is a paucity of relevant information about Somalia on the internet,and local mass media primarily use the Somali language,creating obstacles for Chinese sojourners attempting to comprehend local information.Moreover,Chinese sojourners’ motivations,expectations,and interests differ,resulting in significant differences in their attention to Somali information.Overall,crosscultural adaptation is a process of achieving and maintaining a dynamic balance state with the host society rather than mere assimilation.This equilibrium may be disrupted by specific difficulties or challenges,but effective coping methods can restore the balance.This research investigates the living conditions of Chinese sojourners in Somalia and conducts interviews to gain insights into their experiences when interacting with locals.Thus,it presents a comprehensive view of the cross-cultural adaptation of Chinese sojourners in Somali society.The analysis provides practical recommendations for sojourners to better integrate into the local community and offers valuable references for companies seeking to cooperate with Somalia.On a national level,harmonious relations between people in China and Somalia can promote mutual understanding and strengthen the friendly relationship between the two countries.Furthermore,this study offers an empirical research framework for the field of cross-cultural adaptation.