When student Sósep Patfield left his Nova Scotia reserve to attend Saint Mary’s University, he says he found it hard to cope with city life in Halifax and figure out where his traditional culture fit into a modern education system.
He often felt isolated, and faced what is called culture shock, a phenomenon where someone struggles to adapt to a new way of living and environment.
“I think culture shock is best defined by organizational behavioural practices that you hadn’t anticipated on experiencing,” Patfield said, recalling his early years in post-secondary. “And so you don’t know what you don’t know.”
Patfield, 28, who is from Pictou Landing First Nation, said he is
