Initially you may find a new culture exciting, a time of new experiences, sights, sounds, and activities. This initial period of settling in to the new culture seems like an adventure. However, as you become more involved in activities and get to know the people around you, differences rather than similarities become apparent to you.
Differences such as: language, religion, climate, food, educational system, absence of family and friends, how students relate to teachers, how people make decisions, how people resolve conflicts, how people express emotion, and the meaning of certain hand, face and body movements.
These differences may cause feelings of uncertainty and anxiety because you do not know what to do or what to expect in certain situations.
As these differences emerge during cultural adjustment they can be confusing, troubling and sometimes shocking. You no longer know what to do, or what is expected. You feel like you are an outsider and that life was easier back home because you understood "the rules".
For many this process of cultural adjustment results in an emotional state (stress) known as "Culture Shock". Culture shock does not happen all at once. It grows little by little as you interact with other students, faculty, and people in the community. The main thing to remember is that this discomfort or stress (Culture Shock) is a normal part of the process of cultural adjustment that nearly everyone goes through.
According to Robert Kohls, "Culture shock is in some degree inevitable….and is the occupational hazard of overseas living through which one has to be willing to go through in order to enjoy the pleasures of experiencing other countries and cultures in depth."
Many students have found that they experience a predictable series of stages leading to culture shock.
Stage I: Enthusiasm /Excitement
The individual:
- is very positive about the culture
- is overwhelmed with impressions finds the culture exotic and is fascinated by it
- doesn't confront the culture
Stage II: Withdrawal/Loneliness
The individual:
- begins to interact with the culture
- finds the behavior of the people unusual and unpredictable
- begins to dislike the culture
- feels anxiety
- begins to withdraw
- begins to criticize the culture/people
Stage III: Adjustment
The individual:
- begins to understand more of the behavior of the people
- feels more comfortable living in the culture
- regains sense of humor
Stage IV: Achievement/Enthusiasm
The individual:
- enjoys being in the culture
- functions easily in the culture
- prefers certain cultural behavior to that of his/her country
- adopts certain behaviors
Your body and mind may react in unusual ways to the stress and confusion of living in a new culture. There are certain symptoms of culture shock that you need to be aware of.
extreme homesickness excessive sleeping withdrawl boredom loss of sense of humor depression lethargy difficulty with course work irratability physical complaints hostility toward host culture irrational anger
Throughout the period of cultural adjustment (culture shock) remember to take good care of yourself. Read a book or watch a video in your home language, take a short trip if possible, exercise and get plenty of rest, keep in touch with family and friends, make friends immediately…and not just with people from the same country as you, eat good food, and do things you enjoy with friends. It is also helpful to focus on the positive things you enjoy about living in the host culture.
A very typical way students cope with culture shock is to "hang out" only with other Americans. Remember however, that you are in another country to learn about its people, language and culture. If you avoid contact with foreign culture you not only cheat yourself of a wonderful experience, but also lengthen the period of adjustment to the new culture.
Although this period of adjustment can be rather scary, the "shock" will gradually ease as you begin to understand the new culture. It will help if you are able to realize that the reaction and perceptions of others toward you and you toward them are not personal but a result of a conflict between your cultural values and their cultural values (cultural clashes). The more skilled you become in recognizing how and when cultural values and behaviors are more likely to come into conflict, the easier it becomes to make adjustments that can help you avoid serious difficulties in the host country.
Some students worry that by becoming adjusted to the host culture they may "lose their culture". However, it is highly unlikely that you will lose the culture in which you were raised. In fact, learning about a new culture can increase your appreciation and understanding of your own culture.
It is also important to remember that the "American Way" is only one of the many ways to get something accomplished. If you can accept this, you will be on your way to make your stay in the foreign country more enjoyable.
In any situation, try to remember what is culturaly acceptable not just the "American Way" of doing things!
Just as you have gone through a period of adjustment while you were abroad, you need to prepare yourself for a period of readjustment when you return "home".
You have had a very unique cultural experience living and learning abroad, and you have likely changed some while you have been away. Because you have changed, you may feel the place that you are returning to (home, school) has also changed, and indeed it might have. You will most likely be very sensitive to even the smallest of changes, and because these changes will be so unexpected you may need some time to readjust.
Immediately after you return, you will probably go through a time of euphoria and excitement. However, as you try to settle back into your former routine, you may find that your overseas experience has changed some or many of your perceptions and assumptions, your way of doing things, and even the way see yourself. In a sense you have become a new person, a new "self". This period of intellectual and personal growth that you have experienced may result in you feeling disoriented as you adjust to your "new" environment.
The length of the period of readjustment depends on how immersed you had become in the foreign culture. The more immersed you were in the culture the more difficult it will be to have things get back to your sense of what is "normal". However, if you are aware that changes have taken place and try to learn from them, a smooth readjustment period is more likely.
Your experience of having dealt successfully with culture shock while abroad will also give you the psychological tools you will need during this period of readjustment.
It is important to find a way to integrate this new "self" into your personal and academic life.
This is an opportunity for you to become bicultural (being able to function competently in two cultural environments).
Adapted from:
Exploring Cultural Differences by Bill Hoffa ,http://www.studyabroad.com/handbook/cultdiff.html/#shock
Culture Shock, http://atsadc.org/nafsa/shock.html
Stages of Cultural Adjustment, http://www.uazone.net/Adjustment.html
