Study Abroad

Study Abroad Pre-departure Information for Students

CULTURAL ADJUSTMENT

Culture Shock

Culture shock is a very natural phenomenon that can be expected when a person moves from a familiar environment to a new setting where language, food, climate and even people’s actions are different.

No one enters a new culture simply as an individual -- the history, values and attitudes of the home culture are the extra baggage you bring with you. Many attitudes, values and beliefs are so taken for granted that they are accepted as the norm for all cultures. In reality each culture is different, but not better or worse, than the other.

At first you will probably feel only excitement and anticipation as you explore your new surroundings. However, after several weeks, you may find yourself with less energy and even less enthusiasm. Your home culture becomes more appealing. You may be irritated with the food, people, and actions of your host country. New experiences change from exciting to strange and different.

If you recognize that this disorientation is a normal part of living in a new culture, you can be reassured that the depressed feeling will pass. Only when you can accept the new culture, both its good and bad parts, will you begin to enjoy your new experiences. While it may be somewhat painful, culture shock can be a mind-stretching process that will give understanding and tolerance for your home and host cultures.

If you find yourself suffering from any of these symptoms, please consider yourself lucky that you are becoming a member of a new culture. However, there are many positive actions you can take to help overcome feelings of loneliness and withdrawal from a new culture. Keeping busy and setting goals are important . You should reach out to local services and people rather than relying on email and telephone calls home – these can really prevent a student from engaging with people, perpetuating culture shock and preventing healing.

All students abroad will be able to find services to help them through the highs and lows inherent in the process of cultural adjustment. Universities overseas will have International Offices with staff familiar with the stages of culture shock, and offer counseling services just as TU does. Study abroad programs will also provide the benefit of in-country representatives whom the student can contact for help. Reaching out to a real, live person is generally more beneficial to a suffering person than electronic or telephonic communication from home, and sometimes these types of correspondence can make things even worse. It’s important for you to know that caring people exist in your new home, and not just back at home.

It’s also important to avoid spending too much time with other Americans or expatriates who reinforce and perpetuate negativity. This will lead you to conclude that the stereotypes are true and prevent integration into the local culture. Getting involved with local people can mitigate feelings of isolation and culture shock and is an ideal solution that many study abroad returnees recommend.

The Study Abroad Staff should also be considered a resource as we have all survived culture shock through our personal experiences abroad.

Cultural Adjustment Cycle

The following section outlines the stages of adjustment that characterize culture shock, and suggests how you can help yourself to make the most of your study abroad experience. For more information on culture shock and what to expect, go to the Study Abroad Resources section on our website.

Honeymoon period

You arrive overseas with great expectations and a positive mind-set. If anything, your expectations are too high, and your attitudes toward the host country and your prospective experience are too high. Anything new is exciting to you at this stage but you mostly notice similarities between cultures. This state of ‘e euphoria’ may last from a week or two to a month, but the letdown is inevitable.

Try to write down all your initial experiences – it will be interesting and fun to look back on them in the future as you get to know your new hometown better.

Culture Shock

Your focus turns from similarities to differences. You begin to see differences everywhere and the differences you notice are troubling and unsettling. You blow up at the little things. Insignificant difficulties turn into major catastrophes. This stage is identified as "culture shock," - you may experience any or all of the symptoms associated with this stage.

At this point, you will be noticing everything wrong with your new hometown and culture, and you may be contacting friends and family often. Bear in mind that you seem to reach out to them only during your low points so try to remember to call them when you’re feeling better so they won’t worry. We encourage you to be specific about what is going wrong and to seek out help with local representatives for solutions to concrete problems not attributable to cultural differences. You should student get involved with local clubs or groups to make connections with people with similar interests – it’s important to stay busy and set realistic goals during this period. It’s not mandatory that you succeeds – only that you survive your study abroad. Everyone goes through some level of culture shock – try to realize that there’s no shame in admitting you are culture-shocked, and that many others have survived it.

Adjustment

The crisis is now over and you are on your way to recovery. This step may come so gradually that, at first, you will be unaware it is happening. You b begin to orient yourself and are able to interpret some of the subtle cultural clues which you did not notice earlier - the culture seems more familiar. You become more comfortable and feel less isolated. Your sense of humor returns and you realize the situation is not hopeless after all.

Recognize that you are making it through the storm, and revel your successes, new friendships, experiences, travel, etc.! Your survival seems assured! It would be fun to look back at your journal and see what you remember about your first days in your new hometown – add some new impressions and reflections as well to your growing understanding of your surroundings.

Acceptance (biculturalism)

You can an now function in two cultures with confidence. You can maintain your own culture and recognize that members of other cultures rightfully want to do the same. You find in many new ways of doing and saying things. Personal attitudes in your host culture have become enjoyable and you will miss them when you return home. You can expect to experience "reverse culture shock" upon your return to the U.S.. In some cases reverse culture shock can cause greater distress than the original culture shock.

You might find yourself struggling to maintain some of the customs and habits you adopted while away – keeping those will fondly remind you of you home away from home. Seek out ways to keep your international identity active.

Activities that can help you adjust to a new culture include:

• Share feelings with other foreign students or advisers.
• Write in a journal or read a letter from family or friends.
• Improve language abilities through talking to people, going to the movies, reading local papers and magazines.
• Learn about the new school and the new neighborhood.
• Pursue or develop a hobby.
• Join a club or athletic team.
• Volunteer for a cause you believe in.
• Attend religious services.
• Plan excursions.
• Maintain a sense of humor.
• Speak with people in the International Office at your host university or your Program Director or your TU Study Abroad Adviser.

For more information on culture shock and what to expect go to the Resources section of our website.

Re-entry Issues

Remember that culture shock can happen when you return to the United States as well. You may have adjusted well and learned to enjoy the culture in your host country. On your return home, you may experience disorientation and a yearning for the host culture. The steps you took to adjust to the host environment will be useful in your readjustment to the home environment: keep busy and set goals. Give yourself time to readjust and keep an open mind. Everyone goes through some level of culture shock – you are not alone!

Study Abroad Office
Administration Building, 2nd Floor
Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Phone: 410-704-2451

Fax: 410-704-4703
Email: studyabroad@towson.edu