Some students may find that, as
they settle in to their new environment, they are experiencing Culture Shock. Culture shock can
be described as the physical and emotional discomfort people suffer when living
in a culture different from the native culture. Often, the norms of life in the
native culture are not accepted or considered normal in the host culture.
Everything seems different and hard to understand, and the ability to easily
function in a familiar culture has disappeared.
Culture shock
cannot be avoided, so it is important to be able to recognize it in order to be
able to better deal with it. With effort and patience the adjustments can
be made, and
recognizing the symptoms is the first step. It doesn't hurt to remind
yourself that culture shock is normal and temporary.
One can determine
whether he/she is experiencing culture shock by recognizing the
symptoms:
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Sadness, loneliness, depression |
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Preoccupation with health |
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Insomnia or sleeping too much |
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Feelings of vulnerability or powerlessness |
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Isolationism, irritability, or loss of identity |
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Inability to solve simple problems |
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Lack of confidence |
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Developing stereotypes about the new culture |
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Obsessing about small things, like over-cleanliness |
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Homesickness |
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Feelings of being lost, overlooked, exploited |
Culture shock has
many identities, from feelings of elation to feelings of resentment or
depression.
Below is a table
that does a good job of explaining the stages of culture shock
(quoted from The Experiment in International Living Cross-Cultural
Orientation Guide, 1984):
The Honeymoon: Everything is new and exciting.
Culture Shock: The excitement is gone. Differences begin to
emerge; questions arise about how to relate to friends or to their host family.
Students may feel lonely or homesick.
Surface Adjustment: It is starting to make sense. Students can
communicate basic ideas and they begin to make friends. They start to
feel more
comfortable in the host culture.
Unresolved Problems: Problems with friends or family of the
student may surface, or the student may wonder why he/she ever went abroad and might be
extremely homesick.
They Feel at Home: The student accepts the new culture as just another way of
living. They may not approve of it always, but they accept and understand
differences.
Departure Concern: The student begins to sense personal changes.
They have
mixed feelings about returning home.
Here are some ways
you can combat culture shock:
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Develop a hobby. |
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Take personal time. Do
something you like to do, like going to a café and
reading a novel in English. |
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It is important that you include a
regular form of physical activity in your routine. This will help combat the
sadness and loneliness in a constructive manner. |
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Maintaining some contact with
Americans can help to give a sense of belonging, therefore helping you
combat feelings of loneliness and alienation. HOWEVER, spending time with
Americans ONLY is very harmful to the study abroad experience, as it limits
your interaction with the host country and also limits your
ability to learn the host language. |
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Establishing simple goals and
evaluating your progress may give you a feeling of power in a culture where
you
may otherwise feel powerless. |
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Maintain confidence in yourself.
Remember your original goals/ambitions for the study abroad experience. |
If you are experiencing problems coping with culture shock you may wish to
seek out your Resident Director or the staff in the International Office at
your host institution. They can help you find an appropriate counselor
or may have other suggestions for combating the feelings you are having.
If you have any questions or concerns for UI Study Abroad staff, do not
hesitate to contact them at
abroad@uidaho.edu or call (208) 885-4075. |
