Understanding Culture Shock
- The "U" Curve of Culture Adaptation
- The Honeymoon Stage
- The Conflict Stage
- The Critical Stage
- The Recovery Stage
Study abroad is a cornerstone of any attempt towards international education. It is not merely the process of sitting on an airplane for 8 hours or passing through customs, which some consider an accomplishment in and of itself. Rather, it is the learning that takes place in the quiet and mundane moments of daily living in a foreign land. It is in the adjustments made while you seek to figure out why people do things so differently than you do "back home". It facilitates the understanding of appropriate technology, and appropriate behavior for diverse environments.
Culture Shock
A
word to the student who has decided to explore the world
As you ready yourself to study abroad, you have gone through a number
of preparations: making sure that you were academically prepared, securing
necessary finances, saying good-bye to the comfort of family, friends,
and familiar surroundings, and booking travel arrangements, acquiring
language skills, to name but a few. Once you get abroad, things should
go smoothly, right? You should immediately fit into your new routine in
a totally new education and living environment, right? If that actually
happens, then you are among a rare group of individuals, indeed!
Most people who move between cultures (for study, work, tourism, or to take up a new permanent residence) experience a period of adjustment as they establish themselves in their new environment. The adjustment period may be accompanied by dramatic manifestations of symptoms such as anxiety, headaches, digestive problems, and sleep disorders, or may bring less severe symptoms such as discomfort and a more volatile temperament. Research shows that most people who sojourn outside their home culture experience cultural adjustment in similar ways which, when charted, have come to be known as The U Curve of Cultural Adaptation. It is called a "U Curve" because people generally start at a high point, then experience a decline, or depression, before a leveling off period, then go through a critical "recovery" stage and end up more or less balanced, where they began. When charted, it looks something like this:
If you should experience any of the difficulties of learning to live in
a new culture, it is important to recognize that you are not alone! You
are in step with thousands of others who have crossed cultures for whatever
purpose.
Cultural Adaptation is a Natural Process
Your worth as a person, your strength, your stamina, and your flexibility are not in question! You are not lessened by the cultural adaptation process; it is simply a natural phase in the overall cross-cultural experience.
Cultural Adaptation is an Individual Process
You may not experience the adjustment process in exactly the same way as your classmates. Each person's experience is shaped by what s/he brings to it. In the same fashion, the rapidity with which you go through the adaptation is highly individual. For some it is a question of weeks, for others, months. And some experience the process more than once during their sojourn!
Some people find cultural differences interesting and stimulating, and they want more! Others, when experiencing discomfort or confusion, have a tendency to judge or evaluate other people and to reach negative conclusions. Many students of color Assume that racism abroad may be so overwhelming that it would be better to stay home where you can predict the challenges. In fact, many students of color who study abroad have expressed surprise when they are treated as U.S. Americans first who have earned the right to study in the host country.
If forewarned is forearmed, then certainly you will be ahead of the game if you THINK about what you are experiencing, and if you have some idea of what to expect. The "U Curve of Cultural Adaptation" may help you understand your transitional stages.
Stages of Cultural Adaptation
Common thoughts during the Honeymoon Stage include:
Isn't this exciting? I can't wait to tell _____ about this. Aren't they
interesting? Everything here is so _____!
Characteristics of the Honeymoon Stage:
You are busy taking care of business (registration, housing, bank
account, etc.)
You are observing the
new culture and familiarizing yourself with
the new environment
You are meeting useful
and friendly university staff
You
are making your first social contacts with members of the host
culture
You are seeing and
doing new things and enjoying a new world
Common thoughts during
the Conflict Stage include:
We would never do that in my country! Why can't they just _____?
I only have __ months before I go home. These people are so _____!
Characteristics of the Conflict Stage:
You begin to desire more personal relationships with members of the
host culture
You find you have little
time or opportunity to make friends
You are feeling isolated,
out of place
You may feel tired,
sick, depressed, angry, or frustrated
You have a growing
awareness that your home culture's behaviors
may not be accepted in the host culture, and you may have to
give
up, suspend, or modify your own behavior
Your high expectations
remain unmet
You blame the
host culture for your problems
You spend lots
of time with members of your home culture
complaining about the host culture
You experience
problems with the subtleties of the target language
Common thoughts during
the Critical Stage include:
Why shouldn't they say/do that? We say/do that too, but
differently
Characteristics of the Critical Stage:
You choose to become an "explorer" in the new culture
You accept the challenge
of self-reflection
You assume responsibility
for your own cultural adjustment
Common thoughts during
the Recovery Stage include:
You don't understand them like I do. I'm beginning to like this
Characteristics of the Recovery Stage:
Your language skills improve noticeably
You begin to understand
the actions of members of the host
culture
You have finally made
friends and feel part of the community
You develop a greater
tolerance for what is strange and new
You become a mediator
between the two cultures
You feel proud
that you can make yourself understood in the target
language and that you can understand native speakers.
Hints to Make the Cultural Transition Easier
Ask Questions
Ask questions of the practical nature, such as "Where may I find
foodstuffs from my home country?", or "Where is the nearest
bank?", but also ask questions about persons' opinions on things,
and about their experiences. Ask for their reactions to happenings, newspaper
articles, television programs, etc. You may find that some stereotypes
you held about your new host culture are crumbling!
Learn and Practice The Local Language
There are regional and local variations to most languages. Learn
the version that pertains in your new host culture. Watch television,
listen to the
radio, read local newspapers, and Talk! Talk! Talk! with persons you
encounter everywhere you go during your everyday routine.
Observe Ritual Social Interactions
Notice what people say and how they say it when they greet an acquaintance,
when they are introduced to a stranger, when they take leave of a
friend
or of someone they have just met. Watch for variations with age, sex,
and apparent social status.
Take "Field Trips"
A field trip is a visit to a place where you can observe what happens.
Yours may be conducted in a visit to someone's home, at the grocery
store,
riding public transportation, attending a church service, or visiting
a public school. You may be amazed b y how much you can learn simply
by
observing.
Talk with Experienced International Students
One of the benefits of studying at most universities abroad is the
presence of other international students from different countries.
Their experiences
can be an invaluable resource for you, the new sojourner. Don't limit
yourself to members of your own culture group: be adventuresome!
Keep a Journal
Journal-keeping is a time-honored method of coping with a new culture.
Writing about your experiences forces you to be observant and to
reflect
on what is happening to you and around you.
Read
An abundance of materials exist about your new national, regional,
and local host cultures. Newspapers, magazines, and the university
libraries
are excellent resources for your quest.
View Yourself as a Teacher
You can use your stay abroad to teach at least a few host country
nationals about your home culture. Thinking of yourself as a teacher
may give you
additional patience and help you avoid becoming irritated when asked
questions which may seem just plain stupid to you!
Reflect
An essential part of the cultural adaptation process is taking time
to reflect on what is happening to you and around you. Demands of
academics
are rigorous and reflection time won't happen unless you purposefully
set out to reserve the time for it. As k yourself such questions
as "What
did I expect from my study abroad experience?" and "How does
reality compare with my expectations?" "What can I do to make
my experience more constructive and interesting?" and "How is
the experience preparing me to meet my goals for the future?"
Reverse Culture Shock
Welcome Back! We hope that your study abroad program provided you with unforgettable experiences and invaluable memories. Right now you may be feeling a variety of emotions while you adjust to being back home, just as you experienced when you first arrived overseas. We would like to help make this transition a little easier by providing you with information about Reverse Culture Shock or Re-entry Shock.
What Is It?
Does it feel as though your friends and family don't understand the importance
of your experience abroad?
Do they ask questions
about your time overseas, but then seem to lose interest after a
few minutes?
Does everyday life here seem to be so trivial?
Do you feel any of
these emotions?
| Depression | Wanting to be Alone |
| Uncertainty | Changing goals and priorities |
| Confusion | Negativity towards the US |
| Restlessness | Reverse homesickness |
If these questions identify feelings you've been having recently, you may be experiencing "reverse culture shock". Just what is this phenomenon? In the same way that you may have experienced culture shock when you were adjusting to your new cultural surroundings abroad, you will now experience a re-adjustment period in the United States.
While you were abroad, you may have initially looked at some local customs as silly and wondered why people there did not "do things right" or do things "the American way." Over time you probably lost some of these feelings and began to feel that your host culture had even better customs and ways of dealing with situations than at home. Now that you've returned to the U.S., you may experience similar feelings, wondering why Americans don't do things right or follow what you have now come to believe as the correct way to deal with a situation.
Every individual deals with these feelings in a different way. Some people want to be left alone by everyone and allow interaction only with others who were abroad to them. Others will want to tell everyone they meet all about their experiences abroad! Some returnees will have a difficult time finding anything positive to say about the U.S., while others will hardly feel out of place at all.
The real key to re-entering your home culture is to realize that there may be frustrations with readjusting to life in the United States, and that the frustrations are a normal part of the total learning process, and an on-going part of your entire cross-cultural experience.
If friends, roommates or parents seem to be somewhat mystified or bothered by your behavior once you're back home, you may want to explain to them a little about reverse culture shock and what you're experiencing. Knowing what is happening and that there is a process of adjustment going on can make you more understandable to those close to you, and can help them to be more supportive and understanding of what you're going through.
Stages of Reverse Culture Shock
Emotional
Health
Most students expect to experience culture shock when they arrive in
their host country, but did you expect it when you returned back to the
states?
This shock can be attributed to your new attitudes, values and perceptions
that you developed while abroad.
Research has shown that re-entry shock is at least as frequent as the
initial culture shock. It is therefore an inevitable part of your study
abroad experience.
STAGE 1: Disengagement
While you are still abroad, you begin to start thinking about moving back
to the US and moving away from your overseas experience and friends.
STAGE 2: Euphoria
You may be very excited to be back in your own country and others may
be equally delighted to have you back. After people express their pleasure
at seeing you again, and listen politely to your stories for a few minutes,
you may suddenly and/or painfully realize that they are not particularly
interested in what happened to you and would much rather prefer to talk
about their own affairs.
STAGE 3: Alienation
In this stage, you experience dampened euphoria with feelings of alienation,
frustration and anger. You may even feel like an outsider - a foreigner
in your own country. America will be different from how you remembered
it (The pollution may be worse. The pace may be more hurried and hectic,
etc.) Suddenly you feel irritated with others and impatient with your
own inability to do things as well or as quickly as you hoped. Resentment,
loneliness, disorientation and even a sense of helplessness may pervade.
STAGE 4: Gradual Readjustment
The fourth stage of reentry includes a gradual readjustment to life at
home. During this stage, you will no longer be shocked by the variety
you find on the supermarket shelves and be able to contain your comments
about differences between cultures that come to your attention. If you
have difficulty filtering out the foreign words in your conversation,
you will find that your English-only conversational skills will improve
during stage four.
Comments
It may be helpful for you to identify with your fellow returnees. They will be able to relate to your growing pains and can provide you with needed support as you readjust to living at home. The best immediate remedy for reentry shock is to talk to others who have gone through a study abroad experience. They will be natural partners for communication.
Communicating will reduce your sense of loneliness and frustration. Rest assured, you will eventually regain your balance and reach Stage 4, where your overseas experience becomes an integrated part of your life!
If you are experiencing any emotional stress, are having a difficult time readjusting or feel the need for individual counseling, please contact the Counseling Services in 108 Murphy Hall at 334-7727.
Physical Health
You should not expect
problems adjusting back to the local cuisine. Some students, however,
do experience some bouts of diarrhea, colds, and other minor discomforts
after returning.
If you do not feel well or are returning from a developing country, please
see your primary care physician for a check-up.
Coping with Reverse Culture Shock
One way to ease back into life here is to spend some time with people who have also had experiences abroad, or those who are just beginning to plan their own journey abroad. Send in your name to OIP to speak with students who are considering the program you went on; keep up your language studies; take a course with international flavor; get to know an international student in one of your classes; keep up your reading of international current events. These activities as well as many others will help to keep you in touch with your overseas experience, and will allow your learning and growth from that experience to continue here in the U.S.
Hints to Make Transition Easier
Remember that you are experiencing a transition with distinct stages.
You may encounter all or none of the feelings described in the four stages
of Reverse Culture Shock. Learn ways to take care of yourself and ease
into your surroundings.
Realize that most students
experience some stress readjusting to the American culture - you
are not
alone! Typically, the more you immersed yourself in the host culture,
the more difficult you may find reentry. Find someone who can update
you
on the university, local and national changes that may have taken place
while you were abroad.
You may recognize that many of your values and beliefs have changed. Learn
to incorporate this new way of thinking into your life.
Understand that your friendships and relationships might change as a function
of your new experiences. Explore new places and people with whom you can
share your international experiences.
Recognize that you need some time to adjust to the hectic pace and pressures
of university life. Learn to gradually increase the pace of your
academic
studies and extracurricular activities. You may notice that the "old
ways" of managing your time and stress are no longer appropriate.
Seek counsel from academic advisors, "veteran" study abroad
students, and other supportive faculty and staff.
Recording Your Experiences
Just as you may have done when you were abroad, you may choose to keep a journal of your experiences and feelings after you return to the U.S. Some possible questions to ask yourself are:
What did I learn about the host culture? About myself?
How can I apply what
I learned to my life back in the U.S.?
Who
will listen to my stories? Who could I meet with (the OIP, campus
organizations,
etc.) to get more involved in international activities?
Do I think of the U.S.
any differently now that I have returned? What do I like most about
my home
culture? The least?
What advice would
I give to those who are leaving tomorrow for my host country?
How did
I learn
those things?
How could I describe
the "world" that now surrounds me? How does this differ from the
"world" I just left?
Staying Involved
In addition to keeping a journal for private reflection, do you feel like you want to do more? Would you like to compare your experiences with others who have been abroad, or even share those feelings with students who are about to go? Consider the following options that will help you stay involved with study abroad.
Volunteer at OIP to help recruit students to study abroad.
You will be able to share your experiences, both positive and negative,
with students who are interested in going to the same country that
you
lived in. Don't you wish someone had done this with you before you left?
Consider
writing a "Dear John", talking about your experiences abroad.
The OIP will keep it on hand to share with students who
are looking for a first-hand perspective.
Maintain
your language proficiency by contact
the Department of Foreign Languages to join (or start!)
a foreign language club, tune
into short wave, cable TV foreign language news channels, and/or the
internet.
Get
involved with the International Student Association. You're international
too!
Contact the"A&T Register" to see if they would be interested in doing
a spotlight on study abroad, featuring your experiences.
Contact OIP to volunteer to help international students from your host
country, or another country.
Register
for courses, besides language classes, where you can directly apply what
you learned from your recent academic and travel experiences.
Talk
to your professors and advisor about conducting a project(s) that extends
themes addressed in your experiences abroad.
Maintaining Language Proficiency
After spending a summer, semester or year in a non-English speaking country, you no doubt developed language skills that take years to perfect in the classroom. Now that you have this ability, don't you want to keep it? Here are some suggestions for maintaining your language proficiency.
Register for a class taught in the target language.
Contact a FASA committee member
Stay in touch with your friends and host-family abroad. Make an arrangement
so that they can not only practice English, but you can practice their
native language as well.
Tune into news broadcast in your foreign language by using a short wave
radio or the Internet.
Getting Back Abroad
Now that you have had a taste of the world, you probably want to go abroad again - whether to earn academic credit, work experience or just for fun! Again, the OIP staff will be happy to assist you.
Conclusion and Acknowledgments
This information was created for students like you, coming home from studying abroad. We welcome your input that would be helpful to future students.
Once again, welcome home!
NC A&T State University Office of International Programs would like to thank The University at Buffalo Office of Study Abroad Programs for their permission to use this information.