Cultural Adjustments while Studying Abroad

nicolerh — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 13:16:13 +0000

Studying abroad can be an exhilarating experience, full of trying new things, making new friends, and seeing the world. It can also be the first time that a student experiences culture shock, a term used to describe a sense of confusion and uncertainty that may affect people exposed to a different culture than their own. Culture shock can come from being cut off from normal cultural habits and values expected in a home environment. Reverse culture shock can also happen when returning from abroad and getting readjusted to home culture.

Culture shock can be described in different phases. Not everyone experiences each phase, and sometimes you are not in a new culture long enough to pass through all four:

Honeymoon Phase: During this phase, the differences between the old and new cultures are new, exciting, and seen in a positive light. For example, the new foods, different architecture, faster or slower-paced lifestyle, and the people could seem fascinating and exciting.
“Everything is awful” phase: After a few days, a few weeks, or a few months, the difference between the old and new culture starts to become annoying and inconvenient. You could start to miss how things were back home and the ease and familiarity of certain foods, customs, and experiences.
“Everything is okay” phase: After a few days, weeks, or months, the student becomes used to the new culture’s differences and develops day-to-day routines. You become more comfortable within the new culture and no longer see it as positive or negative because you are now a part of the culture and used to living in it.
Reverse Culture Shock: Returning home after time abroad can cause discomfort similar to adjusting to a new culture. You could experience boredom or annoyance with your home culture, homesickness for the culture you left, and frustration with others that don’t understand your experiences abroad.

When experiencing any culture shock, there are ways to help manage it. It is important to remember that it is very common and happens to most travelers. Additionally, culture shock is influenced by many variables, so it is a unique experience that everyone experiences a little differently. There is no one way to manage it, but some solutions could include: acknowledging how normal it is, connecting with others who could also be experiencing it, utilizing resources such as this article, and embracing new activities or routines that connect you more to the things you enjoyed while abroad.

Culture shock can be a very mild or intense feeling, and there is no one way to experience it. Depending on the amount of time spent in another culture, you could experience none or all of the effects. The most important thing is to recognize that it is expected that most travelers will experience it and that there is a community of other travelers that have experienced it as well. Utilizing resources and connecting with others that have gone through it before are great ways to manage the difficult feelings that can arise with experiencing a new culture while studying abroad.

The information in this article was based on the following document developed by Azusa Pacific University: www.apu.edu/live_data/files/105/sa_culture_shock.pdf