ADJUSTMENTS & CULTURE SHOCK

You are not alone! Most students that go abroad will experience some form of culture shock, homesickness and stress. In this section, you will learn how to identify and cope with some common symptoms of culture shock. In this section, you will learn what culture shock means and how you can overcome its effects. Experiencing new cultures, and obtaining a better understanding of your own culture, can result in some of the most positive, life-altering experiences students have while studying abroad. When going abroad, students will experience differences in manners, beliefs, customs, laws, language, art, religion, values, concept of self, family organization, social organization, government, behavior, etc. All of these elements combine to form your host country’s rich and unique culture. While the introduction to new and foreign cultures greatly benefits students, it can also be overwhelming. The new cultural elements a student encounters abroad may be so different that they seem "shocking" in comparison to cultural norms they are used to at home.

"Just as you can't really describe the taste of a hot fudge sundae to someone who has never experienced one, it is difficult to actually
convey just how disorienting entering another culture can be to a student without any cross-cultural experience."

Riding the roller coaster of culture shock, a student actually follows a natural pattern of hitting peaks and valleys. The high points of
excitement and interest are succeeded by lower points of depression, disorientation, or frustration. Each student will experience these ups and downs in different degrees of intensity and for different lengths of time. The process is necessary in order to make the transition from one culture to another; it helps a student or traveler to balance out and adjust.

EXPOSURE TO A NEW CULTURE

Prior to going abroad, students may be excited about new adventures to come. A student arrives in the host country and perhaps begins to develop increasing independence as he/she starts to experience the local culture or another country's culture. At first, a student's  expectations may be too high. He or she may see things almost as a tourist would during the first few weeks in a new country.A student may be heavily comparing and contrasting his/her home culture with the culture abroad. It is common for students to focus on what they see as weaknesses in foreign cultures. Students tend to point out what a foreign culture lacks; this often leads to feelings of frustration over what is "missing" or what can't be obtained abroad in the same ways it can be at home. Students may be challenged on a regular basis by different ways of living abroad (banking, eating, relationships, etc.). Negative feelings and frustrations may reach a level where you begin to recognize you are going through "culture shock".

ACCEPTANCE OF A NEW CULTURE

As a student gets used to the host country’s ways, things that seemed like a "crisis" may now simply be seen as different ways of doing things. Most students gradually adjust their lifestyles to be balanced with a country's own cultural norms. The cultural traits that once annoyed or bothered a student generally come to be accepted as normal. Students usually begin to understand and appreciate the cultural differences between the Europe and the host country. However, if significant problems arise, a student may briefly return to the "frustration" stage of culture shock. As a student begins to adapt more and more, he/she may have a new set of friends, may be traveling more, and may even be dreaming in another language. The "other way" may now become the "normal" way of living.

LEAVING A NEW CULTURE BEHIND

As a student becomes integrated to the ways of the host country’s culture, the more difficult it may be to re-adapt to the Europe upon return home. The RCHE just won't look the same way it did before leaving to study abroad; a student may see home with new eyes and may also be more critical of European cultural traditions once thought to be "normal". This is called reverse culture shock. Fear of experiencing reverse culture shock should not deter students from trying to integrate as fully as possible while abroad. No matter how integrated a student becomes while abroad, he or she will probably still be "shocked" by differences noted at home after so much time spent abroad and the other countries to which you will be traveling. However, over time, a student will learn to re-adapt and  reintegrate into his or her home culture.

HOMESICKNESS

Homesickness is one of the most common adjustment problems related to culture shock and loneliness. Experienced by students from every country, homesickness is a universal side-affect to being away from home. Psychologists often refer to homesickness as “separation anxiety” because students—in particular those moving away from home—feel separated from all that is familiar. Feelings of homesickness may even start before you leave to study abroad in and you may find yourself mildly depressed or anxious several weeks before leaving. The anticipation and preparation for this major change of lifestyle can trigger pre-departure homesickness, or sudden feelings that you don’t want to leave, or even a want to back out of your decision to study abroad. Some students might experience homesickness within the first few days or weeks of being abroad, while others might not be hit by homesickness until later on, or closer to the holidays. Holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, family events or even family illness or death can all cause you to feel homesick, or make you wish you were at home. Also, many students report increased feelings of homesickness during the winter months when darkness, rainy weather and the cold can lead to feelings of depression.