Living in a foreign culture can be a rich and rewarding experience but most people living in a foreign country have some degree of difficulty in adapting to a foreign culture. This is the result of differences between their own culture and the culture of the new country they are living in. Over time most people are successful in adapting, but most also go thorough a stage of difficulty of adaptation know as culture shock. In this article, I will talk about the stages of culture shock, the symptoms, and how to overcome it.
Stages of Culture Shock
The Honeymoon Stage
At the beginning, everything is new and exciting. As a student, they will have probably stopped working so being in a foreign country may be a bit like being on holiday. Everything may feel new and exciting.
The Disillusionment or Withdrawal Stage
This stage occurs when the person who is living in a foreign country starts experiencing problems. The number one areas where students report problems are communication issues and academic practices. Put simply, even a native speaker may find some regional accents difficult to understand. Think about your own language if you have any doubts about this - there are probably regional accents you find difficult to understand. Another factor that Taiwanese students are often surprised at before they go overseas is the speed at which native speakers actually speak in their own countries. Another point is that when you are studying at university in an English speaking country, academic practices will be very different from in Taiwan. This means, it is very important not just for your enjoyment of your time abroad, but also for your success academically that you adapt to these problems. Please look at the sections in the at the beginning and before you go sections of how to deal with culture shock for advice.
Remember, many of the problems of culture shock do not come just from problems with language and academic practices. However, communication problems can make behavior that may be normal to the locals seem unpredictable or unreasonable to you. People often react negatively to this new “strange” behaviour and start to feel anxious, become withdrawn (not mix with local people) and become very critical.
The Understanding Stage
This Stage occurs as you adapt to living in the new culture. Things begin to seem less strange. Living in the new culture becomes a more pleasant experience. The person in the foreign culture feels less lost, things feel less strange, they want to belong more, and they understand much more about the culture and environment they find themselves in.
The Integration Stage
This stage takes some time to occur. The individual begins to feel at home. They begin to realize that the foreign culture they live in has its good and bad sides; some things in the new culture they prefer to their own, but some things they think are worse than in their own culture. They have reached the point where they can make balanced decisions and judgments about different parts of the culture.
The Re-entry Stage
When someone returns to their own country after living in a foreign culture, things may seem strange. It may take them some time to adapt to living in their old culture again.
Symptoms of Culture Shock
There are a number of common symptoms which are frequently associated with culture shock. Some of the following are listed below.
- Insomnia or sleeping too much
- Changes in mood: getting angry, or depressed about things that wouldn't normally bother you.
- Worrying about your health
- Feeling angry and irritable, or sad and lonely
- Identifying only with your own culture and comparing the locals negatively to those of your own country.
- You wish you were home and have a strong longing for your family and friends back in your country.
- You start developing stereotypes about the local culture and the country.
- Being unable to solve simple problems.
- Being afraid to do new things or go to new places.
- You feel you can’t have a normal conversation with anyone.
Important
Be aware of the signs of culture shock. Some of the most common signs and symptoms are given above. You should think about changing something if you are displaying any of these signs or symptoms.
How to overcome culture shock
Before you go
Do plenty of listening practice. Use the internet. This is a great source of free listening material in English and other languages.
Talk to people you know who have studied in that country. What problems did they have? What advice can they give you? Ask especially about studying.
Read all the information and advice your new university sends you about studying there. Find out about any study-skills courses it will offer and arrange to take them as soon as possible. (You may not be able to sign up until after arriving.) Remember these will give you some ideas about how studying there will be different from studying in your own country. If there is anything you are worried about, write to your university and ask.
Read the about Studying and Living in the UK.
Read about Studying and Living in Australia.
Read about Living in New Zealand.
Remember the more you find out about the country you are going to the better. Do not rely on TV. This is NOT likely to give a realistic picture of people from that country.
When you arrive
- Explore you immediate environment, walk around and get to know your neighbourhood.
- Be brave and introduce yourself to you neighbours. If you live in university accommodation, these are likely to be other students who feel just the way you do.
- Find out about the support services the university and students union offers for international students, what societies do they offer, and what chances for mixing with local people.
- Locate useful places such as the post office, the doctor’s surgery and the university welfare office so that you know where they are when you need them.
- Take advantage of Freshers week to join university clubs which interest you. This is a good opportunity to meet students with similar interests. Remember things like sports, hobbies and interests play an important role in the social life of many British people, Australians and New Zealanders.
- Find out what languages courses and academic support services your department and the university offers. You may need help with language issues thorough out your course. Also, work at the beginning of the course on academic conventions (what and how things are normally done) in the country you are studying in can make your teacher and fellow students behaviour easier to understand.
- Remember people in the country you are studying may socialize differently from people in your country! They may also behave differently in class. Be prepared to try and do new things.
Basic Advice
- Read a local or national newspaper and find out what the topical issues are. This will stop you feeling like an outsider by making you feel more confident and giving you something to talk about.
- Take a break from studying and take part in social activities. (Students in the UK/Australia do not spend a lot of time socializing with classmates, but rather with people who share the same hobbies and interests.)
- Ask questions about social customs from people with whom you feel comfortable. Telling them about the situation in your country and asking them if it is the same in Britain is a good way to ask about what things are (not) polite to do and OK to wear in different situations if you are unsure.
- Ask yourself which situations irritate or confuse you the most. Are you sure that you have always understood people’s reactions to you, or could it be that you misinterpreting their behaviour?
- Avoid comparing them and us, good and bad. Establishing why people behave the way they do and placing their behaviour in a social or economic context is more helpful.
- Don't lose contact with your own culture (and religion if you have one.) The University's International Welfare Officer should have information which can help you. However, avoid mixing only with compatriots or other international students, especially ones speaking your language. Meeting British people is an important part of experiencing Britain. The same applies with the Australians in Australia, Americans in the US, Canadians in Canada, or the Kiwis in New Zealand.
- Help to reduce stress on your body by keeping fit physically.
Remember
If you are feeling very unhappy, talk to someone about it. You could talk to a friend or a classmate. However, you could also talk to a member of the university staff such as the International Welfare Officer or Student Counsellor. If you are feeling very depressed, you could also consider talking to your GP (local doctor).
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