ESL Services: Culture Shock

While everyone experiences culture shock differently, there are some common characteristics for many people:

• Feelings of loneliness and isolation that go beyond homesickness
• Frustration or even anger over difficulty in accomplishing basic tasks such as grocery shopping, navigating public transportation, etc.
• Feelings of incompetence or feeling “stupid” because language barriers prevent effective communication with locals
• Sleep disruption (insomnia or sleeping too much)
• Resentment of cultural differences between home and host country, or believing that your home culture is “superior” to the host culture
• Stereotyping of or hostility towards locals
• Depression (mild to severe)

It’s important to note that if you are feeling this way, it is usually normal! When you grow up learning one way of life, it can be very jarring to go abroad as an adult and find yourself in a completely different environment. Even seasoned travelers can experience culture shock under the right circumstances. The good news is that you can do something about it.

*Remember that these are normal feelings; it is helpful to talk to your peer mentors and the ESL specialist while experiencing these feelings.

Adapting to a new environment takes time and the pace of transition varies from person to person. The typical pattern of cultural adjustment often consists of distinct phases: Honeymoon, Crisis, Recovery, and Adjustment. Notice that this cycle is then repeated upon re-entry to one's home country or culture of origin. The effect these phases have on one's mood is illustrated in this "w-curve" figure:

Stages of culture shock

If you’re experiencing these things, don’t worry! Culture shock is not a permanent condition, and you’re not alone in feeling this way. Cultural adjustment is said to occur in these stages:

•  Honeymoon

  •  Everything is wonderful! You’re excited about all of the new things you’re experiencing. It seems more like a vacation than anything else.

•  Crisis

  •  The vacation feeling is over. You’ve gotten lost more times than you can count, and yesterday someone yelled at you for using the produce scale in the grocery store incorrectly. It’s easy to talk about all of the ways the country you’re living is different and worse than home. You’re starting to resent your new host culture and regret your decision to study abroad.

•  Recovery/Adjustment

  •  Things aren’t as bad as you thought. You know how to navigate the city, converse with locals, and purchase produce correctly. Every day still presents new challenges, but it’s starting to feel more like fun and less like work. You realize that you are a guest in this culture and try to adapt accordingly.

•  Resolution

  •  It’s starting to feel like home. You know how to do all the necessary day-to-day things and are sincerely enjoying the foreign aspects of the culture. You feel comfortable exploring and look forward to learning more about the city and culture.

While you will likely experience all of these stages, they probably won’t happen so linearly. You might love, loathe, and feel indifferent towards your host culture within the course of a single day. You can be elated when a local asks you for directions one moment and feel homesick and exhausted the next.

• Be proactive! Research some of the cultural customs of your country before you depart. Knowledgeable students usually have an easier transition once abroad.
• Remind yourself of why you decided to study abroad. Most students enter this experience expecting it to be very different than anything at home. Studying abroad is a wonderful opportunity for personal growth and development, and at least some personal discomfort should be expected in the process. In fact, if you don’t experience any sort of culture shock, are you really challenging yourself to become a part of the culture?
• Keep your sense of humor. Being able to laugh at yourself or at your situation can be one of the best remedies!
• Develop relationships with people from your host country. Think about how you might react to a foreign student who was frustrated with U.S. culture. If they had questions, you would probably happily answer them, right? Give the people of your host country a chance—one thing that is nearly universal is peoples’ enthusiasm to share their culture with others. Don’t be afraid to ask your new friends about local traditions or behaviors that are frustrating or confusing to you. You can also ask on-site staff for information.
• Try not to retreat to your room or only socialize with other Americans. This can often reinforce negative feelings and make it even harder to acclimate to your new environment.
• Try to find groups or clubs similar to the ones that you were a part of back home. Just because you’re abroad doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy many, if not all, of the same activities as you normally would!
• Contacting friends/family/support networks at home can be very helpful, particularly friends who have previously studied abroad. However, we do not recommend daily communication, as this may delay the adjustment process and serves as a daily reminder of what you are “missing” back home.

Reverse cultural adaptation is a real thing! You did the work of adjusting to a new culture and then returning home can be weird, confusing, and shocking. Sometimes it's not the place you remember. Students often experience one of the following scenarios: 

• You have changed
• Home has changed
• You have adapted to a new culture and now you must readapt
• All of the above! 

The U.S. Department of State has some great resources for coping with Reverse Cultural Adaptation.