Culture Shock
Anyone who has spent time in another culture knows there is always a process of adjustment. The adjustment process can vary depending on a number of factors. Some of these factors include: the degree of difference between the home and host cultures; length of the stay; previous experience in other new cultures; facility with the language of the new culture; and the personal characteristics of the person going through the adjustment process. Although everyone experiences culture shock differently, there are common stages most people experience. There are many different labels to these stages, but here are some common labels with a description of what you might experience during that stage.
Culture Shock
- Honeymoon Stage – this is usually when you first arrive in a new place. You are excited and usually have positive thoughts about the new culture. You are interested in exploring your new home and learning about the culture and language. If you are only in the new culture for a short time, you may never move beyond this stage.
- Frustration or Rejection – this stage generally starts once your initial excitement and curiosity wear off. It is the stage most people think of when they hear the term “culture shock” and can be a difficult and challenging period. Although some people experience expected symptoms such as homesickness, this stage of culture shock can also show up in a variety of unexpected ways. Below are both common and less common ways that culture shock might show up.
You might experience the following feelings and emotions:
- Homesickness or loneliness
- Sadness or depression
- Feeling of being overwhelmed
- Frustration, irritation, or even hostility
- Boredom
You might experience the following physical symptoms:
- Having difficulty sleeping or sleeping a lot
- Problems with your stomach and digestive system
- Feeling generally unwell
- Aches and pains
- Allergy symptoms (from new allergens in your environment)
You might behave in these ways:
- Contact family and friends back home frequently
- Withdraw from activities or have no desire to participate in activities
- Keep to yourself more than usual
- Complain about or talk negatively about your host country
- Be late to or not attend classes
- Not complete work
- Adjustment – in this stage, life in your new home starts feeling easier. You start becoming familiar with the daily patterns of life and how to get things accomplished in your host culture.
- Acceptance or Adaptation – in this stage your new host culture starts to feel less ‘foreign’ and you begin to accept, even enjoy, some of the differences from your home culture.
Many people go through each of these stages in the order listed above when adjusting to a new culture. However, it is not uncommon to skip one or more stages, go through the stages in a different order, move quickly through one stage and slowly through another, or maybe even go through one or more stages a couple times. For you, culture shock may last several days or several months. It is a process of adjustment and everyone experiences the process differently. However, there are ways to minimize or speed up the cultural adjustment process.
Meeting people and getting involved in activities can be a great way to minimize culture shock and adapt more quickly to life at KU. Below are some ways you can get involved at KU.
- Participate in campus activities and events sponsored by the Applied English Center (AEC), International Support Services (ISS), or other KU units. Some common activities international students attend are International Coffee Hour, Tea at Three, and the Kansas City Trip Series. Below are some links of where to find additional activities.
- AEC Facebook
- ISS events page, Facebook page, or Twitter account
- Student Union Activities webpage, Facebook page, or Twitter account
- KU events page
- Get involved in a KU club. Below are some examples of types clubs that may interest you. You can also check out Rock Chalk Central for a list of the many student clubs and organizations at KU.
- International Student Association
- A club from a certain country or region of the world such as the Japan Student Association or the Saudi Student Association
- A club that includes a hobby or interest that you have or would like to know more about such as the Unity Hip Hop Dance Crew, the African Drum Ensemble at KU, or the Art Appreciation Club.
- A language club or language table.
- Use KU Recreation Services
- Use the fitness machines, check out fitness equipment, play a sport with a friend, or ask to join a game going on in the gym
- Rent bikes, canoes or kayaks, backpacks, and camping equipment from outdoor pursuits
- If you are here for more than a couple months, consider joining an intramural sports team or sport club.
Although there are many more available, here are some internet resources that talk about culture shock and/or offer some great ways to deal with culture shock:
- Information about culture shock from KU Counseling and Psychological Services
- A relatively short page about the stages of culture shock and how to make the transition easier
- Descriptions of the stages or culture shock with real life examples. Also includes how to deal with culture shock
- A short and somewhat funny page with GIFS about culture shock and dealing with culture shock
- 10 great ways to help with culture shock
- Offers 10 ways to combat culture shock both before you leave home and while you are abroad
- A page that talks about why culture shock is good for you!
- Culture Shock Stages: Everything you Need to Know & How to Deal
- A useful infographic about culture shock stages, including after you are back home