Culture Shock
Culture shock occurs when you arrive in an unfamiliar environment and have to navigate your way around it. Things may not work as you expect, or solutions that work at home may not work in your new environment. You might become frustrated by the new culture and may start thinking that everything is better in your home country. When you find yourself in this situation, you are experiencing culture shock.
Most students who go on exchange will go through this at some point. The most important thing to remember is that it is a totally normal part of studying abroad - it does not mean that you are failing! For the vast majority of students, this feeling is only temporary.
Read more below about what culture shock is, what it may look like and how you can best respond to it.
What is culture shock?
Recognizing what culture shock is and how it manifests itself for you is the first step to dealing with culture shock.
Most of the time, culture shock is not one single event, but more a slow and gradual accumulation of feelings of nervousness, frustration and confusion. For that reason, some scholars prefer to refer to it not as a 'shock' but instead as culture 'fatigue' or 'bumps'.
Phases of culture shock
Culture shock usually occurs in different phases. Perhaps you recognize elements of your own experience in these phases:
- Cultural Euphoria: You have just arrived in your host country and are full of excitement. This is sometimes called the ‘honeymoon stage’, where everything is new and wonderful and you are eager to explore.
- Cultural Confrontation: Your initial excitement starts to fade and the process of adjusting to your new culture begins. This can be the most difficult stage. Having difficulty tackling situations you could handle with ease in your home country may leave you feeling frustrated and confused. You might also feel homesick. You may start to doubt whether you will ever adjust to your new surroundings, but don’t give up hope! You are making much progress without even realizing.
- Cultural Adjustment: You feel increasingly comfortable and competent in your host country. You feel comfortable and confident much more often than you feel frustrated.
- Cultural Adaptation: You reach a point where you have a great deal of confidence navigating your surroundings and communicating with others. You have integrated many of the values and customs of your host country into your daily life, and now have the skills to comprehend a variety of cultural norms.
There is no set timeframe for when each stage occurs. The experience is different for every student.
Highs and lows
Many students describe their exchange experience as going through a series of highs and lows. There may be many high points that you can be proud of and look back on with fond memories, such as:
- I improved my language skills and even started having dreams in the language of my host country.
- I travelled alone, which I didn't have the confidence to do before my exchange.
- I made amazing friends and we went on a trip together.
- I told a joke to the moody vendor at the local market and made him laugh. After that, he always greeted me and smiled when I saw him.
However, there may be low points too, such as:
- I broke up with my partner in my home country over WhatsApp.
- No one here knew it was my birthday and it made me miss my loved ones back home.
- My friends cancelled their trip to visit me here because they said it was too expensive.
- My roommates went home to their families during the vacation period and I was in the dormitory alone.
- I got lost because I didn't have a good grasp of the local language and couldn't read the road signs.
Whilst it is natural to dwell on the low points, try to remember the high points too. Living in another country at a young age is a huge milestone, and you are doing amazingly!
Coping strategies
Dealing with culture shock is personal to you: what works well for you might not work for other students, and vice versa. Take some time to consider different strategies and find what works best for you.
Here are some tips and coping strategies from previous exchange students:
- Take a break: Know your limits. If things get overwhelming, take a break.
- Do what you did in your home country: What worked for you at home when you were feeling down? Perhaps reading a nice book, listening to music or watching a funny movie? Give it a try in the host country as well.
- Connect with like-minded people: Talk with someone in a similar situation to you and share your concerns, for example someone who speaks the same native language as you, or a fellow international student.
- Ask locals for advice: Talk to people who come from your host country - this can be local students or the Study Abroad Coordinator at your host university. Try to get a grasp of how local people think and how they approach certain issues; this will help you understand why things are done the way they are done
- Connect with loved ones back home: Arrange a chat or a video call with your loved ones back home. This can be a valuable way to reconnect when things are not going so well. But set a limit. Too much time talking to people in your home country can make you feel that you never emotionally left home. And that is not what you want either!
- Keep a journal: Writing down your experiences can be a great way to vent, to process how you are feeling, and to gain insights into the cultures surrounding you.
- Stay active: Take walks, bike, swim, or engage in other kinds of physical activity. A good workout can be calming and therapeutic.
- Contact us: You are always welcome to contact your TiU Study Abroad & Exchange Coordinator. They have personal experience of living abroad and can empathize with how you are feeling. If you are finding it difficult to cope, please share this with us and we will do our best to support you.