Which of the following statements can best explain why culture shock occurs?

Living abroad can be an exhilarating experience. It encourages new world views, increases cultural curiosity and supports willingness to explore unfamiliar terrains. However, it may also invite a sense of feeling a little lost in the world.

Ambassador Teachers leave their home countries to live in the U.S. for up to five years. This cultural exchange experience is so rewarding, but often comes with culture shock.

Culture shock is a common phenomenon. Though it may take months to develop, it often affects travelers and people living far from home in unexpected ways. Culture shock is more than simply being unfamiliar with social norms or experiencing new foods. It tends to impact travelers even after they’ve become familiar with and comfortable in new cultures.

Culture shock generally moves through four different phases: honeymoon, frustration, adjustment, and acceptance. Individuals experience these stages differently, and the impact and order of each stage vary widely. They can, however, provide a guideline of how we adapt and cope with new cultures.

1. The honeymoon stage

The first stage of culture shock is often overwhelmingly positive. Travelers become infatuated with the language, people, and food in their new surroundings. At this stage, the trip or move seems like the greatest decision ever made and an exciting adventure.

“In the beginning the whole process will seem weird for you. Open your mind, observe, try not to compare everything with what you have seen in your country,” said Iryna, a former Ambassador Teacher from Ukraine.

On short trips, the honeymoon phase may take over the entire experience as the later effects of culture shock don’t have time to set in. On longer trips, the honeymoon stage will usually phase out eventually.

2. The frustration stage

Frustration may be the most difficult stage of culture shock and is probably familiar to anyone who has lived abroad or travels frequently. At this stage, the fatigue of not understanding gestures, signs, and the language sets in and miscommunications may be happening.

“For me, it was difficult at the beginning, but then it became the best experience I have ever had,” said Esmelin, a former Ambassador Teacher from Costa Rica.

Small things – losing keys, missing the bus, or not being able to easily order food in a restaurant – may trigger frustration. And while frustration comes and goes, it’s a natural reaction for people spending extended time in new countries.

Bouts of depression or homesickness are common during the frustration stage.

3. The adjustment stage

Frustrations are often subdued as travelers begin to feel more familiar and comfortable with the cultures, people, food, and languages of new environments. Navigation becomes easier, and friends and communities of support are established. Details of local languages may become more recognizable during the adjustment stage.

“When I got here, the people that I interacted with made a world of a difference. The fear that I had when I came to the United States was made easier by the people I met, especially at my school,” said Romaine, an Ambassador Teacher from Jamaica.

4. The acceptance stage

Generally – though sometimes weeks, months, or years after wrestling with the emotional stages outlined above – the final stage of culture shock is acceptance. Acceptance doesn’t mean that new cultures or environments are completely understood. Rather, it signifies that complete understanding isn’t necessary to function and thrive in the new surroundings. During the acceptance stage, travelers are able to draw together the resources they need to feel at ease.

Though it can be one of the hardest parts of traveling, culture shock is just as integral to the experience as food, people, and scenery. By recognizing it for what it is and finding ways to cope, you can prevent culture shock from ruining an otherwise enriching experience abroad.

For more information about cultural exchange and teaching in the US, visit our application page.

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Participate Learning

Participate Learning, formerly VIF, empowers educators to ignite change and inspire students. With more than 30 years of experience developing school programs and facilitating cultural exchange, Participate Learning is a leader in globally focused education.

Leaving home and traveling to study in a new country can be a stressful experience, even though it may be something you have planned and prepared for. Many people are surprised when they experience the impact of culture shock, and it can be helpful to realize your experience is actually quite normal.

What is Cultural Shock?

Culture shock describes the impact of moving from a familiar culture to one that is unfamiliar. It includes the shock of a new environment, meeting lots of new people and learning the ways of a new country. It also includes the shock of being separated from the important people in your life, such as family, friends, colleagues, and teachers: people you would talk to at times of uncertainty, people who give you support and guidance.

Factors that can contribute to culture shock

Many students find the northwest climate can affect them a lot. You may find the grayness and dampness, especially during the winter months, difficult to get used to.

Listening and speaking in a new language is tiring. In class, some international students have trouble understanding the lecture and reading materials. People speak quickly and you may feel embarrassed to ask them to repeat what they said. If English is not your first language, you may find you miss your home language.

Social behaviors may confuse, surprise or offend you. For example you may find people appear cold, distant or always in a hurry. Or you may be surprised to see couples holding hands and kissing in public. You may find the relationships between men and women more formal or less formal than you are used to, as well as differences in same sex social contact and relationships.

As well as the obvious things that hit you immediately when you arrive, such as sights, sounds, smells and tastes, every culture has unspoken rules which affect the way people treat each other. These may be less obvious, but sooner or later you will probably encounter them and once again the effect may be disorientating. For example, there will be differences in the ways people decide what is important, how tasks are allocated and how time is observed. In business and academic life, keeping to a schedule is important. You should always be on time for lectures, classes, and meetings with academic and administrative staff. If you are going to be late for a meeting, do try to give advance notice.

Although you may first become aware of cultural differences in your physical environment, (e.g. food, dress, behavior) you may also come to notice that people from other cultures may have very different views of the world from yours. Cultures are built on deeply-embedded sets of values, norms, assumptions and beliefs. It can be surprising and sometimes distressing to find that people do not share some of your most deeply held ideas, as most of us take our core values and beliefs for granted and assume they are universally held. As much as possible, try to suspend judgment until you understand how parts of a culture fit together into a coherent whole. Try to see what people say or do in the context of their own culture’s norms. This will help you to understand how other people see your behavior, as well as how to understand theirs. When you understand both cultures, you will probably find some aspects of each that you like and others that you don’t.

If your spouse or partner has accompanied you to the U.S., remember that the stress of the transition may cause struggles in your relationship. The transition to a new culture may be very difficult for your partner. Your partner may feel very isolated; he/she has been transplanted from your culture and separated from family and friends. Simple tasks can be stressful due to the language barrier. Often times they do not have opportunities to engage in productive, meaningful activity such as pursuing a degree, and it may be more difficult for them to make new friends.

If you’re struggling with the stress of cultural adjustment and would like to learn strategies for coping more effectively with your transition, please reach out to us at the Counseling Center.  We would value the chance to meet you and learn more about how you are navigating the differences between your home culture and that of the UW campus. Many international students find that counseling can help them learn new coping skills, generate ideas about how to get connected, and receive support for the many transitions they are experiencing.

What is culture shock quizlet?

Which of the following terms is used to refer to the process by which culture is passed from one generation to the next?

Why is it unlikely that unfounded fears will ever be eliminated from our culture?

Which term describes an unspoken and unwritten set of rules that govern individual behaviors in a group?