Culture Shock

For many students, studying abroad is a dream, and they were waiting for it long period of time with many expectations. However, many of these students when they arrived to different culture than own home culture to study they find many difficulties to involve in this new culture quickly. This also may be something that the students prepare themselves and searched about it before there traveling to a new culture. The effects and changes can be surprise take place in the student life. The impact of different culture experience on international students has been called culture shock.

According to UKCOAS (2007) describes the culture shock is the impact of moving from a familiar culture to another culture which different than your own culture in many aspects. It can be felt by many people how travel abroad for work, study and live. There are many aspects that can contribute to culture shock such as climate, food, language, dress, social roles, rules of behavior and values (UKCOSA, 2007).

 

According to UKCOSA (2007) contain 5 phases which people can go through it in different time. These phases illustrated by a model known as the “W” curve (Barker 1990). These phases can happen for international student in different order or experience more than one in a single day. The “honeymoon” stage is the first stage which the student become exciting about his new place and experience just begin. The second stage is the “distress” stage which the student may feel lonely and confused. Start seem the people around him don’t care about him, and isolate from his important people and family help. “Re-integration” stage the third phase which dislike the food and start complain about transportation, communication and weather. At this stage the person become more aggressive, and don’t eat well, therefore, his health affected physically and mentally. The fourth stage is “Autonomy” which the student become comfortable with host culture and more adjusted. The student accepts the differences and similarities, and he convinced there is no culture better than other culture it is just different life style. “Independence” stage the last stage which the student trust himself and know the important of all these differences and similarities. Not everybody experiencing all stages.

 

Many psychological and physical symptoms may be occurred along with culture shock. Feeling isolated and separation from host culture as a result of lack of communication and language difficulty to listening and speaking. Body language and face expression is different from how own culture communicate. All these differences may cause him lonely and depression. Food is different from what he used to, and find himself eat unhealthy food which may lead to digestion problems and Loss of appetite. Sleep disorder can be a serious problem which may affect the student life and reflect in his performance at university.

 

Turning to solutions, there are many various measures which should be taken in order that these problems may be successfully addressed. Most importantly, make friends with other international students who have the same experience and know what you are feeling, and have friends from local students will be more useful to understand the differences in between both cultures. In addition, communicate with your family and friends back in home is a good idea especially with spread of new technology and social network.

Moreover, organise time and be more active by do exercise and involve in social activity. In particular, the activity organised by your university can break some bond between you and the new culture, and can meet new people with interaction with them. Also, change your food habits which make you in a good health.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In conclusion, however, it is not doubtful that culture shock has a great deal of problems. These problems can be solved or at least alleviated by employing these methods explained above particularly by make a new friend from international students or local people. And their support will be available to you every day. In contrast, other solutions in general will depend on the other situation such as family time back at home or the time of events to involve.

 

 

 

 

References

Barker, M. (1990). Orientated for success. Canbera, Australian International Development

Assistance Bureau.

 

UKCOSA (2007). International Students and Culture Shock. London, UKCOSA.