Adjusting to a New Life Abroad
Culture Shock – A reality for every international students
Feeling Homesick? Could be Culture shock or Jetlag!
Each year, thousands of students go abroad for college and exchange programs all over the world. It's a great way to find out about who you are and what life is like in another part of the world. When you started making plans to take part in a study abroad program, you were probably hoping to make new friends and learn about the culture in your host country - everything from attitudes and beliefs to social customs and popular foods. Yet, the reality of constantly having to deal with new situations in a foreign language, in unfamiliar surroundings, can be frustrating, stressful and even scary, no matter how broad-minded or prepared you may be. When you travel and live in a foreign culture, you can feel like a fish out of water. Homesickness, stress, fear, and confusion are all symptoms of culture shock. Culture shock isn’t reserved for just study abroad students. Most anyone gets these kinds of feelings, in one way or another, when going to a totally new and unknown place. Culture shock can begin when you get on the plane to leave or hit you months after being abroad.
To live in a place requires you to fully immerse yourself in the local language, culture and daily life, learning about new customs and ways of living. Part of the whole experience of a study abroad program is becoming part of a new cultural reality. Culture shock is a normal and necessary part in making the transition from one culture to another. As time goes by, you will begin to feel more comfortable with the local language and ways of doing things and you will begin to feel like a much more independent person. This personal growth is part of the reason you decided to study abroad.
Overcoming culture shock
At first, some of you may feel like getting on the plane and heading home. It's OK to have those feelings, but wait, hang in there! Don’t make any quick decisions. Give yourself some time to adjust to the newness of the experience -- at LEAST 2 weeks. Most often, simple things like getting some rest or having a good meal can help a lot. Jetlag and overall fatigue will always make you feel a bit more homesick.
Before making panic-stricken phone calls home to your parents with plans to go home, give yourself some time to work through what you are feeling. Make an appointment with your school advisor or program coordinator and talk it over. Overcoming culture shock is one of the more important experiences you will go through during your time abroad. When you do get through it, you’ll grow as a person, and this will help make the study abroad experience one of the best of your life.
Mostly everyone you see at school is experiencing these feelings in one way or another, so remember that you are not alone. During these times it really helps to remember all of the hard work and planning you put into getting here. Try to remember all of the excitement and anticipation you felt and hold on to that. You’ll make it through. Don't expect to feel perfect. You may feel frustrated that you have culture shock, especially since you probably spent so much time preparing for your trip. No matter how much information you read, or how well you speak the host language, it is natural to feel overwhelmed sometimes. Jetlag can be a factor - if you are exhausted from travel and are trying to adjust to a new time zone, you may not be ready to face a new environment. If you give yourself some time, things will gradually get easier.
Flexibility and Adaptability
The ability to respond to or tolerate the ambiguity of new situations is very important to intercultural success. Keeping options open and judgmental behavior to a minimum helps to create a more enjoyable experience.
Have an open mind
While it's certainly OK to feel frustration or confusion in your new surroundings, try not to form an opinion about the new culture too soon. You may be quick to judge its food, manners and communication styles and, as a result, you may want to do things the way you are used to. This is a sign of culture shock. If you have this kind of attitude, you will probably avoid some of the very experiences that you came for. Your expectations, as well as common cultural stereotypes, will often be inaccurate. Don't think of the host culture as better or worse, just different - you'll be more willing to try new things.
Participate
This is obvious, but everybody needs to be reminded. Just watching life go on around you isn't good enough - you really need to try things for yourself. Don't worry about making a mistake. People in your host country will generally be very understanding and willing to help if you have questions. If you are unsure of what to do in a formal setting, follow others' leads. Active participation in conversation is important, especially if you want to become fluent in the local language. Your efforts will be appreciated!
Talk about it
Don't forget your school advisors and the SAI program coordinators are there to help you. We have helped many other students with the same issues in the past and know personally what it feels like to be homesick in a strange and new place. Just be willing to discuss your concerns. You won't offend anyone, so be honest!
Keep in touch
Write letters or call your family. Talking to someone familiar always makes you feel better, and that person can encourage you when you're feeling homesick. A good idea is to make plans to call every week on the same day and time. That way, you'll never be disappointed that nobody is home to answer your call and you'll have something to look forward to each week. Ask your family to send photos in their letters to you and to send clippings from newspapers or magazines. Postcards are an easy way to keep your family informed of your travels. If you use email while you're abroad, you'll be able to keep in touch with friends and family very inexpensively.
Making Friends
While abroad try to make friends with locals. They can help explain cultural practices and customs. Learning about a country’s culture firsthand from the locals may make you more tolerant and lessen your culture shock. They can help you with the language and introduce you to things tourists and vacationers never experience. They also protect you from the worst blows of culture shock which often come from only hanging around other Americans. Above all, pay attention to the unique viewpoints you bring with you. Just as a foreign culture will offer new insight to you, you can offer new insight to locals you meet. Making friends while abroad can help foster the international camaraderie that overseas living is all about.
Sense of Humor
A sense of humor is important because in another culture there may be frustrations or misunderstandings that may lead one to feel, angry, annoyed, embarrassed, sad, or discouraged. The ability to laugh things off will help guard against despair.
Please feel free to comment on these tips :)!!
This Excerpt is from Study Abroad Italy handbook
