(adapted from Kathy Bellows document, Florida State)

HOW TO AVOID CULTURE SHOCK: FROM ONE FOREIGNER TO ANOTHER

1. The Honeymoon Stage

Characterized by exhilaration, anticipation, and excitement. The student is fascinated with everything that is new. The students are embarking on a long sought after adventure.

A student in this stage will demonstrate an eagerness to please, a spirit of cooperation, and an active interest in listening to people speak.

People in this stage are delightful to work with, but in their enthusiasm to please, they frequently nod or smile to indicate understanding when in fact they didn't understand at all. When their misunderstandings mount up, they are likely to experience the second stage of cultural adjustment.

2. The Hostility Stage

Characterized by frustration, anger, anxiety, and sometimes depression, following the initial excitement is frustration with the college bureaucracy and the weariness of speaking and listening in another language every day. Sleep patterns may be disrupted. The student may suffer from indigestion and be unable to eat. Students are upset because although they have studied the language of the host country, they don't seem to understand it as well as they thought they could.

Students sometimes react to this frustration by rejecting the new environment. The internal reasoning might be “If I feel bad it's because of them.” The student blames his external environment for his bad feelings. At this point the student might display hostility toward the new culture. Some of these hostilities are translated into fits of anger over minor frustration, excessive fear and mistrust of the host country population, frequent absenteeism, lack of interest, lack of motivation, and, at worst, complete withdrawal. Many academic problems begin during this stage.

These students are in a difficult, painful stage. They can be difficult to work with. They will try everyone's patience, and quite possibly give up, if they do not share their feelings with someone and realize what is happening to them.

3. The Humor Stage

Follows when the student begins to relax in a new situation and begins to laugh at headaches in the hostility stage. This more relaxed state of being is accomplished by making some friends, being able to manage the size and complexity of the college, understanding one's studies, and passing tests. These students are generally easy to work with because they are relaxed and receptive.

4. The Home Stage

Occurs when the student not only retains allegiance to his home culture, but also “feels at home” in his newly acquired one. The student has successfully adjusted to the norms and standards of the college, and should feel proud of himself for achieving the ability to live successfully in two cultures.