Common Concerns of International Students
What International Students Can Do
The Five Stages of Culture Shock
(taken from: Culture Shock: A Fish Out of Water
by Elaine Addison, Hannam University, Taejon, South Korea)
Honey Moon Phase - this is when you expect to experience wonderful new things - it is a time of excitement and hope.
Rejection Phase - this is a time when problems arise that may result in feelings of sadness and anxiety.
Regression Phase - The word "regression" means moving backward, and in this phase of culture shock, people spend much of their time speaking their own language, watching videos from their home country, eating food from home. People often spend a great deal of time complaining about the host country/culture.
Recovery Phase - this is a time when individuals become more comfortable with the language and also feel more comfortable with the customs of the host country: they can now move around without feelings of anxiety.
Reverse Cultural Shock - this stage occurs when you return home. You have been away for a long time, becoming comfortable with the habits and customs of a new lifestyle and you may find that you are no longer completely comfortable in your home country. Many things may have changed while you were away and it may take a little while to become at ease with the cues and signs and symbols of your home culture
(all info on International Students adapted from Wright State University Center for Psychological Services website 2004)