Global Business Exchange Programs

Parent's Guide

Culture Shock

All students, regardless of maturity, personality, previous experience abroad, or knowledge of the country in which they will be living, experience some degree of culture shock. Culture shock describes frustration and depression stemming from adjusting to a new environment. The worst of it often occurs two to three months after students leave home, after the excitement has worn off and frustrations feel more prevalent. It is common for students to call or write home during these moments, but not when they are busy and things are going well. Consequently, families often picture a more negative situation than actually exists. Almost every time, a student who wants to come home but decides to stay on says later that they are thankful that they remained in country.

It is helpful to be able to recognize when culture shock occurs so you will understand what is really happening. The following breakdown of the four stages will help you recognize the process.

These phases of culture shock cycle and do not progress in a linear way:

1. Enchanted

Your student is in a new environment, and everything is exhilarating and exciting. The bustle of orientation, getting settled and meeting new potential friends will keep your young adult occupied and homesickness at bay. The sights, sounds and tastes are all an adventure. And, at first, your student may even see more of the similarities between the host country and the U.S. than the differences.

Suggestions for support: Listen to the student's exciting stories and appreciate the unique experiences he or she is enjoying. Some cultures are so different from America's that it may be difficult for the student to put it into words. Give them time to talk and process their experience.

2. Disenchanted

After the first couple of weeks, the initial excitement might pass and your student may begin to confront the deeper differences in their new location. Maybe he or she will be tired of the food or struggling with the language. More than likely, the university seems incomprehensible and bureaucratic. Perhaps something has happened that embarrasses him or her given the new cultural rules. More than likely, the friendships that the student anticipated are progressing more slowly than the student would like. The initial enthusiasm has drifted away and the student has entered the stage of irritability. The student may just feel lonely and like he or she doesn't belong.

Suggestions for support: After the first few weeks, it is not uncommon for students to contact home upset about some aspect of the new culture, people, and program. It is important for parents to remember that students may initially focus on what is going wrong in the program, rather than right. Find out exactly what is frustrating your student, but avoid judging the cultural differences. Be supportive of your student and encourage him or her to discuss these issues with the resident director. The host university has had many students in these situations and is well prepared to help your student during the initial adjustment period.

3. Adjustment

Almost always, the student will experience a stage of gradual adjustment and a sense of humor will reemerge. Things that seemed strange or just inconvenient will gradually become familiar and even liked. Friendships will solidify and the student will be able to function more easily within the culture. When contacting home, the participant will begin sharing the enjoyable experiences with you again.

Suggestions for support: Listen to your student's stories with interest. Congratulate him or her for understanding the social norms, making local friends, and other such successes. Your student is slowly adapting to new surroundings.

4. Adaptation

Your student will adapt to the culture and be able to negotiate daily activities with ease. Ideally, your student has managed to retain his or her own cultural identity but recognizes the strength of the other culture. The participant has a better understanding of him or herself and others, and can communicate easily and convey warmth and understanding across the cultural barriers.

Culture shock may be acute or barely noticeable. You may find it returns once after you thought your student had already passed through all the stages. As a parent, you may not even be aware that your student is going through culture shock, or to what extent. Simply be aware that culture shock exists, and that it will affect your student in one way or another. Culture shock can be a very valuable experience, which can leave people with broader perspectives, deeper insight into themselves and a wider tolerance for other people.

Reverse Culture Shock

Although it may seem like a long way off, we suggest that you start thinking now about your student's return to the United States after the program ends. Students often go through a phase of "reverse" or "re-entry" culture shock when they come back home, sometimes more challenging than what they went through overseas. They expect to go through adjustments in foreign countries, but do not always realize that they will have to readjust back home to life without foods, music and other activities they have come to cherish. Further, life has continued on without them at home and there may be changes for which they were not prepared. As with culture shock, one way to alleviate the difficulty of re-entry shock is to keep your student aware of what is going on through consistent communication. Students often go through periods of mild depression once they return home because of feelings that no one is interested in their experience beyond hearing that it was "good".

Faced with questions such as "How was your time in xxxx?" a student often can only answer "Great!" before conversation moves on to another subject. Encourage friends and family members to ask more specific questions like "What were the best things about living abroad? The most difficult? What places did you visit? Are people's daily lives the same as in the United States? Do you have any pictures?" Have a party where your student can show off food, customs and souvenirs from his or her travels. Not only will such questions and activities remind students they had a worthwhile experience and help them to readjust, it will help others in your community learn more about the world.