How to Cope with Culture Shock

Cross-Cultural Issues

By Stacey Woody Thebodo
Assistant Director, Off-Campus Study at Middlebury College

Robert Kohls, a renowned author of intercultural literature, defines culture as "an integrated system of learned behavior patterns that are characteristic of the members of any given society ... the total way of life of particular groups of people. It includes everything that a group of people thinks, says, does, and makes, its customs, language, material artifacts and shared systems of attitudes and feelings. Culture is learned and transmitted from generation to generation." It is important to recognize your own "cultural baggage" when you go abroad.

Personal Inventory
Study, travel or work abroad is a whole-person experience. The parts of your identity that make you unique inevitably become part of your experience abroad. Time abroad often facilitates personal reflection and teaches people as much about themselves as it does about other people. Before you go, you will want to consider how your identity might affect, or be affected by, your experience abroad. See the list below and resources it directs you to.

Gender
Gender is a characteristic that can affect your experience abroad. Both women and men are often particularly aware of gender-based treatment in a foreign culture that differs from their home culture. It's good to talk with an someone who has spent time in your host country about these differences before you go. For women who have concerns about sexual harassment, safety, or social expectations, there are a number of books devoted to these issues such as A Journey of One's Own: Uncommon Advice for the Independent Woman Traveler (by Thalia Zepatos, 1996); Travelers' Tales: Gutsy Women, Travel Tips, and Wisdom for the Road (by Marybeth Bond, 1996); Gutsy Women: More Travel Tips and Wisdom from the Road (by Marybeth Bond, 2001); and Safety and Security for Women Who Travel (Travelers' Tales Guides; by Sheila Swan and Peter Laufer, 1998).

Race, Ethnicity, Minority or Majority Status
Because of your race or ethnicity, you may be accorded different privileges or experience different barriers abroad than those you experience at home. Different cultures define "race" and "ethnicity" differently, create different categories, and expect different things of people within these categories.

Class
Overseas you may experience class issues differently than you do at home. In certain contexts, working class Americans may be considered rich. In other contexts, upper-middle class Americans may be considered poor. Certain cultures have more rigidly defined or more openly articulated ideas about class than those in the United States. Think about who you will be meeting as a student engaged in higher learning in your host country. Think about who you would like to meet during your semester or year abroad.

Sexual Orientation
Depending on your sexual orientation you may be granted different privileges or encounter different challenges abroad than at home. At the same time, while overseas, people often examine, or reexamine, questions of sexual identity because of increased personal freedom or increased time for personal reflection. Since many ideas we have about sexual orientation and sexuality are culturally-based, students need to be aware of how this will affect their relationships with host nationals, cultural adjustment and reentry, and the overall study abroad experience. Please feel free to talk with the staff of Off-Campus Study about this issue and/or consult www.indiana.edu/~overseas/lesbigay/student.htm.

Religion
People around the world have different ideas and expectations regarding religion. To be respectful of others, it is important to learn as much as possible about the religious beliefs, practices and norms of the area to which you are traveling. You may also want to research whether or not people of your faith meet and practice in the place you are going.

Disability
Travel is always a challenge to a person's problem-solving abilities; this is no different for a person with a disability. People with disabilities not only meet these challenges, but some people have written about their experiences, making it easier for the travelers who follow them. While overseas, people with disabilities will likely find some things inaccessible, but preparation and persistence can help. Mobility International USA (phone/TTY: 541-343-1284) is an excellent resource on travel for people with physical disabilities. Please also contact your college's office for students with disabilities if you have concerns about these issues.

Learning Style
You will probably find that the teaching styles and the learning expectations at higher education institutions in your host country are different from those at U.S. institutions. Classes in many other countries are often more formal, consisting almost entirely of lecture with little interaction between students and professors. Research the system of education in your host country before your departure. Be prepared to be an active participant in your learning. Talk with students who have studied abroad in your host country about these issues. (Please also see Academic Environment Abroad)

Dietary Concerns
In the United States, we live in a society which offers a wide range of food choice. When traveling abroad, it is sometimes difficult to maintain a particular diet (for example, a vegetarian or medically-restricted diet). Vegetarianism can mean a variety of things to different people. Think carefully about how your food choices might affect your friends who invite you to dinner, your homestay family, or students with whom you cook in the residence halls. Prepare yourself for societies in which ingredients are rarely listed on packaging.

Health
Because an experience abroad can be physically, mentally and emotionally demanding, think carefully about your health. A certain amount of stress due to culture shock and a change in living conditions is a normal part of an experience abroad. In some cases, such stress may aggravate an illness you have under control at home. You may also have concerns about health care facilities and insurance.

Smoking
While there is currently a strong movement in the United States against smoking in public places, the situation in many other countries is quite different. While abroad, you may encounter more second-hand smoke than you are used to, with smokers showing little concern about whether or not it bothers you (for example, in restaurants or on trains). For smokers, traveling abroad might be a long-sought haven of smoking freedom.

Being an American Abroad
As with any of the previously mentioned identity issues, there are many stereotypes that exist, and Americans are not excluded from this. Frequently, the stereotype of the American is not at all flattering, and can include characteristics such as:
-arrogant patriotism (the "ugly American" who expects everyone to speak English and thinks that every country should pattern itself after the United States)
-loud and overly friendly behavior
-drunkenness
-immature behavior
-obsessed with being hard working
-wealthy
-ignorant of other countries
-promiscuous
-always in a hurry
It is up to you to behave in a way that will show the people in your host country that these are in many ways unjustified stereotypes that cannot be applied arbitrarily, at least to you. It is important, however, to recognize your "Americanness" and to think about what cultural baggage you will be carrying abroad. To help you think about this, Kohls has developed a list of 13 commonly held American values. See if you recognize yourself in any of these values, and think about the fact that some cultures have values that are diametrically opposite to these American values.

1. Personal control over the environment - Americans do not generally believe in the power of fate; they see this as superstitious and reflective of an unwillingness to take initiative. Life's problems tend to be viewed as coming from one's laziness or unwillingness to take responsibility, rather than from bad luck.

2. Change - Americans tend to see change as good, leading to development, improvement, and progress. More traditional cultures see change as destructive; they value stability and tradition.

3. Time - Time is of utmost importance to Americans. Time is something to be on, kept, filled, saved, lost, wasted, and even killed. Americans tend to be more concerned with getting things done on time than they are with interpersonal relationships. Americans stop discussions abruptly in order to make appointments on time and to be productive.

4. Equality and fairness - Equality is so valued in American culture that it is seen as having a religious basis. At least in theory, Americans believe that all people are created equal and that everyone should have equal opportunities.

5. Individualism and interdependence - Americans tend to view themselves as highly individualistic and resist being thought of as part of any homogenous group. Individualism leads to privacy, which most Americans highly value. It is interesting to note that the word for "privacy" does not even exist in many non-Western languages.

6. Self-help and initiative - Americans tend to take credit for accomplishments as individuals, and they tend to value the "self-made" man or woman.

7. Competition - Americans tend to believe that competition brings out the best in people, and "free enterprise" is valued in many areas of life.

8. Future orientation - Americans tend to value the future, devalue the past, and to an extent, are unaware of the present. Many Americans work so hard and think so much about their future that a perfectly happy present often goes unnoticed.

9. Action/work orientation - Americans tend to see any action as superior to inaction. Americans tend to schedule an active life and schedule in time for relaxation. Often the first question people ask each other when meeting is, "What do you do?" meaning what is their profession.

10. Informality - Americans are more informal than many other cultures. For example, many Americans call their bosses by their first names, dress is more casual attire, even at formal events, and even greetings are casual (e.g., "Hi" rather than, "Hello, how are you?").

11. Directness, openness, and honesty - Americans tend to prefer the direct approach to delivering information, no matter how unpleasant. Americans tend to see honesty as most important, and anyone who uses an intermediary to deliver unpleasant information is seen as manipulative and untrustworthy.

12. Practicality and efficiency - The reputation of Americans is practical and efficient. They tend to value rational and objective decisions over emotional and subjective ones, and the pragmatic approach is the overwhelming philosophy.

13. Materialism and acquisitiveness - Foreigners tend to consider Americans to be very materialistic. Americans tend to give high priority to obtaining, maintaining, and protecting material objects, and they value newness and innovation.

Dealing with anti-American sentiment
There may be times when you feel as though you are being attacked personally for being an American. Sometimes you will be expected to answer questions about American foreign policy and to justify the actions of your government that you may or may not agree with. There is no right or wrong way to deal with anti-American slurs or suggestions, and you will certainly develop your own strategy for addressing these issues. However, some suggestions are not to reinforce the negative American stereotypes with your own behavior, and to try to understand the motives of the person criticizing you and your country. Ask more questions to try to understand why the person believes what s/he does. Most importantly, remain tolerant and avoid becoming defensive; keep an open mind and use the experience to learn about yourself and about cultural differences.

Particularly in the post-9/11 environment, you should be prepared for conversations about U.S. foreign policies and the reasons behind them by brushing up on American political and cultural history. It is also critical to understand the current U.S. foreign policy towards the country you will be studying in, as well as that country's current political climate. If you are well-informed you will be better able to engage yourself thoughtfully in conversations with host country nationals rather than taking criticism of U.S. policy as a personal attack or insult.

Being an International Student in the U.S. and then Going Abroad
Studying abroad affords you advantages over your U.S. counterparts. Having left your home country to study abroad in the U.S. you’ve already learned how to adjust to a new culture, educational system, and language. Your skills and experience may help you to enjoy a relatively smooth transition into your new host culture and university setting. However, please keep in mind that you may still experience culture shock, feelings of isolation, or adjustment difficulties.

Cross-cultural adjustment
Because of the cultural differences you will encounter, as well as the cultural baggage that you will inevitably take with you abroad, you will certainly encounter some adjustment issues. This is nothing to fear, and indeed it is a normal and common part of the process. It should help you to know a little bit about what you may experience.

Upon arrival in the host country, many students go through an initial phase of euphoria and excitement, sometimes known as the "honeymoon phase." You will probably be very excited by the newness of your surroundings and things that appear unusual will be interesting. Sometimes students in this first stage have a false sense of security, so it is especially important to keep safety precautions in mind. After this initial period wears off, it is common to feel that your usual ways of dealing with things and your habits and routines do not work in your host country. There are endless subtle cultural differences, and the most minor tasks may seem major. For example, you may encounter difficulties with language, housing, money, transportation, food, recreation, and even health. You may begin to feel like an outsider, things may seem confusing and frustrating, and you may even start to feel a little depressed. This psychological disorientation is what is often referred to as "culture shock."

There is no right or wrong way to deal with culture shock, but the most important thing is to be aware that this is a very normal phenomenon, so recognizing and accepting its existence is an important first step. It is suggested that you avoid seeking out other disgruntled or unhappy people, and do not isolate yourself. Do not sit around criticizing the culture and being negative; this will just prolong your gloom. Keep busy, set goals for yourself, and try not to be judgmental. Be aware that the problems probably are not so much with your surroundings, but with you. In time, the negative symptoms of culture shock will disappear, and you will certainly adjust. Kohls states that, "Culture shock is in some degree inevitable . . . and is the occupational hazard of overseas living through which one has to be willing to go in order to enjoy the pleasures of experiencing other countries and cultures in depth."