Overcoming Reverse Culture Shock

Reverse culture shock is the feelings you may experience from returning from your trip abroad. Not everyone will experience this phenomenon, but it's important to understand the 'symptoms' and be able to recognize them in yourself.

You may have found that it was not difficult at all adapting to the culture of your host country. However, upon returning to the US, you may see things differently and examine our culture through the lens that you acquired abroad. You may start to re-examine priorities and values, and be more critical of the US and our customs and policies. The better integrated you have become to your host country’s culture and lifestyle, the harder it is to readjust during re-entry.

The Center for Global Education describes 2 key elements that characterize re-entry for a study abroad student:
1) Idealized view of home
2) Expectation of total familiarity (the idea that nothing has changed since you

've been gone)


Stages of Reverse Culture Shock
Reverse culture shock is usually described in four stages: (from The Center for Global Education)
1. Disengagement
2. Initial euphoria
3. Irritability and hostility
4. Readjustment and adaptation

Stage 1 begins before you leave your host country. You begin thinking about re-entry and making your preparations for your return home. You also begin to realize that it's time to say good-bye to your friends abroad and to the place you've come to call home. The hustle and bustle of finals, good-bye parties, and packing can intensify your feelings of sadness and frustration. You already miss the friends you've made, a

nd you are reluctant to leave. Or, you may make your last few days fly by so fast that you don't have time to reflect on your emotions and experiences.

Stage 2 usually begins shortly before departure, and it is characterized by feelings of excitement and anticipation - even euphoria - about returning home. This is very similar to the initial feelings of fascination and excitement you may have when you first entered your host country. You may be very happy to see your family and friends again, and they are also happy to see you. The length of this stage varies, and often ends with the realization that most people are not as interested in your experiences abroad as you had hoped. They will politely listen to your stories for a while, but you may find that soon they are ready to move on to the next topic of conversation.

This is often one of the transitions to Stage 3. You may experience feelings of frustration, anger, alienation, loneliness, disorientation, and helplessness and not understand exactly why. You might quickly become irritated or critical of others and of U.S. culture. Depression, feeling like a stranger at home, and the longing to go back abroad are also not uncommon reactions. You may also feel less independent than you were while abroad.

Most people are then able to move onto Stage 4, which is a gradual readjustment to life at home. Things will start to seem a little more normal again, and you will probably fall back into some old routines, but things won't be exactly the same as how you left them. You have most likely developed new attitudes, beliefs, habits, as well as personal and professional goals, and you will see things differently now. The important thing is to try to incorporate the positive aspects of your international experience while abroad with the positive aspects of your life at home in the United States.

http://www.studentsabroad.com/reentrycultureshock.html

Get to Know the Locals

Depending on the program you are in, meeting native speakers may actually be a challenge.

Just like here, it's necessary to join clubs, organizations, and sports in order to meet people and feel connected to the campus. Students in host countries are often excited to meet foreign students--they just don't make the effort to find them, so that's where your job comes in! Be proactive in finding extracurricular activities and don't be discouraged if you find the language barrier immense. You only get better with practice.

Look for clubs that follow your interests, like a film critic club or community service group. ERASMUS is a program for European exchange students in European countries--keep an eye out for their activities because they often offer programs for foreign students to get to know each other.
Don't forget to ask questions of students you meet in order to get to know their culture better. They will undoubtedly have questions for you too!

Tip: Don't join clubs with students who want to speak English.

Alternative: Clubs with a goal of reciprocity in language learning.

Follow the News

It's fairly easy in the US to stay on top of current events and news with the Internet, Twitter, and TV.

If you are abroad, you may not have those luxuries, but it's still important to stay up to date on the happenings back in the US as well as in your host country.

From personal experience, it's actually quite easy to get behind on US news, but it's important to know what's going on for when you return--this will help ease culture shock (if you experience any). I suggest adding a news gadget to your home page. Yahoo mail gives you the ability to add news feeds for sources like the New York Times, as well as news headlines for different countries (I was able to stay up to date on French news--in French!!) Thanks, Yahoo.

Locals enjoy talking with foreign students about their view of events that happen in their country. Reading up on the news of your host country not only will help you practice the language (if it's different) but will help educate you and give you a better sense of the culture.

Wait, I have to Study Here??

Yes, studying abroad is much like an extended vacation,

but you really should go to classes!

Making a 3 or 4 day weekend for yourself often is not going to bode well for your grades. Professors will notice your absence and take that into consideration in your final grades, so make an honest effort to show up for every lecture.

Foreign universities are set up much differently than the system

we are used to. Professors don't hold your hand through new ideas or homework, which leaves a lot up to you to make sure you understand the topic. Final grades are based on midterm and final exams.

If you are taking classes in a foreign language, its important not only for your success in the class but for your improved command of the language, to participate actively in class.

Success = Having a Sense of Humor

Article adapted from UCSD International Center's Go Global handbook.

Some people seem to take to another culture more naturally than others. And some foreign cultures seem to be easier for Americans to adjust to than others. But there are certain skills or traits which you may have-or, with a little effort, develop-which will facilitate your rapid adjustment.

Before going on, jot down in the space below some of the skills-they are usually attitudes, ways of responding, and styles of behaving-which you might think to be most helpful in the overseas adjustment process.

Here are the skills that our experience has shown to be the most important:
• TOLERANCE FOR AMBIGUITY
• LOW GOAL/TASK ORIENTATION
• OPEN-MINDEDNESS
• NON-JUDGEMENTALNESS
• EMPATHY
• COMMUNICATIVENESS
• FLEXIBITY; ADAPTABILITY
• CURIOSITY
• SENSE OF HUMOR
• WARMTH IN HUMAN RELATIONS
• MOTIVATION
• SELF-RELIANCE
• STRONG SENSE OF SELF
• TOLERANCE FOR DIFFERENCES
• PERCEPTIVENESS
• ABILITY TO FAIL

Add to these any of yours which we did not list. Then on a scale of one (low) to five (high), rate yourself in each of these characteristics. Write the number beside each one and total them. If you scored less than 55 you’ve got some work to do.

Now circle the traits you think are the most important (or guess what our choices are - it’ll be no surprise that we’re going to tell you).

Our choices:
1. SENSE OF HUMOR
2. LOW GOAL/TASK ORIENTATION
3. ABILITY TO FAIL

A sense of humor is important because there is going to be much to weep or get angry or annoyed or embarrassed or discouraged about - no matter how many of the other traits you have, the ability to laugh things off will be the ultimate weapon against despair.

Americans abroad too often undertake tasks that are unrealistic and set goals for themselves that are unattainable. It is one of the major causes of failure. To the extent that you set your goals too high and refuse to adjust them to the realities of what can actually be accomplished in a foreign environment, you’re going to be disappointed. Experience shows that Americans who are less goal-oriented or task-driven, and more able to relax and ride with events tend to be more effective and enjoy themselves overseas.

The ability to tolerate failure is critical because: 1) everyone fails at something overseas; it is absolutely built in, 2) the highest stars in the American firmament are “achievement” and “success”, and 3) the American most likely to be selected to go overseas is the person who has been most successful at home. Some people sent abroad will have virtually never experienced failure. If, in addition, they have little tolerance for it, they are in for trouble as are those who work for or live with them.

One of the largest international cultural exchange organizations in the U.S. uses “sense of humor” and “the ability to fail” as principal selection criteria for the thousands of people they choose for international exchanges.

Source Survival Kit for Overseas Living, Third ed., by L. Robert Kohls, 1996

Environmental Wellness Abroad

Wellness Intern here, reporting from France!

Just wanted to share some things that I've learned about how the French care for their environment...

First, water and electricity are highly conserved here. Most restaurants, homes, and classrooms don't have air conditioning; they use good old-fashioned air to help cool things down. Also, you'll never see a dishwasher that's not packed to the max running; they make sure that it's a FULL load to make good use of the water. Same goes with washing clothes. And showers! SHORT! Get in, get out, and you'd better turn off that water when soaping up!

The second thing is transportation. While people have cars and drive around, the large majority of people take public transportation (buses and trams), and especially in Bordeaux, PEOPLE BIKE! You'd think you were at UC Davis with the amount of people who bike in this city! Not only is it great for the environment, but it's good for your health too! I was looking at transportation options for the region and found a bus company that tells you how much CO2 you save from being put in the environment if you take a bus for your trip instead of a car. How cool!

Finally (and it wouldn't be France without it)--food. Outdoor markets are very common all over Europe. It's local people, selling their local produce as well as goods like honey, jams, and pastries. Not only are you helping support local farmers, but you're also getting good quality food. At the grocery stores, there are big organic sections (called "Bio" in France) for things like soy milk, cereal, fruits... you name it!

So, while you're abroad, you can still take care of the environment, and maybe pick up habits to bring back home and share with friends and family!

Yay, environment!!!

Too Much Good Food!

Hello Again Everyone,

Wellness Intern here!I'm studying abroad in France right now: the country most well-known for their sophisticated appreciation for good food and wine.

I must say, there is PLENTY of good food here, and it could be quite easy to leave the country a few kilos heavier if one doesn't watch what they're eating.

Here's what I've discovered:

Resist temptation! Chocolatines may look and smell really good, but croissants have a lot of butter. Limit yourself to eating them as a treat, not a daily snack. Same goes with Nutella.... I know, bummer.

Slow down! I've always heard that the French love conversation, and I've discovered for myself that is very true! What also happens with good conversation, is that sometimes you're so busy talking, you forget to eat! When people get to talking, they tend to slow down on eating (because their mouths are already busy!) and end up not eating as much; probably because they've given their brain time to recognize the stomach it's not as hungry as it thought!

Desserts: Yes, they do make AMAZING desserts here, but typical French people eat yogurt, cheese, or fresh fruit for dessert. We may be used to ice cream bars, but adapting to the culture you're in, might mean healthier food choices!