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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

International Affairs

 Study Abroad
 Cross-Culture and Adjustment


The definition of culture is: (n) enlightenment and excellent taste resulting from intellectual development; (n) the total product of human creativity and intellect at a particular time; (n) something immaterial, as a style or philosophy, that is passed from one generation to another.

The definition of shock is: (v) to affect with a strong feeling or moral aversion; (v) to cause to experience a sudden, momentary shock; (v) to inflict mental injury or distress; (v) to deprive of courage or the power to act as a result of fear, anxiety, or disgust; (n) something that jars the mind or emotions.

What, then, is the definition of culture-shock? Some of the differences you see will be obvious. Language, climate, religion, food, etc. Others, however, will not, and you may not even notice them at first. These differences can cause feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, panic, and frustration. You might begin to second-guess yourself and every decision you make. Culture-shock does not strike suddenly, nor does it have a single, principle cause. Instead, it is cumulative. It builds up slowly, from a series of small events, which are difficult to identify. Culture-shock is also pervasive and disorienting.

One of the major factors of culture-shock is being cut off from the cultural cues and known patterns with which you are familiar. Kalvero Oberg, the man first credited with diagnosing culture-shock, says:

“These signs and clues include the thousand and one ways in which we orient ourselves to the situations of daily life: when to shake hands and what to say when we meet people, when and how to give tips, how to give orders to servants, how to make purchases, when to accept and when to refuse invitations, when to take statements seriously and when not,” and that shock is “anxiety that results from losing all of our familiar signs and symbols of social intercourse.” Practical Anthropology 7 (1960)

Everyone will deal with feelings of isolation in different ways, and many might not even have them. Rest assured, however, that you are not the only one. No one has it easier or harder. Remember that experiencing these stresses is a normal part of the adjustment process. The best defense is recognizing the symptoms. Be prepared to have a touch of the flu or a miserable cold in the first few weeks you are abroad - accept it for what it is, the result of a big change in climate, diet, and routine. Be prepared, also, to have some feelings of sadness and disappointment. You will probably find that you miss the odd things: orange juice, soft toilet paper, Tums, buying anything at midnight, and, yes, even McDonald’s.

The Cultural Adjustment Cycle

  • Pre-departure anticipation - While planning and packing, you may feel exhilarated and nervous; you might lose interest in current activities. You may have some insomnia.
  • Post-arrival exhilaration - You may have a heightened sense of enthusiasm; changes in routine are exciting. Some insomnia and stomach queasiness is normal. Most people begin their new assignment with great expectations. Anything new is intriguing and exciting. You might be especially impressed with the similarities between your country and theirs.
  • Early sojourn frustration - You might feel impatient or disenchanted with life in your host country or you might feel restless and irritable. You might rely on familiar activities and foreign friends and start to question your own values and those of your host country. Some minor health problems are normal. Gradually, your focus shifts from the similarities to the differences between the two countries.
  • Mid-sojourn discouragement - You may be quite homesick, discouraged, or disoriented and feel hostility towards local people and customs. Colds and headaches are common.
  • Late sojourn assimilation and integration - You begin to reconcile who you are within the local culture, and to recognize changes in yourself, including changes in your values. You experience a renewed interest in the host culture and have a more constructive attitude. You feel adapted to, and in equilibrium with, the host country. Your health is “normal”.
Overall Symptoms
Withdrawal Symptoms
Aggressive Symptoms
-Anxiety
-Homesickness
-Helplessness
-Boredom
-Depression
-Fatigue
-Confusion
-Self-doubt
-Feelings of Inadequacy
-Unexplained fits of weeping
-Paranoia
-Physical ailments and   psychosomatic illnesses
-Physical and/or psychological withdrawal
-Spending excessive amounts of time   reading
-Need for excessive amounts of sleep
-Only seeing other Americans or   Westerners
-Avoiding contact with host nationals
-Short attention span
-Diminished productivity
-Loss of ability to do work or study   effectively
-Quitting and returning to your home   county early
-Compulsive eating and drinking
-Exaggerated cleanliness
-Irritability
-Family Tensions
-Marital Stress
-Excessive chauvinism
-Stereotyping
-Hostility toward host nationals
-Verbal aggressiveness
-Deciding to stay but permanently   hating the country and its people
Table taken from Carnegie Mellon Handbook on Study Abroad


How long culture-shock will last varies with the length of your program. It also depends to some extent on you and your resiliency. You can expect a letup after the first dip in your state of mind, but be prepared for the second downturn, which will probably be somewhat more severe and unexpected.

There will be some anxiety as you discover the new rules and habits of your new environment. Through it all, keep in mind that you left the United States to learn and to adapt, and this means losing a little bit of your American identity. Try dealing with these issues of readjustment through creativity. Expressing yourself through creative pursuits is the cheapest, most accessible, and most satisfying "transition therapy" around. These pursuits can be for purely personal reward or for helping others. Try not, however, to deal with everything at once.

Another option for dealing with culture-shock is keeping a journal. This will help you to keep a sense of perspective as you learn throughout your time abroad, and offer an opportunity to vent some of those feelings of fear, depression, and sadness that you might not necessarily want to vocalize. Journaling can and does go hand-in-hand with the aforementioned creativity. This book can hold ticket stubs, sketches, recordings of interesting phrases that you may have heard, an epiphany, or two, etc. The structure does not matter. The process does. If you are really unhappy, don’t feel shy about asking for help. Sharing your feelings is an extremely helpful outlet. Find a few people who are supportive and understanding of your plight.

Resist the temptation to withdraw from a situation. If you find yourself sleeping too many hours or frequently alone in your room, these, too, are symptoms of cultural adjustment. The sooner you involve yourself in activities of any kind and establish a new routine, the more comfortable you will feel. Remind yourself of the goals you set originally, and, if they were unrealistic, admit it. Was it really possible to become bilingual in four months? Reassess, reevaluate, and scale back your plans. If you are not too hard on yourself for making mistakes and are willing to look silly upon occasion, you will learn more. Observe and reflect on what is going on around you, and keep gathering information. Just think of the stories you will be able to tell when you return.

Beyond culture shock and the adjustment we are sure you will eventually and successfully make, there is a further realization to which you should come. This is that you are not only initially, but ultimately, a foreigner, a stranger in a strange land to which you go. In losing a bit of your identity as an American, you will nevertheless NEVER become Japanese, French, or Costa Rican. Trying to be the quintessential cultural representative (a.k.a., “going native”) is usually a fruitless pursuit. You cannot completely escape from the heritage in which you grew up and acquired your cultural “baggage.” You are different from the nationals among whom you live. This is not a failure. It is simply a fact. Living in a “foreign” culture is enriching, rewarding, and is a tremendous opportunity to bring back with you an appreciation of cultural difference in this country.

A note to women:
Women might not have the same status or role in the host country that they enjoy at home. Consequently, they could find themselves in situations where they experience powerlessness and anger. Many host country nationals have a distorted and stereotyped image of American women (often acquired through TV and movies).

A note to minority students:
Students who are members of visible and non-visible minority groups might face particular challenges in the study abroad setting. For example, African-American students in St. Petersburg and white students in the Dominican Republic could experience similar feelings of discomfort. In addition, the gay student who could be openly gay on the home campus may feel pressure to modify his or her behavior in a culture where homosexuality is either not accepted or is even against the law.


This document is based on a similar publication of the University of Colorado at Boulder.