You are probably exhausted from the stress of completing forms and applications, making financial plans, leaving home and family behind, a long international flight and jet lag. Now you are faced with Cultural Adjustment. Culture is the shared history, traditions, beliefs, values and languages of any group of people that influences what people think, say or do. Adjustment to a new country is not accomplished in a few days. It is an ongoing process that happens when you leave your home country for a different environment.

Cultural Adjustment has four stages: The Honeymoon Stage, The Hostility or Depression State, The Humor Stage and The Home Stage.

The Honeymoon Stage

You recover from your initial exhaustion and are soon busy with registration, mandatory Port Of Entry, the Odyssey Peer Mentoring Program, orientation to the campus and getting acquainted with your new home. You may have feelings of exhilaration, anticipation, excitement and fascination with everything new. You may find yourself eager to please others and be cooperative. But in your efforts to please you may nod and smile to indicate understanding when you don't understand. These mounting misunderstandings lead to the second stage of Cultural Adjustment.

The Hostility or Depression Stage

You may find yourself feeling frustrated, angry, anxious, fearful and/or depressed. Following your initial excitement frustration with new rules and the weariness of speaking and listening in English everyday may set in. Sleep and eating patterns mechanize. You may sleep all day and watch television instead of studying. Good study habits disappear. You may react to your frustration by resenting your new environment, feeling disconnected and becoming hostile. Some of these hostilities may be translated into periods of anger over minor frustrations, excessive fear, mistrust of the new culture, lack of interest or motivation and at worse complete withdrawal. Talking about these feelings with students that have similar feelings, the Coordinator of International Student Retention Services a counselor in the CAPS Center, the International Advisor or anyone familiar with cultural adjustment can help. If you are in this stage be kind and patient with yourself.

The Home Stage

You have successfully adjusted to the norms and standards of the new culture. You have retained your allegiance to your home culture and "feel at home" and function well in your new American culture. You are bi-cultural! You will once again be anxious to learn more about and travel around the United States.

It is normal to go through these four stages when you first arrive in the United States. Being aware that these feelings occur may help make the adjustment less difficult.

Readjustment/Returning Home

When you return home you will also require a period of readjustment. This can be as difficult or even more difficult than was the adjustment to the new culture. These problems of readjustment are sometimes referred to as "reverse cultural shock" or "re-entry shock." The stages are similar to those you experienced when you first came to the United States. Remember changes have occurred within you, your country, your city/town/village and your family during your course of study in the United States.

But...let's get back to preparing you for your stay in the United States. The hardest part is beginning and you've already started!