Culture shock is a real-life condition, which is caused by the stress of encountering a new culture. The experience is highly emotional and normally occurs when an immigrant or college student is cut off from the familiarities of home, or if a person is faced with a co-worker from a different culture. The first step in moving past difficulties and adjusting to the new situation is recognizing that culture shock is a normal part of the experience and must be overcome in order to feel comfortable with the situation.
Hostility and impatience are a reality in new situations. It takes patience when dealing with a person who is learning the language, customs and ways of the new situation; patience is not always plentiful in others. Some people may feel hostile toward newcomers and may show their displeasure. Sadly, these situations are reality and must be handled with dignity and self-respect.
A state of crisis is part of the adjusting process. The immigrant or new college student may feel helpless and panic after the initial thrill of being in a new country has worn away. A growing need to seek familiar things, customs and ways of life becomes apparent. Immigrants may return to their home country during this time, and college students might quit school, as this is the stage when homesickness will begin. It is important to remember that this stage passes and sticking with the situation is the way to move forward.
Immigrants and college students who do not go home may plan frequent trips back home or spend excessive amounts of time on the phone with old relatives and friends. Avoiding social situations in the new place is also part of the flying home stage of adjustment, and immigrants or college students will stay indoors rather than interact with others. This hurts assimilation and slows the adjustment procedure. The deep desire to fly home is a huge hindrance to adjusting to a new culture. Finding hobbies, joining clubs and making friends with others who are having similar adjustment issues is the way to move past this difficulty.
