Some people claim that adjusting to a new culture can be somewhat challenging!

WHY IS THAT?

When we set out on our journeys, our minds are full of excitement. The great things we hear from people, the media and other means of communication spark our senses. We begin to visualize this awesome place we want to be, but there is an adjustment period that some may need to go through.

STAGES OF CULTURAL ADJUSTMENT

Excitement Stage (Arrival): For most people, the first week or two after arriving to a foreign country is wonderful, everyone is glad to see you and you are excited to meet new people and see new things. You might even feel like a celebrity. You see things in a positive way, yet sometimes strange. You have the chance to eat, see, smell, do and visit those things you once wished while you were home, in your native country.

Alienation Stage (Culture Shock): Suddenly you may feel frustrated or sometimes angry. You might feel impatient with others due to the inability to do things as well or quickly as the rest of your peers. Feeling loneliness, disorientation, sometimes a sense of helplessness and homesickness may affect you.

Gradual Adjustment Stage (Recovery): The homesickness and frustration eventually disappears and you experience a gradual adjustment. You begin to feel more comfortable and relaxed with yourself and the ones around you. You start bieng patient.

Stability Stage (Adaptation): You are feeling more balanced. You have perhaps settled mentally and emotionally in your new space. You are more open-minded and let things flow accordingly. You have started to see the world through a broader prism.

COPING STRATEGIES

• Communication is the key
• Share information about cultural entry
• Keep in touch with friends/colleagues
• Be patient (with yourself and others)
• Anticipate changes
• Keep a journal/blog or write articles
• Be active
• What else?
  

      Be Patient With Yourself and Enjoy Your Success!