Culture Shock
Culture shock is not quite as shocking or as sudden as most people expect. It is part of the process of learning a new culture that is called “cultural adaptation.” You may experience some discomfort before you are able to function well in a new setting. This discomfort is the “culture shock” stage of the adaptation process. The main thing to remember is that this is a very normal process that nearly everyone goes through.
Just as you will bring with you to the United States clothes and other personal items, you will also carry invisible “cultural baggage” when you travel. That baggage is not as obvious as the items in your suitcases, but it will play a major role in your adaptation abroad. Cultural baggage contains the values that are important to you and the patterns of behavior that are customary in your culture. The more you know about your personal values and how they are derived from your culture, the better prepared you will be to see and understand the cultural differences you will encounter abroad.
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