Emerging Differences
Gradually, as you become more involved in activities and get to know the people around you, differences–rather than similarities–will become increasingly apparent to you. Those differences may begin to seem more irritating than interesting or quaint. Small incidents and difficulties may make you anxious and concerned about how best to carry on with academic and social life. As these differences emerge, they can be troubling and sometimes shocking. But culture shock does not happen all at once. It is a feeling that grows little by little as you interact with other students, faculty, and people in the community.
For many this gradual process culminates in an emotional state known as “culture shock,” although it is seldom as dramatic as the term implies. The common symptoms of culture shock are:
Extreme homesickness
Desire to avoid social settings which seem threatening or unpleasant
Physical complaints and sleep disturbances
Depression and feelings of helplessness
Difficulty with coursework and concentration
Loss of your sense of humor
Boredom or fatigue
Hostility towards the host culture
Students are sometimes unaware of the fact that they are experiencing culture shock when these symptoms occur. There are ways to deal with this period of culture shock, so it helps to recognize that culture shock may lie behind physical symptoms and irritability.
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