Exploring Cultural Differences
The Stages of Cultural Adjustment
Studies in intercultural education have shown that there are distinct phases of adjustment that virtually everyone
who lives abroad experiences. These stages are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Initial Euphoria: This stage begins with your arrival in the new country and ends when the initial
excitement wears off.
Irritability: During this phase, people usually take a more active role in their new surrounding. This
produces frustration because of the difficulties encountered in dealing with even the most basic aspects of
everyday life. Your focus may turn to the differences between the host culture and your home culture, and
these differences can be troubling. Sometimes these insignificant problems can get blown out of proportion.
This stage is referred to as "culture shock.”
Gradual Adjustment: When the "culture shock" phase is over, you slip into the adjustment stage. You
may not even be aware that this is happening as you will begin to orient yourself and interpret subtle
cultural clues. The culture is gradually becoming familiar to you.
Adaptation: The ability to function in two cultures with full confidence is the fourth stage. Your acute
sense of "foreignness" no longer exists. Not only will you be more comfortable with the host culture, but
you may feel a part of it. You may experience a sense of shared fate concerning events in the host country.
Re-entry phase: When you return home you enter the last stage of cultural adjustment, the re-entry phase.
For some people this can be the most difficult phase of all. Re-entry and suggestions for dealing effectively
with it are discussed in the "Returning From Abroad,” document.
Cultural Stereotypes
As you prepare to leave for your host country, you will probably read or hear stories about the country and its people
that are both negative and positive. It is important to remember stereotypes can sometimes be unfair or unwarranted,
or founded in one person’s negative experience. It is important that you keep an open mind in order to get the most
out of your experience.
Just as we have stereotypes of other countries, they too have stereotypes of Americans, not all of which are positive.
Below are some examples of stereotypes of Americans (both positive and negative):
 Optimistic
 Informal
 Wealthy
 Politically naive
 Hard-working
 Loud, rude
 Generous
 Impatient
Remember that your actions are likely to leave an impression on the people in your host country. Eventually another
American is going to follow in your footsteps and your interactions today will impact their interactions tomorrow.
You should be careful not to perpetuate the negative stereotypes. Be sure to leave a positive impression behind for
the next person to enjoy!
Culture Shock
Cultural Adjustment, often referred to as “culture shock, describes the disorientation many people experience when
they enter a culture different from their own. As a student about to live in another country, it is reasonable to assume
that you will experience some degree of discomfort as you adjust and adapt to your new environment. It is a normal
part of cultural adjustment.
Cultural adjustment can be expressed in a variety of ways such as intense homesickness, irritability, hypercritical
thoughts, sadness, and frustration. The good news is that it can pass quickly if you work to keep an open mind and
seek to accept and understand your new surroundings and the people you are meeting. If you experience some
degree of discomfort, don't despair. You will most likely find that other study abroad students have similar feelings.
Many people experience new and conflicting emotions when they are immersed in a different culture - these feelings
improve with time. The following positive attitudes will help you through the adjustment process:
 open mindedness
 non-judgmental approach to new customs and ideas
 curiosity
 self-reliance
 tolerance for differences
 flexibility
 adaptability
 tolerance for ambiguity or "gray areas"
 communicativeness
 sense of humor
Making the adjustment: Just as your experience with cultural adjustment will be individual and personal, you will
need to deal with it in an individualized way. An important thing to keep in mind is that confronting rather than
avoiding the symptoms and causes of discomfort will help you to adapt much faster and more effectively to the host
culture.
Some suggestions:
 Learn as much as possible about your new culture.
 Develop cross-cultural communication skills including good listening skills and a non-judgmental attitude.
 Learn to take care of yourself in positive ways. Pay attention to your physical and emotional health.
 Form friendships with host nationals.
 Speak with other students who are having similar experiences.
Although cultural adjustment can be uncomfortable, overcoming it provides a valuable opportunity for personal
growth. It is a mind-stretching process that will leave you with a broader perspective, a deeper insight into yourself,
and a wider tolerance for others. You will mature in ways that you never would have had you stayed home.
Fitting In
Social customs differ greatly from one country to the next, making it impossible to provide guidelines for every
program. Generally speaking, you should act naturally and take your cues from the host nationals surrounding you.
Remember that you are a guest in your host country and should act accordingly. Observe the behavior of the host
nationals and take your cues from them.
Politeness: In many countries, social interactions follow a much stricter code of conduct than we are used to in the
United States. Be prepared to offer a formal greeting to whomever you meet in your day-to-day activities. In many
languages, there is a formal and informal form of “you.” Be prepared to use the formal form until you are invited to
use the informal form.
Humor: Each country has its own brand of humor. Even well-intentioned jokes may appear to be rude or insulting
depending on the country or culture you are in (American sarcasm is not necessarily universal). You may want to
refrain from making too many jokes until you are able to get a sense of the type of humor that your hosts appreciate.
Speaking the Language: In most countries, the host nationals will be flattered or impressed by your efforts to speak
their language. Do not be intimidated if you feel that your language skills are limited or inadequate. Even if you
cannot speak the language, it is important to learn a few key phrases (Please, Thank you, Do you speak English?) in
order to be polite. You may also want to be careful about using slang words, as it is often difficult for non-native
speakers to gain a proper sense of these phrases.
Physical Contact: Social norms dictating physical contact vary greatly from country to country. While you may feel
perfectly comfortable hugging someone or patting them on the back, this type of physical contact may make
someone from another culture very uncomfortable. Personal space can also vary greatly from country to country.
You may be surprised when a new acquaintance begins standing very close to you when having a conversation. Be
sure to take your cues from the locals.
Drinking and Drunkenness: Drinking is often viewed very differently outside of the United States. While those in
your host country may enjoy drinking socially, it is less common to see binge drinking or drinking to become drunk
while abroad. In some countries or cultures, drinking alcohol may be considered socially unacceptable behavior. Be
very sensitive to the attitudes within your host country.
Bargaining: Bargaining over prices is sometimes not only appropriate, but expected. At other times, bargaining is
not acceptable and can be considered an insult. If you are unsure, speak with the merchant and indicate that the price
is higher than you expected or more than you wish to spend. If the merchant wishes to bargain, this will give them
an opportunity to offer you a lower price. You may find that you quickly become used to the bargaining process and
consider it a challenge to get the price or perhaps even view it as a game. It is important to remember, though, that
those selling their wares are doing so to make a living, so don’t go overboard.
Talking Politics: The people that you encounter abroad are likely to be very well informed about politics, about their
own country and about the United States. What happens within the United States typically has a very large impact
on the rest of the world so our country’s political actions are noticed. We strongly encourage you to take some time
to research political matters so that you are knowledgeable, should the topic arise in conversation. While it is
acceptable and sometimes even a wonderful learning experience to discuss politics and international relations with
your new acquaintances, it is also very important to always gauge who your audience is before you begin the
conversation. You should always make sure that you are in a safe environment with people that you trust.
Photographing Others: While you are abroad, you will likely want to capture images to share with others. It is
important to remember that when taking a photo that includes locals, common courtesy dictates that you ask
permission to do so first.