ADJUSTING TO LIFE ABROAD: CULTURE SHOCK & RACIAL ISSUES
There are a number of issues you may wish to consider before leaving to study abroad. These range from simple personal needs to complex issues of dealing with another culture.
Culture
There are many different definitions of culture. As the term is normally used, it refers to the values, beliefs, customs, and other forms of behavior shared by members of a social group over a period of time. Culture acts as a sort of filter through which we perceive reality. The way we communicate with other members of our group is conditioned by the culture we share, which facilitates communication within our own group but creates problems when we try to communicate across cultures.
Your culture is a part of your identity at such a deep level that it is largely unconscious. Understanding your own culture and the way it affects your attitudes and behavior, however, will help you get along with people abroad and provide a starting point for appreciating their culture. Here are some examples: personal freedom, independence, and self-expression are highly regarded in the United States, but may be less important in other cultures than, for example, security, harmony, and self-control.
Before you depart, learn as much as possible about the culture and the social, economic, and political situation in your future host country. When you get there, expect things to be different than at home; try to approach the foreign culture on its own terms and to understand how it influences the way people act. You should also prepare yourself for the questions you are likely to get about your home country by reading up on current issues, domestic affairs and international policies, and important public figures. It may also be helpful to know what ideas about your home country are common in your host country. The people you meet will approach you in terms of these preconceptions, and it may help you to be prepared.
You have undoubtedly been told to "keep an open mind" when you go abroad. That is sound advice, but is easier said than done. Understanding how culture determines one's own expectations and conduct, as well as the systems and behavior one encounters, is part of keeping an open mind. Knowing some of the approaches used by anthropologists when they observe another culture may help you do so more consciously:
- Observe, listen, and describe rather than look for what proves your preconceived notions; do not interpret or judge before you are sure you have observed and listened carefully.
- Try to be objective, but recognize that you can never entirely succeed; the filter of your own culture will always affect what you see.
- Be persistent in asking questions and learn to ask the kinds of questions that elicit answers. Listen actively to the answer you get, and ask for feedback if you are not sure you understand.
- Try to maintain a certain detachment. Practice being a participant and an observer at the same time--taking part in an activity while you stand back from it to observe the process, the people, and your own reactions--and keep your feelings about the situation out of the picture as much as possible.
Culture Shock
The usual pattern of culture shock is described as a "W" curve. It begins with a feeling of excitement as you first experience your new environment. After a while, as you settle into everyday life, you may feel overwhelmed or frustrated as you try to cope; you are descending the first line of the W. Eventually, you will learn how to navigate the new environment, develop support systems, and feel at home and you will reach the high point at the center of the W.
Keep in mind the initial disorientation is a normal part of living in and adjusting to a new culture. The depressed feeling will pass and you will begin to enjoy your new experiences. While it may be somewhat painful, culture shock can be a mind-stretching process that will increase your understanding of your host culture and of yourself.
Meanwhile, there are many positive steps you can take to help overcome feelings of loneliness and isolation such as the following:
- writing a journal,
- developing new friendships,
- sharing feelings with other foreign students or advisors,
- improving language abilities,
- learning about the new school and the new neighborhood,
- getting involved in an activity that you enjoy and that helps you meet people,
- settling in the room or residence,
- planning excursions, or
- participating in sports and recreational activities.
The process will repeat itself on your return to your home country (the second half of the W). At first, you will be excited about being home again and meeting with friends and family. After a while, you may experience disorientation and miss the culture of your host country, which you had learned to appreciate and enjoy. You have changed while your friends and family may have stayed the same or changed in other ways. Returnees are often disappointed about the lack of interest in hearing about their experiences abroad or looking at their photos of friends and exotic sites.
Again, the best approach is to be proactive in dealing with the situation. Take advantage of re-entry meetings or sessions offered by your home university, become a mentor for foreign students on your campus, volunteer or get a part-time job in your international studies or study abroad office. You want to remember and reflect on your experience and stay in touch with friends you made abroad at the same time as you enter into the final phase of your education back home, strengthen old relationships, and build new ones. Submitting an entry in ISEP's annual photo-essay contest is a great way to share and reflect on the value of your experience abroad. The steps you took to adjust to the host environment will be useful in your readjustment to the home environment: keep busy and set goals. Give yourself time to readjust and keep an open mind. Remember that reverse culture shock is a necessary and valuable part of a study abroad experience--and that it will not last forever!
Racial Issues Abroad
ISEP does not tolerate discrimination on the part of its member institutions, but it cannot be denied that racial prejudice exists in many countries.
In dealing with such issues, try to remember some key points. Being aware of your own self-image and expectations is very important. Keep in mind your own cultural assumptions when encountering new situations before jumping to conclusions. It is also possible that actions or questions that upset you may simply reflect people's curiosity about you. Finally, remember that you do have choices in how to deal with these issues.
Should any such incidents arise, please speak to the ISEP coordinator at your host institution.
Support Systems
As an ISEP student, you will be interacting directly with the individuals at your host institution and in your host community. It is quite possible that you will be the only student from your home institution and you may be the only ISEP student in your chosen program of study. At the same time, remember that you are not alone. The ISEP coordinator at your host institution can be an important resource when dealing with any issues that arise during your program.
Your host institution may also have a club or group for foreign students, where you can meet others dealing with some of the same issues. If not, build your own support group. Find at least one person, whether a fellow student, a professor, or host parent that you can talk to when things are not working out. Is there a community of people living in your host country with whom you share something in common? If so, you may want to seek them out to get advice on where to shop, where to go, and what to avoid.
You will also want to keep in touch with your family, friends, and community. Remember though, letters and e-mail are less expensive than telephone calls.