Culture Shock: Information
for International Students
When you leave your home culture, you separate yourself
from the people and circumstances that have defined your
role in society. You enter into a world in which you are
expected to adjust to the way things are done here- and
there may be some significant differences from how you
have done things back home. It is possible that you may
experience a loss of some of your identity. The impact
of this change can be disorienting. It is called "culture
shock." Culture shock can be felt in a number of ways.
Some of the signs of culture shock are:
- Fits of anger over minor inconveniences
- Irritability
- Extreme homesickness
- Withdrawal from people who are different from you
- A new and intense feeling of loyalty to your own culture
- Compulsive eating or a loss of appetite
- Boredom
- A need for excessive periods of sleep
- Headaches
- Upset stomach
- Loneliness and Isolation
- Excessive concern over minor pains
- Depression
- Loss of ability to work effectively
- Unexplainable fits of crying
- Marital stress
- Exaggerated cleanliness
- Feeling sick much of the time
- Difficulty concentrating
You do not need to suffer from every item on the list
in order to experience culture shock. Only a few of the
items may apply to you -- maybe only a couple of them.
Being in college far away from home can create stresses
of its own and events that may be happening at home can
be even tougher because you cannot be with friends and
family to give and receive support.
If you are dealing with culture shock and college
adjustment issues, help is available.
Things that might help…
- Talk out your worries. Telling someone
about your problems helps you organize them and plan
constructive action rather than letting them spin around
and around in your head. Good listeners offer support
and sometimes helpful suggestions. Value and use the
support available to you, there may be people who care
about you and have a lot of life experience to offer
you. The telephone, email or letters are a convenient
way of keeping in touch and letting your family know
what is happening. Sometimes other relatives may be
geographically closer than your immediate family, and
it may be useful to develop supportive adult relationships
with them.
- Join groups. Make new friends. Your
adjustment may be easier if you participate in campus
organizations. There are many student groups on campus.
- Accept what you cannot change. Be
willing to compromise, be satisfied with good enough.
- Avoid self-medication. Alcohol or
drugs may help you ignore reality, but it won’t
change it. Medications may play a helpful role in instances
of extreme stress, but make that decision with your
physician.
- Get enough sleep, good food and exercise.
Taking care of your body helps enormously! Find some
physical activity that you can enjoy. Exercise can be
an effective way to lessen worry and stress.
- Recognize your accomplishments. All
too often people are hypercritical of themselves. By
giving yourself credit for what you have accomplished,
you begin to see yourself as a person who can handle
whatever life throws your way.
- Be patient. Culture shock is something
that students of color and students from other countries
on a predominantly White American campus experience
while they're here. Realize what is happening to you
and find support.
- Care for yourself. Develop new support
systems and friends, by doing so you will be in a strong
position to make your experience of leaving home and
coming to UW Oshkosh an exciting and positive time.
American Values
Independence is a strong American value. The culture
here is focused on the individual rather than the group,
which includes the family. Self-reliance and self-expression
are usually seen as more important than harmonious relationships.
This focus on the individual, however, can lead to isolation
that is seen as normal here. Independent effort and achievement
are valued. Students are expected to speak up and contribute
to discussions, ask questions if they do not understand,
and visit the professor or teaching assistant during office
hours for extra help. They’re expected to take the
initiative. One way that American students take the initiative
is to seek help when they are feeling overwhelmed. While
it is more common in other cultures to seek help from
family and to not talk to people outside the family about
problems or issues you might be facing- it is acceptable
to do so here. Often, there is concern that if you talk
to someone outside the family, that person might tell
other people about what you said which would bring shame
to the family. At the Counseling Center we are not allowed
to talk about what students tell us to anyone whether
it’s your parents, your professors, or anyone at
the University unless you give us written permission to
do so.
Counseling at UW River Falls
Getting used to a new culture can be challenging. Counseling
Services provides a wide range of assistance to all students.
No concern is too small or too large for us to help you.
If we can’t be of service, we will help you find
the right place for the information or assistance you
need.
Some of the services we provide include:
- Stress Management - so students can learn to manage
test anxiety as well as the stress of the semester.
- Problem-Solving – if you need assistance in
ways to effectively deal with a professor for example.
- Cross-cultural Communication- we can help provide
guidance about what questions to ask when dealing with
an American bureaucracy for example or general interpretations
about the meaning behind a certain statement/discussion.
- Brain- Storming- about how to handle any particular
issue that has presented itself when you are not sure
about how to proceed.
- Getting Support- so that you can talk about the pressures
you may be feeling about being here.
- Assertiveness Training- to negotiate effective communication
when interacting within this culture.
- Time-Management Training- if you need assistance in
making sure you are accomplishing everything you need
to in order to be successful.
You can also call and ask to speak to a counselor if
you are unsure about whether you should come in for an
appointment or not. If you would like more assistance
or counseling, please contact Counseling Services
at 425-3884.
Campus Resources
Global
Connections (715) 425-4891
International
Student Assocation
These links may also be helpful:
Mayo
Clinic: Adjustment Disorders
Souther
Wesleyan University: College adjustment Issues
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