General Guidance
The stages of culture shock are (generally):
Honeymoon, Frustration, Adjustment, Adaptation, and Re-entry.
Some resources call these by different names, and some only list the first 4 stages, but most descriptions follow the same pattern:
- 1. Honeymoon: the initial reaction to traveling to (or living in) a new place is delight at all the new things you encounter. Differences from your home culture are exciting and enjoyable!
- 2. Frustration: also known as the "negotiation" stage; at this point there is less excitement about differences and more annoyances as you are constantly faced with unfamiliar situations or difficulties with communications or expectations. You might find yourself missing home and friends; this is often where physical symptoms present themselves (such a fatigue).
- 3. Adjustment: this stage is when you start to be more comfortable in your new environment and more familiar with your new cultural context.
- 4. Adaptation: at this stage you are comfortable in your new environment and able to navigate it; you are better integrated.
- 5. Re-entry: after your adaptation stage you might find your original home unfamiliar or changed in your absence; you might feel out of place all over again.
Culture Guide aims to help with the second stage (frustration) by providing lists of things to expect in each country you might visit or live in.
Sources/further reading:
https://www.now-health.com/en/blog/culture-shock-stages/
https://www.brown.edu/academics/college/special-programs/international-study/culture-shock
The "frustration" stage is difficult for many travelers and immigrants, but there are some general strategies you can employ to overcome it. For specific examples of cultural features and stories visit one of our country pages.
Tips:
- Remember that culture shock happens to everyone that lives abroad! Other people have had similar experiences, so you don't have to feel alone in your journey.
- Take time to care for yourself: make sure you exercise, eat well, and get enough sleep.
- When you encounter something frustrating or unexpected, try to learn the reason behind it; try to look at things from the host culture's perspective. For every behavior you don’t understand, try to figure out what its underlying value is.
- Continually seek out positives; try not to focus only on things you see as negatives.
- Try to avoid idealizing life back home, especially when contrasting it to your current situation.
- Find other expatriates who have gone through all the stages before you; they can offer valuable perspective on your new living situation.
Sources/further reading:
https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/living-abroad/culture-shock
https://www.brown.edu/academics/college/special-programs/international-study/culture-shock
