Culture Shock

预测未来的事件——比如你最初的离开.

Plan ways to maintain relationships with people at home while you are away. Be sure to allow ample time to say goodbye to all the people who are important to you, and plan how to keep in touch. 这让人们确信你会继续关心他们 them.

Planning to stay in touch does not require a promise to email, text or call on a strict schedule, but it does help to establish a realistic plan for communication.

You will be extremely busy getting settled and learning about your new environment, so it is essential that long periods between communications do not alarm your family and friends at home.

当你到达一个新的地方时，总会有一些惊喜等着你. People may walk and talk more quickly, traffic patterns may be confusing and buildings may look different than expected.

这种差异很容易看到，而且很快就能学会. The manner in which classes are taught, registration for courses, and other procedures may seem strange or very confusing. 国际学生办公室通常是寻求帮助的最佳地点 with such matters.

At first, although the new situation is a bit confusing, most students also find it to be exhilarating, a time of new experiences, sights, sounds and activities. With so much to learn and absorb in the new culture, the initial period of settling in often seems like an adventure. 在这段时间里，你会倾向于寻找和识别 你的家乡文化和东道国文化的相似之处. You will find that people really are friendly and helpful. 程序不同，但都有规律， 你可以学习和依赖的东西. 你可以对文化的其他方面进行分类 that seem unusual or even unattractive as curious, interesting or "quaint." There will be many opportunities to meet people off campus; such opportunities can be rewarding, 但它们也带来了更多的文化难题.

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 you should 最好继续进行学术和社会生活. 随着这些差异的出现，他们可以 be troubling and sometimes shocking. 文化冲击不会一下子发生. 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," 尽管它很少像这个词所暗示的那样引人注目. The common symptoms of culture shock are:

• Extreme homesickness
• 想要避免看起来有威胁或不愉快的社交环境
• 身体不适和睡眠障碍
• 抑郁和无助感
• 学习和集中注意力有困难
• Loss of your sense of humor
• Boredom or fatigue
• hostility toward the host culture

Students are sometimes unaware of the fact that they are experiencing culture shock when these symptoms occur. 有很多方法可以应对这段时期的文化冲击， so it helps to recognize that culture shock may lie behind physical symptoms and irritability.

Culture is relative, which explains why individuals from different cultures may perceive U.S. norms differently. For some, the U.S. 沟通方式似乎过于直接， 而其他人可能会觉得不够直接. 作为一名国际学生，你会的 接触许多新的风俗、习惯和思想. 尽量避免给它们贴上“好”的标签。 or "bad."

Adjusting to a new culture does not mean that you have to change your own values, 但重要的是要尊重他人. When you find yourself in an 不熟悉的环境试着把它想象成一次新的冒险. Allow yourself to be curious 关于在这个新环境中看待和处理事物的方式.

Since you will encounter unfamiliar rules and norms observing how others are acting 可以帮助你理解别人对你的期望. Pay attention to both the verbal and nonverbal communication of others in order to get a more complete picture of what is happening.

Ask for help when you need it. 寻求帮助或解释并不是一种信号 of weakness. 用一门新的语言去理解别人，让别人理解你 (或上下文)需要大量的改写、重复和澄清. It may be helpful 问这样的问题:“我理解你说的是什么。... Is that correct?"

学会适应新环境并不容易. It is natural to feel anxious or frustrated sometimes. 关键是要提醒自己这些感觉是正常的 而且很可能是情境性和暂时性的.

当你探索一种新的文化时，你不可避免地会犯错误. If you can find the humor in these situations and laugh, others will likely respond to you with friendliness and support. 记住，其他人可能也会犯错误. When someone makes an inaccurate assumption or a generalized statement about your culture, it may be due to a lack of information. 如果你觉得这样做很舒服，这是可以的 an opportunity to share information with others about yourself and your culture.

Be mindful about keeping a healthy diet and getting enough exercise and rest. Try 找一项你喜欢的活动，让它成为你日常生活的一部分. Being physically 积极运动可以帮助你减轻压力.

A U.S. 朋友(或其他在美国的国际学生).S. for several 年)可以成为文化期望的好顾问. When you have questions or need a second opinion on something this person can help clarify confusions and 在你适应新环境时提供支持.

Many international students find it helpful to discuss their concerns with others 谁正在经历类似的转变. 与他人谈论他们的调整 to the new culture can provide ideas and insights about your own experience.

适应一种新文化的过程需要时间. It may also require a different 不同领域的时间调整量. Try to encourage yourself to be 耐心对待这段经历，不要过于挑剔自己.

适应一种新的文化是一个持续的过程. It may be challenging at times, but most students who experience culture shock agree that going through this transition helped them to learn more about themselves and to develop greater confidence in their ability to navigate new situations. 它还可能导致人民币重新升值 one's own culture. 校园里有很多人可以为你提供帮助 with support. 记住，你不必独自奋斗. You can reach out 到任何校园的心理咨询办公室 816.604.1000.

在整个文化适应期间，请照顾好自己. Read a book or rent a video in your home language, take a short trip if possible, exercise and get plenty of rest, write an email or telephone home, eat good food and do things you enjoy with friends. 特别注意一下你喜欢生活的地方 host culture.

Although it can be disconcerting and a little scary, the "shock" gradually eases as 你开始了解新的文化. 认识到这些反应通常是有用的 and perceptions of others toward you-and you toward them-are not personal evaluations 而是基于文化价值观的冲突. 你的识别能力越强 how and when cultural values and behaviors are likely to come in conflict, the easier it becomes to make adjustments that can help you avoid serious difficulties.