Battling Cultural Shock: Tips for Coping Strategies
Written by Rita Jabbour
@_ritajabbour
Thumbnail photo by Simon Maage on Unsplash
Header photo by Saketh Garuda on Unsplash
There is nothing quite as thrilling as moving to a new country to pursue an education. Getting off that plane and stepping into a new, unknown world can be both exciting and overwhelming, but can nevertheless give you a great sense of independence, exhilaration, and anticipation of what’s to come. However, in addition to that, being in a completely new environment may leave you feeling a sense of longing for the place you call home. It is completely normal to feel a little out of place and homesick when you first move to a new country. You need to adjust to a myriad of things, including the culture. And at times, when the lifestyle and society in the new country are very unlike your own, you may experience emotional and physical discomfort based on feelings of confusion, ambiguity, and anxiety toward the culture and environment. This is known as culture shock: arriving somewhere new and feeling “shocked” or surprised to find that you can’t really keep up with the cultural norms and societal routine because of how dissimilar they are from those which you grew up around. Experiencing culture shock is expected for international students moving from abroad, and even for national students who arrive in Nova Scotia and find out that life can be different on the east coast. There are lots of ways to prepare yourself for the culture shock and ways to deal with it.
Because culture shock is pretty common for those coming to a new country for the first time, there are a few general stages that people adjusting to a new culture tend to go through. These stages may feel like being on a roller-coaster at times, with different people experiencing different emotions idiosyncratically, and ultimately, transitioning to another country can be extremely challenging.
Photo by Verto Education
The first is the honeymoon stage. As the name suggests, newcomers tend to feel hopeful and optimistic about their decision to move. Everything in the new environment appears exciting and all the unfamiliar aspects don’t seem threatening, but fascinating. In other words, during this stage and first few weeks after the move, everything is viewed through rose-coloured glasses and only the positive sides of things are visible. As a student, you might feel eager to start the academic year and to meet new people and have new experiences. However, the enthusiasm soon dies out as reality is tugged back into place and whatever was new and exciting begins to feel foreign and intimidating.
The second is the frustration stage. During this time, prominent feelings include anxiety, irritability, and uncertainty. Suddenly, all the unique differences of that culture start to feel overwhelming and discomforting. This is when homesickness is most apparent. Noticing the culturally defining aspects makes you increasingly frustrated because you lack the ability to find reassuring reminders of your own culture, which only makes you miss home more. It may start to feel like you are out of place, a stranger or imposter in your new location, or that there is really no way you will ever fit in. New students can feel like keeping up with school, work, and establishing a social life is too much to handle and that you’ll never be able to do it. Although this stage may feel eternal and suffocating in its uneasiness, you’ll be glad to know that it is entirely expected, manageable, and will eventually pass.
The third stage is the adjustment stage. You begin to adjust to your life in the new environment and while you still miss home and the culture you are accustomed to, you understand that you are bound to feel a little uneasy on your way to finding a balance between the new culture and routine and your home life. Everything you were scared and worried about earlier does not seem as big as a problem anymore. During this phase, newcomers usually show an interest in trying to meet new people, fit in, and enter a community. It means gaining back a small sense of that optimism you initially had in terms of the new adventures you can go on and the people you can meet.
The final stage is the acceptance stage. It involves accepting the cultural differences and acknowledging their presence, while at the same time holding onto aspects that remind you of your own culture. Battling culture shock does not mean you have to pick one culture or the other. The goal is to accept and embrace the differences and find a way to live in a new country without being negatively influenced by the differences. That means finding a new way of living that works for you in a new environment that will hopefully become a place comforting enough to call home.
While these four stages appear distinct and absolute, everyone experiences culture shock in diverse ways and for different lengths of time. It is important to keep an open mind with no judgement and low expectations to allow yourself to adjust as quickly and as smoothly as possible. Here are a few tips for coping with culture shock as you move through the stages.
1. Be aware of cultural differences. People tend to move from one country to another (or even one continent to another) without expecting a change in culture or lifestyle, and this incites shock and bewilderment. Acknowledging the existence of cultural differences can be enormously helpful in knowing how to deal with the transfiguration. Awareness is always the first step in addressing any issue. Some cultural differences include those in terms of time, norms, and communication. A differing sense of time might leave you confused and hazy. For example, if you come from a culture where people tend to stay up pretty late, you will be shocked to discover that lots of stores and restaurants tend to close up earlier than you would expect them to. (This was the case for me when moving to Nova Scotia from the Middle East). Another type of cultural difference is the change in social norms and rules; while some cultures and societies value order and structure, others may be more lenient in terms of things like relationships and displays of public affection. Check out Anne Gervase’s article The Cultural Weight of Immigration in which she addresses such changes. One other difference is in terms of communication; things like humour and verbal and non-verbal modes of communication can be distinctive among cultures. Be sure to take your time to get to know these differences so that you don’t feel too much like an outsider.
2. Expect homesickness and an adjustment period. The next step in dealing with culture shock is to be aware of the fact that you will probably feel homesick and that you will need to take some time to get used to your new home and culture. No one expects you to feel comfortable and familiar straight away. Contrary to what you may think, every other international student or student who is new to the area is going through the same adjustment period. There is no need to compare yourself to others who you think have it all together. News flash: they are likely just as lost and confused as you. Accept that and allow yourself to adjust at the best pace for you, one step at a time.
3. Learn about the culture. This can be done both before you arrive and once you are at your new destination. It won’t hurt to do a little reading to find out about cultural norms, rules, traditions, and language. As previously mentioned, the first step is to acknowledge differences. After that, familiarising yourself with some prominent aspects of the history, culture, and social norms can aid in reducing the likelihood of having a major shock upon first encounter.
4. Create a homey living space. It’s important that you feel comfortable at home to be able to adjust to the world outside. Work on making your dorm room or apartment as cosy and familiar as possible so that you have a safe space to come back to after a long day of being out in the unfamiliar world.
5. Find a support system. Whether it is staying in touch with family and old friends or making new friends, having a support system that you can rely on and who has your back is great when everything else is unknown and undetermined. This can also include finding other students who are going through the same adjustment period as you with whom you can share your worries and troubles.
6. Step out of your comfort zone. Make an effort to meet other students, interact with different people, and get to know the environment and culture around you. Try out some donair or visit one of the many historical sites here in Halifax. In terms of on campus involvement, check out the societies, sports and volunteer opportunities you can get into.
7. Know your academic goals and expectations. If you’re moving to a new country for your college degree, then keep in mind that you are here to study and getting used to a new academic system can be tricky. Reach out to instructors, academic advisors, classmates, and the Studio for support and assistance. Specifically, the Studio is a resource at SMU that aims to support students’ education by offering services such as academic writing improvement and english language support.
8. Find a stress outlet. It’s crucial to have an outlet for pent up feelings of anxiety and nervousness. This can be exercise, meditation, a hobby, or anything else that makes you feel better about yourself in moments when you feel overwhelmed, homesick, or both.
9. Seek mental health assistance. If you feel you are struggling to adjust to the new culture, that it is taking a longer time than you expected it to, or that your struggle is affecting other aspects of your life, like your academic performance, don’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional for help. The Counselling Centre on campus is the perfect place to do so.
10. Remember you are not alone. Culture shock is a normal part of moving to a new country and millions of students are experiencing the same thing that you are as they move to pursue an education.
In conclusion, culture shock is common for people arriving at new destinations with differing cultures. Everyone adjusts at different paces. There is no right or wrong way to cope with culture shock. Take your time and do what’s best and most comfortable for you.