Cultural Shock

The concept of "cultural shock" emerged in the 1960s, although such a phenomenon has been known for centuries. Naturally, cultural shock is unlikely to affect those who come to a language school for just a couple of weeks. Yes, much of what you see may surprise you, but you know that you will soon return home. It's a different story if you came to study abroad for several months or an academic year. Realizing this, you will start building your life accordingly. You will need to be responsible with your expenses and avoid rushing to see all the sights in just a couple of weekends.

So, what exactly is cultural shock?

Living in your native society, you become accustomed to its way of life. To understand what cultural shock is, imagine culture as an iceberg. Part of this massive block of ice is invisible—like communication distance, gender relations, intergenerational dynamics, concepts of justice and goodness, traditions, and taboos. Cultural shock occurs when your culture—the underwater part of the iceberg—collides with another block of ice.

How to overcome cultural shock while studying abroad?

We recommend taking the following steps:

• Gather as much information as possible about the new country in advance. Read articles, find blog posts, watch travel shows online. If your friends have been to the place you're going, talk to them.
• New and unfamiliar doesn't mean bad. Try to be an objective observer. Avoid making hasty judgments about something unfamiliar. By observing carefully and showing respect for local traditions, you can better understand the unfamiliar culture.
• Learn the language. You'll notice that your ability to communicate with locals will improve. You will be able to integrate better into the local society and find answers to your questions, making it easier to pursue your education abroad.
• Don't filter new communication norms through the lens of your own culture. For example, if an American asks, "How are you?" it simply means "Hello." The question doesn't imply a lengthy response. It would seem odd if you started explaining how you spent last night, what movie you watched, and what pizza you ordered, and then added that you spent too much time commuting this morning due to highway construction.
• Once you start studying abroad, build a life in your new location. Socialize with locals, invite guests, attend events, go to festivals. The more you see outside the language school, the better. The worst thing you can do is spend hours every day talking to your relatives on Skype, ignoring local events, and avoiding speaking the foreign language. After each such conversation, you'll feel more homesick, and your desire to learn more about the unfamiliar country will decrease. This will negatively impact your studies in the language school.
• Approach everything with a sense of humor. This will make many things seem amusing and, therefore, interesting.

If at some point you find the longing for your family and hometown unbearable, wait for the language school's holidays (usually 1-2 weeks) and go home to see your loved ones. Trust us, it will get easier, and you'll return recharged and ready to continue your studies abroad.