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• Stages of transition when studying in another country or moving to a new town

  1. Honeymoon

  2. Frustration

  3. Adjustment

  4. Adaptation
• Culture shock


  Severe forms can lead to reactions that may need medical attention
• Stage 1 - Honeymoon


  1. Everything is beautiful

  2. People are friendly

  3. Culture is rich

  4. Local way of life is fascinating

  5. We are optimistic and excited about the differences
• Stage 2 - Frustration

  1. Reality sets in

  2. Barriers to connecting with people

  3. Difficulty with social norms

  4. Rejecting local traditions

  5. Feeling homesick
• Stage 3 - Adjustment


  1. Growing familiarity with new way of life

  2. Understanding new customs

  3. Acquiring language skills

  4. Making local friends

  5. Feeling more comfortable
• Stage 4 - Adaptation


  1. Gaining a sense of belonging

  2. Fully participating in new culture

  3. Maintaining own native identity

  4. Feeling at home
• Not everyone arrives at the adaptation stage
• Some people are excited about the foreign culture for months, others start to get frustrated on day one
• Some people experience a culture shock so strong that they leave before adjusting
• Paris Syndrome


  Most extreme form of culture shock, typically strikes some Japanese tourists to Paris who are confronted with filth and arrogance, experiencing a wide range of psychiatric and psychosomatic symptoms
• Those who have adapted to a new society


  May face reverse culture shock when they eventually return home
• Those who are pushed into a new culture without being asked, often skip honeymoon altogether and enter straight into the stage of frustration
• Studies show that toddlers who are sent for their first days at preschool without anyone to accompany them, experience so much anxiety that they can't bond with their teachers and remain freighted to go and clock significantly more sick days for their entire preschool years
• The original research on culture shock was conducted by Sverre Lysgaard in the 1950s after the sociologist had talked to many Norwegians who had spent time in the United States
• Culture shock curve


  Shows that, on average, the honeymoon period lasts for around 2 months, then there are about 6 months of frustration before adjustment happens, and adaptation starts after close to a year