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Study Abroad Program

Common phases of re-entry and culture shock

While no two people have the same reactions to living in and adjusting to a new culture, many people find that they do indeed go through distinct phases. Perhaps you experienced some of the following:

Re-entry phase:

Time	Upon return and weeks after return
General Attitude	Ambivalence
Events	Wanting to tell others about experience and finding others generally not very interested.
Emotional Response	Mixed-up, disconnected, disoriented, irritability, depression, homesickness for overseas site, uncertainty about "home"
Behavioral Response	Criticism of home and friends, lethargy, keen interest in foreign affairs and news
Physical Response	Colds, headaches
Verbal Response	"I never realized…"

(Re-entry shares many of the same attributes as the following phases of adjustment to a new culture)

Pre-Departure:

Time	Pre-Departure
General Attitude	Anticipation
Events	Planning, packing, processing, partying, orientation
Emotional Response	Excitement, enthusiasm, some trepidation of unknown, concern about leaving family, friends, lovers, familiar environment, desire to escape problems
Behavioral Response	Anticipation, loss of interest in current responsibilities
Physical Response	Tiredness, generally normal health
Verbal Response	"I just can't wait to…"

Honeymoon or Spectator Phase:

Time	Weeks 1-4
General Attitude	Exhilaration, euphoria
Events	Red carpet welcome, new homestay or dorm, new classes and teachers, exploration of sights and shops
Emotional Response	Tourist enthusiasm, sense of adventure
Behavioral Response	Outward curiosity about host nationals, avoidance of negative stereotypes, enthusiasm for studies and site, passive observer of culture
Physical Response	Intestinal disturbances, minor insomnia
Verbal Response	"How quaint; this place and these people are a lot like home."

Increasing Participation Phase:

Time	Weeks 5-8
General Attitude	Bewilderment, disenchantment, restlessness, impatience
Events	Classes, homework, everyday life, responsibilities in homestay or dorm, unfamiliar food, manners, language, customs, cost of living
Emotional Response	Qualms, uncertainty, irritability, loss of enthusiasm, skepticism, frustration, questioning of values of self and others
Behavioral Response	Search for security in familiar activities (e.g. reading books in English) increased alcohol and/or food consumption, withdrawal
Physical Response	Colds, headaches, tiredness
Verbal Response	"Why do they have to do it like that? Why can't they just…?"

Crisis Phase:

Time	Weeks 9-12
General Attitude	Hostility, irritation, aggression
Events	Uneven work performance, confrontation with differences
Emotional Response	Discouragement, lethargy, depression, suspicion, boredom, homesickness, anger, extreme sensitivity and irritability, loneliness
Behavioral Response	Withdrawal, avoiding contact with host nationals, excessive sleep, fits of weeping, loss of concentration, tension and conflict with others
Physical Response	Minor illnesses, headaches, preoccupation with personal cleanliness
Verbal Response	"This place s---s! I hate it here. This place and these people are stupid." Use of stereotypes, chauvinism, nationalism. "We" excludes host nationals.

Adaptation Phase:

Time	Weeks 13-20+
General Attitude	Recovery
Events	Work performance improves, able to interpret cultural clues, can laugh at and tell jokes
Emotional Response	Sense of comfort with surroundings, sense of belonging, sense of shared fate, biculturalism
Behavioral Response	Ability to see things from perspective of host nationals, empathy
Physical Response	Normal health
Verbal Response	"Home" is homestay or dorm. "We" includes host nationals

(This chart was adapted from the Fulbright Newsletter, 1988 and accessed from the Kalamazoo College Center for International Programs website, www.kzoo.edu/cip/cultureShock)

Problems most often arise abroad (and even upon return) when there is a discrepancy between our expectations and reality. When we begin to recognize that things and other people are different, we often experience the symptoms noted in the chart above.