Summary 1 - Intercultural shock

Everyone has it, that's true, but acctualy it looks different in the theory and in practice.

Theory is simple. everyone has cultural shock when going to leave abroad in different culture, just some people are reacting stronger and the symptoms are more visible.

To understand what is cultural shock u have to know the stages. One of the most popular description I have found on wikipedia:

* Honeymoon Phase - During this period the differences between the old and new culture are seen in a romantic light, wonderful and new. For example, in moving to a new country, an individual might love the new foods, the pace of the life, the people's habits, the buildings and so on.
* Negotiation Phase - After some time (usually weeks), differences between the old and new culture become apparent and may create anxiety. One may long for food the way it is prepared in one's native country, may find the pace of life too fast or slow, may find the people's habits annoying, etc. This phase is often marked by mood swings caused by minor issues or without apparent reason. Depression is not uncommon.
* Adjustment Phase - Again, after some time (usually 6 - 12 months), one grows accustomed to the new culture and develops routines. One knows what to expect in most situations and the host country no longer feels all that new. One becomes concerned with basic living again, and things become more "normal".
* Reverse Culture Shock (a.k.a. Re-entry Shock) - Returning to one's home culture after growing accustomed to a new one can produce the same effects as described above, which an affected person often finds more surprising and difficult to deal with as the original culture shock.

Symptoms of culture shock include:

* Homesickness
* Boredom
* Withdrawal
* Excessive sleep
* Compulsive eating/drinking
* Irritability
* Stereotyping host nationals
* Hostility towards host nationals


In practice - you can not say if u have depression caused by cultural shock or not. I had this kind of feelings that once was better and once was worse. Sometimes I just wanted to sit in my room and do nothing and I was forcing myself to go out and find people and not sit alone. I was complaining as well, mostly on food. I was walking through cafeteria to find something tasty and I couldn't. I couldn't understand why everything has to be sweet, or fat, or just without any taste. I was bored as well. What I din't observe in my case but I have observed on the example of other international students - I didn't complain that much. I was not annoyed "how americans are", "how americans party" and so one.

When I wrote, that it is hard to say if depression some people have is caused by intercultural shock or not, becuase there are some other important factors when u r moving abroad. Sometimes you might be just tired, somethimes you can feel lonely, sad about things happening in the place u r living now. If you want to fight with the symptoms of cultural shock the worse thing u can do is to excuse your behaviour that everything is caused by cultural shock and do nothing.