Culture Shock Much?

What is "Culture Shock"

The definition of culture shock is the trauma you experience when you move into a culture different from your home culture. You will experience this everywhere. It includes a communication problem that involves the frustrations that come with the lack of understanding; the verbal and nonverbal communication of the new culture, it's customs and it's value systems. The differences that people may experience include lack of food, unacceptable standards of cleanliness, different bathroom facilities and fear of personal safety.

Just remember the entire world is not out to get you and you'll be fine. Also make a local friend or some one who has done all this before and can show you around. That helps alot in over cumming culture shock. Once you get past the shock of it all, in comes the home sickness.

According to CNN's Report by Derrick Ho on Home Sickness, its defined as "distress and functional impairment caused by an actual or anticipated separation from home and attachment objects such as parents." Its no so much about home but more about leaving your routines and everything else you know.

Below are some tips mentioned in to article that can help students deal with home sickness.

Here are tips that might help if you're experiencing homesickness:

1. Stay engaged. Take part in college activities or even freshman camps to forget about homesick feelings and make new friends.

2. Establish a personal routine. "If you are someone who goes to bed early and everyone's staying up late, it's OK to go to bed early," says psychologist Josh Klapow.

3. Do something to feel closer to home. Write a letter, look at a family photo.

4. Talk to someone. Seek out people who either understand what you're going through or have similar feelings. Pity parties in this case aren't a bad thing, says Klapow. "It's sort of like a grief support group."

5. Time flies. Think that time is actually pretty short to make time go by faster.



Here is also some advice for parents, here's how not to make matters worse:

1. Avoid expressing anxiety. Your homesick freshman is not your sounding board. Instead of saying how much you miss him, express optimism about the experience your child is going through.

2. Write instead of call. Phone calls can backfire. "Parents hear their children sobbing, children hear their parents sobbing," says psychologist Chris Thurber. "That real-time contact with home exacerbates homesickness."

3. Find a friend. Encourage your child to look for friends and the support of a trusted adult. This can help ease the transition.

4. Don't make a deal. Promising to pick your child up if homesickness sets in only decreases your child's likelihood of success in the new environment.



I also have some tips of my own considering I've been through the whole transitioning thing a couple times.

• First, if possible, have a parent or older sibling come with you to the new environment. I call this my "Welcoming and Settling Committee". This does not mean that they are there to do everything for you. In fact, quite the opposite. They should accompany you with the understanding that their role is moral support ONLY! As the student of the school its your job to meet with all the people you need to meet with, and get all your business done your self. Parents should act like a shadow who is only there to support the student in what ever decision they make and may only step-in in extreme cases where the child cannot express themselves correctly or are being trampled upon by others. (Thank you Mummy everything looks great. Your ability and experience as a mother helped me when I needed it the most. I've gotten everything else covered myself but what you did was amazing and I'm really grateful! ^.^)

• Secondly, I recommend a transitioning period. If possible, arrive a week before Move-in day. Scope out your surrounds. During this period relax and take a break but also visit the University and walk around. get a feel for everything after all this will be you home for a little while. I've always taken three days to move in. The first day I visit, collect my keys, and go shopping for what I need. I move in some of my stuff but continue living in the Hotel. Slowly on the second and third day I spend more time in my room, unpack completely and become familiar with my surrounds, decorate and settle myself. The night of the third or fourth day is when I actually begin staying in my new room. By this time, I like to be the only one left in the country. If my family is still there I think things along the lines of "Why am I here I should be with them!!!!!!!! ARRRHHHHHhhhhhhhhh!" Overall I would drive myself crazy. but when they leave I know I have to do this by my self and that I can. Success!!!

• Another important thing is to always keep in mind why you are there. I have an overall goal that keeps me going, do you? As Martin Carter said "I do not sleep to dream, but dream to change the world."

Lastly, just remember, billions for people have done this before you and have been through it all. Millions more and doing it right now with you. You are not alone. Ask for help if you need it. And Buy a big bag of KitKat and give out free candy to everyone on you floor to make friends quickly.

Peace and Love all!!