When we study in another country or move into a new town, we are often exposed to a culture different from ours and need to go through four stages of transition: Honeymoon, frustration, adjustment, and adaptation.
During stage two, some experience a real culture shock, severe forms of which can lead to reactions that may need medical attention.
But before we come to that, let's first look at what happens typically. In stage 1 - honeymoon - everything is beautiful.
The people are friendly, the culture rich, and the way of local life fascinating. We are optimistic and excited about all the differences.
In stage 2 we feel frustration. Reality sets in. We have come to understand that there are plenty of barriers to connecting with people and have difficulty with the social norms. We start to reject local traditions and begin to feel homesick.
The stage of adjustment is characterized by a growing familiarity with our new way of life.
We begin to understand the new customs, acquire language skills, and make local friends. We start to feel more comfortable.
Last is adaptation. During this stage, we gain a sense of belonging and are able to fully participate in the new culture, even while maintaining our own native identity.
Known as the stage of mastery, we now start to feel at home. However, not everyone arrives at this point.
Some people are excited about the foreign culture for months, and others start to get frustrated on day one.
