Stages of Cultural Adjustment: The 'W' Curve

The Honeymoon Phase occurs when you first arrive in a new culture. This is the excitement of being somewhere new and different!

Culture Shock may be noticeable after a few days or weeks. You may struggle to understand the rules of the new culture you find yourself in and you may find you miss your family and the home support structures the most.

The Initial Adjustment may leave you feeling irritated, or frustrated with the cultural differences you come across in daily life. You will probably find you make comparisons with your home culture and decide you prefer home! You may be assessing your own cultural values and trying to make sense of them.

By the Mental Isolation phase you would have probably worked out how to operate in your new cultural environment. You will most likely start to accept the differences between your home culture and those of the new culture and feel more relaxed.

The final phase of Acceptance and Integration brings with it a feeling of self-assurance and a more complete understanding of your home and the new culture. Differences and similarities are valued and more importantly you feel confident about handling most or all situations.

Remember, not everyone will experience this, some may for differing lengths of time and some may only experience part of the W-curve. This is just a guide to help you to understand some of the emotions you may encounter during your time abroad.

Homesickness

You may feel homesick, especially in those first few days when you may be experiencing jet-lag, are exhausted from using a new language and are finding your feet. Sending e-mails and telephoning family and friends is great and it is good to let everyone back home know you are okay, but don’t let this be all you do. It can sometimes make feelings of homesickness worse if you just think about what you are missing at home.

Once you check in with family and friends, why don’t you…

Explore the city in which you are studying or working! You are there to study/work but you are also there to explore a new culture, possibly learn a new language and to see new things!

Ask questions. If you are wondering why something happens as it does or what a colloquial phrase means, ask!

Be social. Seek out societies and clubs you might wish to join. Join a similar society to one you are part of here at Northumbria or try something you have always wanted to try.

Seek out new friends to compare stories about your first days in the new country and learn all that you can about the culture in which you are living.

Remember why you are there and have fun!

Higher Education Systems/Business Culture and Etiquette in other Countries

The UK Higher Education System can be very different from many higher education cultures in other countries. Students should seek out seminars and workshops in your host University that address the education system in the country, coursework, assessment, etc.

Just ask – fellow students and University staff or colleagues around the office will be able to help.

As you will be registered as a Northumbria University student while abroad you can still contact the Student Life and Wellbeing team who can advise on a huge range of areas such as health, finance and counselling.