Travel Tips

Just like it says, the Cultural Adjustment Process is the process we go through as we adjust to a new culture.  The point here is that it is a process, something that happens in somewhat identifiable stages.  In this article, we will go through the different stages and what to expect during each one.  If you haven’t actually lived in another culture, some of the information here may come as a surprise to you even if you are well-traveled.  (In our next article, we’ll give you some strategies for getting through the second stage of the adjustment process.)

The Honeymoon Stage

Back in the 1950’s, a Norwegian sociologist, Sverre Lysgaard*, posited a model for cultural adjustment.  We’ve basically been using that model ever since.  The model is a U-shaped curve, moving from left to right, and the first stage, the Honeymoon Stage, is at the top left.

As the name implies, this stage is marked by feelings of excitement, nervousness, a penchant for noting similarities and differences, and reveling in them.  It is a time of busyness and exploration.  If only we could hold on to this stage forever!  Unfortunately, for many people, this stage only lasts two weeks to two months.

Culture Shock

After moving through the Honeymoon Stage, we enter the dip in the U-shaped curve, known as Culture Shock.  Aptly named, this stage can come as a rude shock and can affect us physically, mentally, and emotionally.  During this phase, we might experience feelings of irritability, depression, and anger.  Alternatively, Culture Shock may manifest physically as headaches, stomachaches, or trouble sleeping.

Often, these feelings sneak up on us, and we don’t necessarily associate them with Culture Shock. Situations that we might have laughed off in the early weeks may now cause us to cry or become angry.  We may begin to question our own identity.  For example, maybe we were known for our sense of humor and brilliant jokes at home.  Now we find that our linguistic prowess isn’t enough to make jokes in this second language, and the jokes we know may not translate well.  If making people laugh has been a valued part of our personality, this may cause confusion and a loss of an aspect of our personality.  Maybe at home we were confident and successful.  Here, maybe we feel shy and silly when trying to communicate with people. If we are not fluent in the second language and incapable of fully expressing ourselves, this can also challenge our sense of self.  We may question who we are and why we have traveled to this new and foreign culture in the first place.

Thankfully, Culture Shock doesn’t last forever.  Typically, the first year is the most difficult.  It also manifests differently for different people, allowing some of us to experience only fleeting symptoms while leaving others of us with more severe cases. 

Cultural Adjustment

During this third stage, we are starting to climb up the right side of the “U.”  Feelings of hopefulness emerge along with a sense of connection to the new culture.  Our self-confidence returns, and we find ways to accept and integrate the similarities and differences between the new culture and our home culture. 

The U-shape isn’t always well-defined, however.  We may move a little forward and slip a little back, having good days and less good days.  We may feel we are making progress at the beginning of the week until a mid-week incident sets us back.  Most people begin entering the Cultural Adjustment Stage at the four to six-month mark although it may take several more months to progress through it.

Cultural Adaptation

Finally, we enter the Cultural Adaptation Stage which can be thought of as the culmination of the Cultural Adjustment Stage or the top of the righthand side of the “U.”  At this point, we feel like we have regained our personality and integrated into the new culture.  We are more confident about how to behave in the new culture and how to appropriately express ourselves.  We have settled in, have a daily routine, and have made connections.  The new culture has become our new home.

(Check out “Dealing with Culture Shock” for tips on identifying Culture Shock and helping yourself through it.)

*Lysgaard, S. (1955). Adjustment in a foreign society: Norwegian Fulbright grantees visiting the United States. International Social Science Bulletin, 7, 45-51.

by: sandra issa, m.a.tesol, m.a. theoretical linguistics

associate director for student services

director, tefl certification program

When travelling, two of the most powerful tools at your disposal are observation and reflection.  I like to call this your Either-“OR” tool—either you use Observation and Reflection (OR), or you won’t get all you can out of your experience abroad.  I also call Observation and Reflection your “oar,” a device to help you navigate through the treacherous currents of cultural adjustment.  Lots of word plays happening here! 

Experiencing another culture isn’t just about seeing the sights. It is about both noting the similarities and differences and re-assessing your own assumptions, ways of doing things, and cultural values. In fact, by using the powers of observation and reflection, experiencing another culture will make you a changed person. It will also help get you through tough cultural adjustment periods. 

Being able to adjust your own behavior to fit in better in the new culture will help you make better connections. I once had a group of international students here in the U.S. who were avid smokers and tended to hang out in the doorways of buildings. They also tended to talk loudly in hallways when classes were in session. Neither of these were culturally appropriate behaviors, and we were getting some complaints about this. Rather than just telling the students that they needed to move away from the buildings when smoking and speak quietly in the hallways, I gave them an assignment. They were to go out in the field and observe. I asked them questions like, “What do American students do when they are waiting to enter a classroom? Are they in large groups, small groups or alone? Are they talking? If so, at what volume are they speaking?” When they reported on their findings, we were able to discuss how American students behave, and they were able to adjust their behavior—not because they had done something necessarily wrong, but because they were doing things that were not acceptable in the new culture they were in. My point was to introduce them to the power of observation and reflections—tools that they could use in other situations. 

In the same way, I would advise you to observe the behaviors of those around you. Then, reflect on what might be driving these behaviors. A great place to do this is in a journal! (A journal will also keep your memories of your experiences fresh years on down the road.) Even if it is difficult for us to ascertain, people usually do have reasons for doing what they do. And these reasons are often deeply embedded in the culture. 

As an example, one cultural value that I have had to occasionally reckon with in dealing with international students is the value of persistence. If Americans ask for something and are told “no,” they don’t generally pursue the matter too far. On the other hand, students from certain other cultures might. For example, a student asks an advisor to switch to a different section of a class. The answer is, “Sorry, the deadline for class changes has already passed. Besides, the other class is full.” Rather than accepting this, the student returns two more times, asking the same thing. They then seek out three other advisors to see if they will get a different answer from any of them. In American culture, we find this persistence annoying. “No” means “no”, and we are tired of dealing with this student.  

However, the student may view this very differently. In their culture, asking only once and accepting “no” for an answer might mean that they didn’t really want their request to be granted anyway. They need to ask many times to show how much they really want this. In their culture, persistence is rewarded. 

What I am saying here is that some of the behaviors we find most aggravating or difficult to understand have very sound reasoning behind them. Reasoning which works in one culture, but not in another. When you encounter a behavior you don’t understand, ponder what might be behind it. (This will also help lower your blood pressure if you are getting frustrated!) And, if you don’t get the response you hoped for from one of your own behaviors, think about what assumptions and values might be driving your own actions.  

My advice is to grab ahold of this “oar.” OR will help you sail more smoothly into adventures in a new culture. 

by: sandra issa, m.a.tesol, m.a. theoretical linguistics

associate director for student services

director, tefl certification program