Culture Shock and Homesickness

Adjusting to a new culture and way of life is both exciting and challenging - it shouldn't come as any surprise that you will experience some highs and lows during your time in the U.S. You have taken on an adventure of a lifetime and moved to a new environment, which you may find strange and difficult at times. During these times of difficulty - just remind yourself that these cultural differences are the reason we all love to travel: to experience the unknown!

And remember: It's just a phase!

Stages of Cultural Adjustment

While everyone responds differently to adjusting to a new culture, there are typically three stages that most travelers go through.

• You will probably experience an initial period of excitement and happiness, due to new things around you. You will constantly be reminded that you are in a new culture and are many miles from home.
• As you adjust to the routine of daily life, that initial sense of adventure will wear off. You may even find that your new life in the U.S. can be quite ordinary and dull at times - just like at home! During this phase you may start to miss your friends and families at home, and wish things in the U.S. were more similar to your home country. You may find it hard to keep a positive attitude and continue with your routines. You may be tempted to withdraw from people around you or even become hostile. Simple things may seem like an ordeal. At this point it is helpful to know that for most people this phase doesn't last too long.
• The second phase should soon give way to the third phase: your true adjustment to American culture. Once the values and characteristics of people in the U.S. become more familiar to you, day to day life will become easier. You will find that it will be easier to immerse yourself in American life and you will begin to experience the culture in a way that would never be possible if you were a tourist traveling for a few weeks.