Cultural Adjustment Abroad

There will be differences in your host country, like language, technology, and food. Even academic approaches and housing are facets of the host culture and will require adjustment. These differences might feel overwhelming at first, but you will very likely adjust in time. Culture shock is normal! 

Culture shock has many symptoms, including extreme homesickness, feelings of helplessness, disorientation and isolation, depression or sadness, hyper-irritability, sleep and eating disturbances, excessive critical reactions to host culture/stereotyping, and changes in drinking and drug use. 

If you start to feel the symptoms of culture shock, talk to the other students on your program about how you're feeling. They may be feeling the same way and have been hoping to have someone to talk with. It may also be helpful to try not to spend all your time with other Americans, as this might make you more homesick; immerse yourself in your host country's culture and learn from the locals. 

You can cope with culture shock by:

Joining a student organization
Reaching out to other students (even if you don't feel like it!)
Setting up specific times to talk with friends or family back home
Embracing uncertainty and change - not expecting your experience to be perfect or a constant string of exciting moments
Being open to learning new ways of doing things, trying different foods, etc.
Keeping your original motivation for studying abroad in mind when things become difficult or stressful, and remembering that you are growing and learning as a result of these obstacles

Research your host country in advance to learn more about the local language, verbal and non-verbal communication customs, and styles of speaking
Some cultures require more context clues and inference to understand the meaning behind spoken language
The Middle East, Africa, and Latin America are considered high context cultures due to the tendencies in those regions to leave many things unsaid and let the culture explain for itself. Words and word choice become very important in communication because a complex message could be conveyed in very few words
North America, most of Western Europe, and Australia/New Zealand are considered low context cultures where communicators tend to be much more explicit and the value of a single word is much less important
People from other countries may have certain pre-conceptions about Americans as self-important and uninterested in the local culture, so consider approaching conversations from a place of genuine humility and openness to other opinions
When in doubt, reach out to on-site staff or other students who have more experience with the local culture for help

All students participating in an education abroad program become a representative of the University and an unofficial representative of the U.S. to their local communities abroad. This can be a fun and exciting time to represent the Nittany Lions and everything you love about Penn State to people who may never have had a chance to interact with someone from or studying in this area of the world. It may also add some unexpected challenges as you encounter a wide range of people and their perceptions.

Acting as a Cultural Ambassador

As a Penn State student abroad, individuals from a host country or your education abroad program may use you as an example of U.S. culture in general, even if the U.S. is not the country you identify with as your home. You may be the first Penn State student, or even U.S. student someone has had the opportunity to interact with.

It is important to be respectful. Your actions, both positive and negative, can have long-term repercussions for Penn State and future education abroad students.

Tips for Being a Good Cultural Ambassador

Maintain your academics. Attend your classes, complete assignments, and communicate with professors.
Academic differences can also be a cultural learning experience as classroom expectation, teaching styles, and assignments are often a reflection of the needs of the local learning community. Having a hard time adjusting? Work with your host program to learn some tips and tricks.
Be respectful and courteous as a guest in someone else’s school, home, or country.
Avoid expressing negative opinions or generalizations about your host community. Seek to understand without judging when something is different than expected.
Show genuine interest in the host country. Get to know its intricacies of daily life and social norms.
Get to know the local language or dialect if it is different from your own.
Inform yourself on current events in the U.S., Pennsylvania, and your hometown. This can help you speak more confidently on complex and sometimes controversial topics, if you wish to engage in those conversations. 

Conversations and Curiosity about U.S. Life

As someone studying and living in the U.S., you may find that your background and what brings you to your host country sparks curiosity from others in your education abroad program and host community. This may prompt questions and conversations that you haven’t had to think about before or expose you to new perspectives on familiar topics discussed in your circles back on campus and at home.

In some countries, debate and dialogue on politics, economics, foreign and domestic policies, social movements, etc. are part of everyday culture and society. Some people may come in with assumptions based on their own news and media outlets about life on a U.S. campus that may surprise you. They may ask you about your thoughts on U.S. government policies and public statements, for example.

Such conversations, with trusted friends and contacts, can be a unique opportunity for cross cultural exchange and learning. However, students should be aware that engaging in such dialogue with strangers can lead to unanticipated consequences, such as heated debate, elevated tension or voices, or misinterpretation of sentiments due to language barriers or cultural differences. 

Tips for Talking about U.S. Life

We advise students to reflect in advance of their travels on how they might respond if they encounter individuals who seek to engage the perspective of an American college student or even an international student who is studying in the U.S. for their degree. A few tips to consider:

Prepare and practice a few responses to questions about the current U.S. foreign policy and economic policy climate. For example:
think about what you are comfortable sharing with others;
practice a general response to that effect;
also practice saying a response that will end the conversation, such as “I am sorry, but I am late for an appointment and have to leave.”
Read news articles from trusted news sources in the country(ies) that you will visit to get an idea of how U.S. news is being covered and reported in that area.
Research rules and norms concerning free speech and/or political expression in your host country.
Avoid demonstrations, protests, or other advocacy events while on a program abroad.
If you ever feel unsafe, please notify your host institution/school or your program leader (faculty/staff) right away.  
Reach out to your Penn State education abroad adviser with questions or concerns.
For an emergency or urgent personal safety issue, we advise you to contact faculty and staff onsite abroad for more immediate assistance.

We hope that your time abroad is a great opportunity for cultural exchange and a broadening of your understanding of how people view the world. These preparations and tips can help you have fruitful and rewarding conversations with people with similar and dissimilar views of the world.