Here I come, America! As the novelty fades out after arrival in the US, I’ve gone through phases of adjusting the cultural shock. Living a new life is never easy.
Since I planned to study abroad, I am always aware of living in the US is different from in Asia. It is common to experience mental isolation caused by a changing social environment. It not only happens to international students, but also applies to many American students who move to college from home for the first time. Here are some of my personal experiences of me coping with the culture shock:
Feeling lonely and nostalgia.
Traveling about 6,800 miles from home (Taiyuan, China) to Rochester takes up to 20-hour flight, and I usually go back home during summer breaks. Away from my family and friends makes me miss them so badly, especially during the national holidays when my American friends are with their families. However, I have talked to my parents a lot via phone and video call and I chat with my friends from high school on the internet. This helps ease lots of my loneliness. Last Thanksgiving, I was lucky to go up to Toronto to meet up with my best friend from high school who studies there.
Here are some other ways if you ever feel lonely and miss home:
- Surround yourself with familiar items, such as pictures of your family or presents from them.
- Talk to your parents often. They must miss you too.
- Get involved in campus activities so you can meet more people and make friends with them.
- Plan trips to go back to your home country/hometown during breaks.
Not confident talking in front of a group of people.
Growing up in China, Mandarin is my mother language. In the first week of school, I was “haunted”by a growing fear of speaking English. I worried too much if people laughed at my errors. This really makes me not willing to speak out in front of people. However, the drum keeps beating and it tells me - “You can’t stay the same for four years of your college! Do something! ”
Here are things I tried: Exposing myself to talk with people on my residential floor and in my OA group. I found people in RIT extremely friendly and nice. I also tried to connect with other international upperclassmen and talk with them about my situation. Then I realized it’s common for everyone to have this “shock”and this feeling would eventually go away. Connecting with many Asian American peers, who grew up with similar cultural backgrounds, also helps with my cultural adjustment.
It does take tremendous encourages to initiate conversations with other people but my efforts finally paid back. My English has improved a lot and I have accepted the majority of American life. Joining clubs and playing sports are also effective ways to meet new people and release the stress.
I noticed some of my international friends have issues with American food, study strategies, and other adjustment problems. I would suggest them to be frank with themselves and realize these adjusting problems are normal. It takes time to get through the whole phase of “culture shock”and the time varies from individual’s personalities and adaptability.
- Be brave to open up yourself and keep an open mind.
- Try new things and new food.
- Use resources on campus to develop your English skills.
- Talk to counselors if you feel mentally sick
- Correctly understand culture shock, it’s not something you should be ashamed of, everyone (even American students) have it.
Here are some resources for international students:
International Student Services http://www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/iss/
RIT Counseling Center http://www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/counseling/
Global Union http://www.ritglobalunion.com