Name : Rezah Yusniaroh

Class : A2/5

NPM : 1188203075

CHAPTER 10

CULTURAL ADJUSTMENT

Living in new country that have different culture sometimes make people exited, but sometimes

also depressed. Because there is the combination between enthusiasm and excitement. All of the new

things in other country really fascinate the traveler. They are usually eager to become familiar with a new

culture. But, not everything is easy during we live in other country. Sometimes people may feel bored or

confused to do something new. Many travelers have problems that beset them when they live there. They

do not know that problems are related to living in a other culture are not unique. A foreign culture can

effect a traveler’s emotions. The newness and strangeness of a foreign culture are bound to affect a

traveler’s emotions. The difference of culture can make people feel lonely or even frustrated.

“Culture shock” occurs as a result of total immersion in a new culture. Newcomers may feel

different than usual. They may be anxious because they do not speak the language fluently, quite know

about the customs or understand people’s behavior in daily life. The “culture shock” explains the feelings

of confusing and disorientation toward people. The problems not only about language, but also include

another general thing that related on the daily live such as understanding transportation system, knowing

how to make friends or so on. People must handle the “culture shock”, if they want to get adjustment to

their new place or environment.

Newcomers feel alienated from the native members of the culture. They may want to reject

everything about the new environment and glorify the positive aspects of their own culture. There are

distinct stages in the adjustment process for foreign visitors. People must have the adjustment process in

order to make them comfort even in the new environment. The adjustment stages during prolonged stays

may last several months or years. Each stage in the process is characterized by “symptoms” or outward

signs typifying certain kinds of behavior:

1. Honeymoon period. It is the period where people feel excited about their new environment

2. Culture shock. It happened when people start to feel shocking about all the different things.

3. Initial adjustment. Those all the different things are no longer major problems.

4. Mental isolation. People feel lonely because they have been away from their family and good

friends.

5. Acceptance and integration. People start to fell comfort about the general different things.

As they first go abroad or facing live in new environment, people have the adjustment culture

process to make them comfort. That also happened to people who back from the foreign to their native.

They have the process to make them comfort in their native because they will fell awkward even in their

house. Re-entry process occurs when the visitors return to their own country. It also has stages in this

process. Each stage is characterized by symptoms and feelings:

1. Acceptance and Integration. People make adjustment with the family environment.

2. Return anxiety. People will feel nervous about going home.

3. Return honeymoon. People start to feel excited again in their country.

4. Re-entry shock. People feel shock because their country may have changed.

5. Re-integration. People become involve with their family, friends and activities and feel to

integrate in the society.

Every individual experiences the stages of adjustment and re-entry in different ways. People who

have the ability in language or they can speak in their new environment language fluently will not

experience “culture shock” and mental isolation. Day-to-day, living in other country is undoubtedly an

educational experience. When they are traveling or living abroad they learn about the language, customs,

norms and values. When they are facing different values, behavior, beliefs, they develop a deeper

understanding of themselves and the society help them to shape their characters. The striking contrasts of

a second culture provide a mirror in which one’s own culture is reflected.