Cultural Adjustment - Entry Cultural Adjustment - Entry Stages and Reentry StagesStages and Reentry Stages

Carol M. Archer, Ed D

Cultural Adjustment Cultural Adjustment CycleCycle

Cultural Adjustment CycleCultural Adjustment Cycle

• When we go from one culture to another, we pass through various stages…. In fact, it is like riding a roller coaster….

Honeymoon/ArrivalHoneymoon/Arrival

HappyExcitedNervous

Culture ShockCulture Shock

• Physical: tired, lack of concentration, ill, sleep problems

• Psychological: Overwhelmed, homesick, hopeful, nervous

Initial AdjustmentInitial Adjustment

Begin to understand a little about new place

Less homesickMore confidentSelf determination

Mental IsolationMental Isolation

Disdain and anger against host culture

Self-doubt and worry

ResentmentDisappointment in

self or new surroundings

Acceptance and IntegrationAcceptance and Integration

Stop trying so hardAccept new placeDevelop strategies

for living each day

References References www.culturebump.comwww.culturebump.com

Adelman, M. B. (1988) “Cross-Cultural Adjustment: A theoretical perspective on social support. “ International Journal of Intercultural Relations 12, 3: 183-204.

Adler, P. (1979) “Culture Shock and the Cross-Cultural Learning Experience.” In Readings in Intercultural Comunication, vol. 2. Ed. David S. Hoopes. Pittsburgh: Regional council for International Education.

Archer. C.M. (1991) Living with strangers in the USA: Communicating beyond culture: Regents/Prentice Hall ) can be bought at UH Print Shop-713-741-5200 or cma@culturebump.com

Furnham. A. and Stephen Bochner. (1986) Culture Shock. New York: Routledge, Chapman and Hall.

Reentry AdjustmentReentry Adjustment

• Cross cultural reentry can be more

difficult than entry into a new

culture as it is unexpected (it is MY

culture), the sense of loss (of

things that happened there while

you were gone, the loss of the

relationships and experience in the

host culture), and a sense of

special ness and community. This

adjustment also has stages and the

first “Reentry Anxiety” begins

before leaving for one’s home…

Return AnxietyReturn Anxiety

Sudden awareness of leaving host country “forever”

Sadness at leaving friends and experience

Uncertainty about what has happened during absence

Return HoneymoonReturn Honeymoon

Extreme happiness

Everyone listens to one’s

experiences and is interested

Special social events to welcome

one home

NOTE: These experiences typically

last a very short time.

Re-entry ShockRe-entry Shock

• Same as culture shock plus alienation from own culture

• Feeling of betrayal since this is unexpected in one’s “native” culture.

ReintegrationReintegration

Find a way to validate both one’s overseas and one’s native experiences and identities

A lifetime process

How was your luggage filled?How was your luggage filled?

What did you take home with you from your time in Houston? KnowledgeSkillsRelationshipsPersonal growthOther

Suggestions for reintegrationSuggestions for reintegration

Create a collage, a poem or a

scrapbook of your experience. This

helps you to integrate it and is an

easy way to share with people

close to you.

Find ways to share your experience

with people who are interested in

your experience. I.E.

Suggestions for reintegrationSuggestions for reintegration

Find a class teaching English as a

second language and ask to

volunteer.

Find others who have recently

returned from abroad and form a

small support community

Look for other ways to integrate

your life and remember that this is

a

lifetime process

Now…Now…

What new information did you learn about the reentry cycle?

What new insights did you have?

Other?

• http://www.studentsabroad.com/reentry

• cultureshock.html• http://www.culturebump

.com

– Austin, C. N. (1989) Cross-cultural reentry: A book of reading. ACU Press: Abilene

References References