The Four Stages of Culture Shock

Living abroad can be an exhilarating experience. It encourages new world views, increases cultural curiosity and supports willingness to explore unfamiliar terrains. However, it may also invite a sense of feeling a little lost in the world.

Ambassador Teachers leave their home countries to live in the U.S. for up to five years. This cultural exchange experience is so rewarding, but often comes with culture shock.

Culture shock is a common phenomenon. Though it may take months to develop, it often affects travelers and people living far from home in unexpected ways. Culture shock is more than simply being unfamiliar with social norms or experiencing new foods. It tends to impact travelers even after they’ve become familiar with and comfortable in new cultures.

Culture shock generally moves through four different phases: honeymoon, frustration, adjustment, and acceptance. Individuals experience these stages differently, and the impact and order of each stage vary widely. They can, however, provide a guideline of how we adapt and cope with new cultures.

Source: Sverre Lysgaard, 1955

1. The honeymoon stage

The first stage of culture shock is often overwhelmingly positive. Travelers become infatuated with the language, people, and food in their new surroundings. At this stage, the trip or move seems like the greatest decision ever made and an exciting adventure. Like the name implies, in this stage a person is in love with the new culture and experiences they are having. New languages, foods, and people are exciting and exhilarating. During this period, travelers often feel confident and hopeful about their ability to adapt to new ways of life in this environment.

“In the beginning the whole process will seem weird for you. Open your mind, observe, try not to compare everything with what you have seen in your country,” said Iryna, a former Ambassador Teacher from Ukraine.

On short trips, the honeymoon phase may take over the entire experience as the later effects of culture shock don’t have time to set in. On longer trips, the honeymoon stage will usually phase out eventually.

2. The frustration stage

In the frustration stage, life in a new country can feel difficult and confusing. Things like communicating in another language, navigating cultural differences, or getting lost can cause irritation and fatigue.

Often in the frustration phase, one’s perspective of the new culture is cast in a negative light as daily activities and interactions feel burdensome. Sometimes people contemplate returning home.

It’s normal to feel homesick or to miss familiar ways of doing things. Some people may feel depressed, anxious, or angry. These feelings come and go as cultural adaptation continues.

How to cope with frustration

One of the most important ways to cope with culture shock is to acknowledge that frustration or sadness are totally normal feelings to have when living in a different country. Dealing with these feelings in a healthy way will help ease the adjustment.

To move beyond the frustration phase, it’s important to accept that some parts of another culture may always be confusing to you. While you may not understand everything, you can appreciate your new surroundings and experiences.

“The most important thing to remember is that you need to have an open mind and heart and keep a positive attitude in the face of hardships,” said Kelli Finch, who taught abroad in Costa Rica for nine years.

Ensure you also have a good support system of friends and family during this time. When feeling frustrated, it’s easy to become isolated, but ultimately the support of others will help cultural adaptation happen faster.

Cecilia C., a Participate Learning Ambassador Teacher from Argentina, shared how she and her family adjusted to U.S. culture with help from other Ambassador Teachers.

“It feels like we have been friends for so long because we share the same experiences,” said Cecilia. “Friends are now my family here.”

It can also be helpful to reflect on your personal and professional growth during your experience abroad. Often people living in another country say the hardships they went through produced positive growth and change. They become stronger and more resilient. If you can step back and see the ways you have grown as a person, it can change your outlook to be more positive and give you a different perspective of your experience.

Silvia Scorza, a former Ambassador Teacher from Costa Rica, said that while going through culture shock was hard, she ultimately became stronger as a result.

“I grew a lot, not only professionally but personally as well. I was not the same person after living abroad—I felt stronger, and somehow, my overall quality of life had improved along the way,” said Silvia.

Remember, going through the frustration phase of culture shock is a normal, albeit tough, experience. Be patient with yourself and others, knowing this phase will eventually pass as you acclimate to a new culture. Next in this blog post series, we will talk about the third phase of culture shock: adjustment.

3. The adjustment stage

The third stage of culture shock, the adjustment period, usually comes after someone has adapted to their new life in another country. As they become familiar with new experiences, like the local language and transportation, confidence grows and frustration lessens. People in the adjustment period have often built a community of support and friendships in their new country.

Someone in the adjustment period can still experience frustration from time to time, and there are elements of the new culture they may still not understand. But as their cultural competence grows in the new environment, day-to-day life feels more manageable.

How to adjust to a new culture

Participate Learning’s Ambassador Teachers come from thirty-two different countries and experience firsthand the adjustment that happens when living far from home. They live and work in the U.S. for up to five years, serving as ambassadors of their culture and heritage in public schools.

Silvia Scorza, a former Ambassador Teacher from Costa Rica, has taught in both the U.S. and China, experiencing culture shock multiple times. Silvia said it was easier to adapt once she learned more about her environment:

Once I adjusted, I felt more relaxed and understanding of the differences. I had a more positive outlook on where I was living and didn’t try to compare everything with my life back in my home country.

I learned that I did not have to agree with or make sense of this cultural context but just be willing to accept the cultural differences in the world around me.

4. The acceptance stage

People who have moved through the other three stages of culture shock will eventually come to the acceptance phase. Acceptance happens on different timelines for everyone, but generally, people in this stage are well adjusted and thriving in their new environment. They are able to access the resources they need and feel stable in their day-to-day life.

When a person reaches the acceptance stage, that does not mean that they completely understand the culture. Rather, the person accepts that they don’t have to understand everything to thrive in their new surroundings.

Adjusting to a new culture and coming to acceptance

Gustavo, an Ambassador Teacher from Colombia, has devoted nine years to teaching abroad with Participate Learning on three separate tours. While it was difficult at first, he said the experience of living abroad has been absolutely worth it, helping him grow personally and professionally.

The adaptation process was hard at first since I had to deal with challenging students and a new classroom environment. However, the drive to be successful and the willingness to get the best of this experience were the fuel that kept me going, and things began to improve as I became accustomed to living in the U.S.

Kelli Finch, who taught abroad in Costa Rica for nine years, came to the acceptance phase of culture shock by recognizing that while she may always feel a little bit like an outsider, teaching abroad has changed her life for the better.

Having been in Costa Rica for nine years now, I definitely think of it as one of my homes, but people will always see me as ‘not from here.’ It’s something you adjust to and come to accept. Teaching abroad changed my life for the better, and I’m a better person for having done it. Despite all the challenges along the way, I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Experiencing culture shock is a totally normal reaction to all of the adjustments someone goes through when living abroad. With a positive mindset and the right support, anyone can move through the different phases of culture shock, arriving at acceptance of their new surroundings.

For more information about cultural exchange and teaching in the US, visit our application page.