We improve the cultural experience of exchange students

About

Conventional wisdom says that studying abroad is like living a fairy tale: making friends all over the world, learning a new language, even experiencing romance in an exotic locale.

The very definition of studying abroad is being far from home, and that comes with the challenges of constructing new support networks, learning a new language and daily customs, and coping without the comforts of home. What was in the past known loosely as "homesickness" is more accurately termed "Culture Shock" and takes into account its varying causes and the predictable patterns it tends to follow. It often comes as a surprise that there is a second adjustment period, the Reverse Culture Shock, that occurs after return to the home culture, when support systems are again disrupted. Addressing Culture Shock is important to protect the mental health of students, and to ensure a productive, happy international experience and return home.

Data

The Stages of Culture Shock