How To Navigate The Culture Shock and The Different Stages of Moving Abroad
Moving abroad can be an amazing experience, but you will likely go through various stages and transitions. Navigating life abroad can be challenging, especially when you don’t have your support system with you.
It is common to see some wave patterns online that kinda look like that:
The Different Stages of Moving Abroad/ Studying Abroad
The Arrival Stage
The arrival stage lasts more or less a day and is when you try to get situated, get your new place, and put down your suitcases. You will probably feel super excited but tired too due to your travel day.
The Honeymoon Phase
Then comes the honeymoon phase, when you start exploring your new city or campus. You can do touristy stuff, and you can also go to the grocery store. It is kinda like a fairy tale. Of course, it is normal to feel confused and a little bit lost during that phase, too, because you’re getting situated. I would say that this phase lasts a week.
The “What have I done?” Phase
Then comes the dreaded “what have I done” phase. This is when the culture shock starts to hit, and you start seeing your exchange or the start of your study in a new way. This is when you really start to notice the difference; you’re starting to miss your support system from home. My first roommates in the US were some of the nicest people I have met. They did amazing at showing me what American college life was, but sometimes I remember wondering, “why do they constantly eat snacks?” or “Why do they need to drive everywhere?”. I really doubted my exchange then. I also remembered talking to friends from back home and feeling a bit disconnected because what I was experiencing was different than their lives back home. Moving to the US was my dream, but at that time, I thought that I had made a mistake. The key is to keep pushing; you will see the light at the end of the culture shock. I will say that it can last a few weeks, but if you are proactive and try to enjoy everything your university is organizing, then you’ll soon move to the next phase.
The “It’s not that bad” Phase
After the “what have I done” phase comes the “it’s not that bad” phase. Of course, you will still be aware of the cultural differences, and sometimes you will wonder why people are acting a certain way or doing things a different way than you are used to. However, you’ll become more positive, and you’ll start having a certain routine. You will also have gotten some close friends.
The “Okay, I’m having fun” Phase
After all of that comes the last phase, which is the one I call “okay, I’m having fun!”. You will finally have friends, you will not be in that judgment phase anymore, and you will have integrated into your daily life some of the American ways of doing things. Things will calm down, and you will be enjoying your life on campus. You will probably start feeling more in control.
Last words
Coming from someone who lived in the US for 4 years and who prepared and researched as much as she could before moving to North Carolina, no amount of preparation stopped her from getting culture shock. Living it is different than researching it. Sadly, you will just have to go through it, but at the end of the day, you will be okay. As long as you are not giving up and declaring defeat right away, you will do great. This period of your life will teach you so much about yourself. You have everything in you to make it work!
