UTSA Study Abroad Program

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SIGNS AND SOLUTIONSIntercultural Adjustment,
Re-entry Shock, Mental Health Concerns

• UTSA Study Abroad Program
• Shawanda Woods, PsyD
• UTSA Counseling Services
• RWC1.810
• 210-458-4140

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What is Intercultural Adjustment?A.K.A. Culture
Shock

• The emotional and behavioral reaction to living,
  studying, and working in another culture. It
  usually involves anxiety that results from losing
  familiar signs and symbols of social interaction.
  Culture Shock occurs when ones values and ways
  of viewing the world clash with the values and
  viewpoints of the new cultural environment.
• The Cross Cultural Adjustment Cycle-each stage in
  this process is characterized by symptoms or
  outward and inward signs representing certain
  kinds of behavior.
• Culture Shock-Expectations For Going Abroad and
  Returning. Gortner, Eva-Maria, Rice University
  Counseling Center.
• www.isc.sdsu.edu/study_abroad/accepted-culture-sho
  ck.html

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Common Signs

• Extreme homesickness
• Feelings of helplessness/dependency
• Disorientation and isolation
• Depression and sadness
• Hyper-irritability, may include inappropriate
  anger and hostility
• Sleep and eating disturbances
• Loss of focus and ability to complete tasks

• Excessive critical reactions to host
  culture/stereotyping
• Feeling sick much of the time
• Excessive drinking
• Recreational drug dependency
• Extreme concerns over sanitation, safety, and
  being taking advantage of

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Cross Cultural Adjustment Cycle
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Stages of Intercultural Adjustment

• Honeymoon Period Initially, you will probably be
  fascinated and excited by everything new.
  Usually, visitors are at first overjoyed to be in
  a new culture.
• Culture Shock You are immersed in new problems
  housing, transportation, food, language and new
  friends. Fatigue may result from continuously
  trying to comprehend and use the second language.
  You may wonder, "Why did I come here?"
• Initial Adjustment Everyday activities such as
  housing and going to school are no longer major
  problems. Although you may not yet be perfectly
  fluent in the language spoken, basic ideas and
  feelings in the second language can be expressed.
  
• Mental Isolation You have been away from your
  family and good friends for a long period of time
  and may feel lonely. Many still feel they cannot
  express themselves as well as they can in their
  native language. Frustrations and sometimes a
  loss of self-confidence result. Some individuals
  remain at this stage.
• Acceptance and Integration You have established
  a routine (e.g. work, school, social life). You
  have accepted the habits, customs, foods and
  characteristics of the people in the new culture.
  You feel comfortable with friends, associates,
  and the language of the country.
• Return Anxiety, Re-Entry Shock, Re-Integration
  These stages should be mentioned, even at
  Orientation, because of the very important part
  they play in a visitor's stay in the new culture.
  It is interesting to note that REENTRY SHOCK can
  be more difficult than the initial CULTURE SHOCK.
  
• Resource material The International Services
  Office, The George Washington University,
  Washington D.C. Original source unknown.

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Remedies and Solutions

• Communication

• Ease Stress

• Work on understanding the language
• Pay attention
• Set your assumptions and values aside
• Withhold judgment
• Be complete and explicit

• Keep Active
• Introduce Yourself/Make Friends
• Read
• Exercise
• Community Activities
• Remember your Family
• BE PATIENT

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Solutions (contd).

• Keep in touch with friends and family at home.
• Try to look for logical reasons why things
  happen. This may help you view your host culture
  in a more positive way.
• Try not to concentrate on the negative things
  about your host culture and do not hang around
  people who do.
• Make an effort to restore communication by making
  friends in your host culture.
• Keep your sense of humor!
• Set small goals for yourself as high expectations
  may be difficult to meet.
• Speak the language of the country you are in and
  do not worry if you sometimes make a fool of
  yourself doing it! (Talk to children. Their
  language level will be similar to yours!)
• Take care of yourself by exercising, getting
  enough sleep, eating properly and doing things
  you enjoy.
• Try to fit into the rhythm of life in your host
  culture. Adjust to their time schedule for meals
  and work.
• Find out where people meet and socialize. Make an
  effort to go to those places and observe.
• Draw on your own personal resources for handling
  stress. You have done it many times before and
  you can do it again!

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Depression

• SIGNS

• SOLUTIONS

• Significantly depressed mood or absence of mood
• Inability to experience please or feel interest
  in daily life
• Insomnia or Hypersomnia nearly every day
• Substantial change in appetite, eating patterns
  or weight
• Fatigue or energy loss
• Diminished ability to concentrate
• Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
• Inappropriate feelings of guilt or self-criticism
• A lack of sexual desire
• Suicidal thoughts, feelings or behaviors

• Seek early intervention which may modify the
  severity of your depression
• Reduce or eliminate use of alcohol or drugs
• Exercise or engage in physical activity
• Eat a proper, well balanced diet
• Obtain adequate sleep
• Seek emotional support from family and friends
• Focus on the positive aspects of life
• Pace yourself, modify your schedule, set
  realistic goals
• Eliminate or reduce unnecessary tasks
• Consult with a physician if you are experiencing
  any medical problems

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Suicide Prevention

• Signs

• Solutions

• 70 of all people committing suicide give some
  clue as to their intentions before they make an
  attempt.
• Giving away possessions
• Putting affairs in order
• Making a will
• Withdrawal
• Changes in eating, sleeping patterns, loss of
  interest in prior activities or relationships
• SUDDEN Intense lift in spirits

• Remain calm
• Deal directly with the topic of suicide
• Encourage problem solving and positive actions
• Get assistance
• Most suicides can be prevented by sensitive
  responses to the person in crisis.

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Helpful Resources

• http//www.medilexicon.com/hospitalsdirectory.php
• International Society of Travel Medicine
• StudyAbroad.com Handbook
• US Center for Disease Control and Prevention
  Travelers Health
• US Department of State Consular Services Medical
  Information for Americans Traveling Abroad
• The Center for Global Education Study Abroad
  Student Handbook Medical Care and Insurance
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
  CDC, Travel Health Tips for Students Studying
  Abroad
• World Health Organization, WHO, International
  Travel and Health
• NAFSA Optimizing Health Care in International
  Educational Exchange
• U.S. Department of State Students Abroad

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Loneliness

• SIGNS

• Solutions

• Youre alone and you dont feel you have a choice
  not to be
• You feel that youre lacking attachments you had
  in the past
• You are facing changes in your life
• You feel theres no one in your life with whom
  you can share your feelings and experiences
• Your self perceptions are that youre
  unacceptable, unlovable, not worthwhile even if
  others dont share those perceptions

• Develop Friendships
• Loneliness will not last forever
• Put yourself in new situations
• Look for ways to get involved (eat, sit,
  study)
• Develop Yourself
• Follow habits of good nutrition, regular
  exercise, adequate sleep
• Use alone tome to enjoy yourself rather than
  just existing until you will be with others
• Keep things in your environment that you can use
  to enjoy alone time (books, puzzles)

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Anxiety

• Signs

• Solutions

• Rapid hear beat
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Dizziness
• Sweating
• Sleeping problems
• Trembling or shaking
• Cold clammy hands
• Hyperventilation
• Being too fearful to take action
• Difficulty concentrating
• Always being on edge
• Having a difficult making decisions

• Exercise or engage in some form of daily physical
  activity, Eat a nutritious, well balanced diet
• Dont engage in emotional reasoning
• Obtain an adequate amount of sleep
• Seek emotional support from friends and family
• Focus on the positive aspect of your life
• Establish realistic, attainable goals which do
  not rely on perfectionist values
• Monitor how you think about stress and reduce
  negative thoughts
• Don assume responsibility for events which are
  outside your control

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Re-entry Shock

• What is Re-entry Shock?

• Common Re-entry Expectations

• Re-entry shock is a term that describes the shock
  people go through when returning home after an
  extended stay abroad.

• Everything will be the same
• Everything will be great
• People will be interested in my stories
• I will fit back into life with no problems
• I can pick up my relationships where we left off
• People will be open minded
• People around me will recognize and applaud my
  personal growth
• I will have the same needs and goals as before

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Stages of Re-entry Shock

• Stage 1 Departure Characterized by mixed
  feelings of sadness to end your adventure abroad
  and excitement to see family and friends again.
• Stage 2 Honeymoon Lasts one hour up to a
  couple of weeks. You may be excited to see family
  and friends again, tell everyone your stories,
  get your pictures developed, eat your favorite
  American meal, chew your longed-for favorite
  flavor of gum, etc.
• Stage 3 Reverse Culture Shock The length of
  this stage depends on factors such as duration of
  stay, depth of involvement with host culture,
  variance between cultures, and your personal
  disposition. It ranges from several weeks to over
  a year.
• Stage 4 Readjustment You have found your
  balance again. You have created a new sense of
  home and have established routines in your work,
  school and social life.
• Reverse Culture Shock, University of Iowa.
  www.uiowa.edu/uiabroad/returning/handbook.htm

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Re-entry Remedies

• Realize the Transition may be Hard. Give your
  self time to reflect on your overseas experiences
  and re-adjust to life at home. Keep a journal
  and make a scrapbook while the memories are
  fresh. Avoid making major life decisions until
  you feel more grounded. If you need to, spend
  time regaining your mental-spiritual balance by
  going for walks, meditating, or praying.
•  
• Create a Support System. Talk to other people
  about your experiences and those who might
  understand what you are going through. This can
  be your family, your friends, or your peer study
  abroaders. Join the Facebook Group MU Global or
  talk with the Center for Global Education about
  how to stay connected with program alumni.
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• Stay Connected. Keep in contact with the new
  friends you made while overseas! Just because
  you are an ocean away doesnt mean that they have
  forgotten you! Send letters, write e-mails, or
  even call every once in a while!
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• Continue to be a multi-cultural person. Watch
  the BBC at home! Head out for some Indian food
  every once in a while! Remember that now you know
  how it feels to be the outsider.
• Volunteer Locally. You probably gained a
  different perspective on how things are done
  regarding many issues while abroad. Try
  volunteering with a local or national group to
  help other people and also bring your unique
  perspective to the group!
• Coming Home Life After Study Abroad,
  Middlebury College Study Abroad
  www.middlebury.edu/sap/re_entry/coming_home.html
  (10/12/01) and Coming Home Surviving the
  Transition and Staying Involved, Collins,
  Joseph, Stefano DeZerega, and Zahara Heckscher
  Transitions Abroad, Nov/Dec 2001.

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Resources

• UTSA Counseling Services
• Dept. of State Travel Information for Students
• HTH Students
• Health Check for Study, Work, and Travel Abroad
• Travel Safe
• CDC
• World Health Organization
• Travel Health Online
• Intl. Assoc. For Medical Assistance To Travelers

• http//www.utsa.edu/counsel/index.htm
• studentsabroad.state.gov
• hthstudents.com
• ciee.org/healthcheck.cfm
• ciee.org/travelsafe.cfm
• cdc.gov/travel
• who.org
• tripprep.com
• iamat.org

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SELF SURVEY

• Many study abroad students experience re-entry
  shock.
• People will be interested in my study abroad
  experience.
• Studying Abroad will help me escape and things
  will be great when I return.
• The Honeymoon period related to fascination and
  excitement about a new culture.
• Feeling lonely in a new country is normal and it
  will go away when I adjust to being away from
  home.
• Fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and a change
  in eating patterns can be signs of Depression.
  
• I know how to and when to access resources during
  my study abroad experience.

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ENJOY YOUR STUDY ABROAD!!

• THE END