SCC IS HERE FOR YOU INTERNATIONAL HOW TO HELP YOURSELF The staff at SCC is here to help you with STUDENTS’ ADJUSTMENT any areas of this cultural transition that may be experiencing. If you feel you need TO COLLEGE assistance from a member of our staff,  Understand that you are going please call (812) 237-3939 or visit our web- through a normal experience. site at www.indstate.edu. You can also get several helpful tips by following us on  Keep in touch with friends and Facebook. ISU family back home.  Have familiar things around STUDENT you like pictures and decorations. COUNSELING  Become involved in your new CENTER .  Find hobbies like exercise, Other Campus Resources sports, or yoga. International Programs and Services  Talk to someone who you can www.indstate.edu/ips trust to listen and understand. Don’t isolate yourself. Fosters a supportive and nurturing atmosphere for the University’s population of international students

We also have over 20 international student organizations on our campus. Please visit www.indstate.edu/sao for a complete list. Hulman Memorial Student Union, 7th floor

(812)237-3939

www.indstate.edu/cns

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ ADJUSTMENT

Welcome! Stages of Culture Shock Possible Challenges

At Indiana State University, we  Honeymoon Stage Language Barrier understand that you are starting Feeling excited about school and a new way  Stress and lack of energy from an exciting, but often challenging having to translate everything experience. At SCC, we of life. Enjoying new discoveries and feeling understand that adjustments to fascinated by the new culture.  Frustrations and low self-esteem from difficulty communicating. college can be difficult. This  Dissatisfaction Stage brochure was created to help you Societal Challenges become more familiar with Feeling overwhelmed by the new challenges that international environment leading to feelings of sadness,  Difficulty understanding US worry and confusion. Frustrations from systems (education, financial, students might encounter. It will medical) provide important resources on cultural differences in food, difficulty sleeping campus that can be of great help because of time changes, and language  Financial difficulties barriers. to you.  Obvious or subtle discrimination  Negotiation Stage Socio-Cultural Challenges What is culture Shock? Gaining an understanding of the new culture.  Disconnection with social Not feeling as lost and becoming more supports after leaving family and familiar with the environment. Reconnecting friends with what you about yourself and your Culture Shock is a physical and  Not knowing social norms when emotional discomfort that you culture. interacting with Americans. may experience when  Adjustment Stage Emotional Distress experiencing a unfamiliar way of life like when moving to a new Realizing that the new culture has good and  You may experience , country. Culture shock has four bad things to offer. Establishing new , body complaints (aches, routines and a sense of belonging. pains, allergies), anger, stages. These stages may not disappointment, and follow an order; they may be  Mastery Stage homesickness. continuous; or they may emerge at certain times. Gaining the ability to participate fully and  You may think that your comfortably in the host culture. adjustments struggles and emotional distress are related to  Reverse Culture Shock a personal defect, but they are common symptoms of cultural Experiencing a readjustment period similar shock and normal adjustment. to the stages above when returning home.