All students who venture from NUS in search of adventure on student exchange will inevitably have to deal with the perils of culture shock. It is a completely normal and natural condition that everyone who finds themselves in a different culture experiences. By knowing a little bit about why it happens and how it progresses, hopefully you will be more prepared when it effects you.

Everyone experiences the symptoms of culture shock differently. Most people experience the real physical & psychological impacts of arriving in a new culture. You may be afflicted by ailments without apparent origin, such as headaches, loss of appetite, and fatigue. All your senses are on full alert with new sights, sounds, smells and tastes. Your metabolism may take months to adapt to a new climate. Even as you sleep the environment impacts on your senses; possibly influencing your dreams.

Your behavior towards other people may take a turn for the worse. You feel impatient when they don't speak your language and become angry when their systems of work are different. Although you don't consider yourself a racist, you find yourself using generalizations about the locals; "they" are rude, and "they" don't like me. This can be quite a shock to your self-image.

Moving overseas presents many challenges that take you out of your comfort zone. In order to feel comfortable again it is necessary to become familiar with the terrain and adapt to the new environment. When you feel uncomfortable or even completely miserable, it might be reassuring to know that something is happening to you, that you are growing into a stronger, more independent and worldlier person.

Stages of Culture Shock:

	Stage 1 - Honeymoon Period: Everything is new and exciting You are excited about being in a new place where there are new sights and sounds, new smells and tastes Ready to take on new challenges
	Stage 2 –Cultural Stress: May begin to feel aggressive and start to complain about the host culture/country May feel unsettled or like an outsider Begin to compare everything to back home Self-doubt and depression may take place
	Stage 3 –Initial Adaptation: Begin feeling in control and positive again about being where you are You begin to accept the food, drinks, habits and customs of the host country, and you may even find yourself preferring some things in the host country to things at home Emotions become more stable You have become comfortable in the new place
	Stage 4- Re-entry: Cultural adaptation may occur upon return All of the above stages may occur, or only some The better the adaptation to the host country the greater the possibility of re-entry shock