Culture shock/adjustment is anxiety experienced by those who attempt to go about normal, daily activities in the absence of familiar patterns of communication and social interaction. Our expectations of the host culture, shaped by our own patterns of behavior or culture, sometimes 'clash' with the reality of the host country's culture. Initially many travelers experience feelings of anxiousness and excitement, which turn to feelings of discomfort, frustration, or anxiety over the absence of familiar patterns. Eventually these feelings change again and mellow out as you begin to accommodate and integrate new cultural norms.

The following are a few disconcerting situations that even "well prepared" study abroad participants have experienced as they adjusted to their new "homes." Such sources of discomfort are part of culture shock:

• Not knowing how to set the dinner table.
  
• Making embarrassing hand gestures without even realizing it.
  
• Misinterpreting hand gestures.
  
• Not getting innuendoes.
  
• Not understanding what people are saying even though they are speaking English.
  
• Ordering chips and getting fries.
  
• Knowing when to kiss and when not to.
• Living in the host country for 6 months and still getting gasps of surprise from host nationals when you say a basic greeting and order food in a restaurant.
  

Three Responses to the Process of Cultural Adjustment: Fight, Flight, and Adaptation. The disease called "always being right" best expresses the response FIGHT. This is wanting to show the natives a better way of doing something; more effective, quicker, etc. Be very conscious of some of your responses and behaviors. You may have engaged in "Fight" and have been unaware of it. Your journal can assist you here because you can analyze your daily interactions.
You may notice U.S. students hanging out together a lot while studying abroad. These students are engaged in flight. That is, avoidance of the host culture and things that make them feel uncomfortable by surrounding themselves with only familiar people and things.

Adaptation basically represents the process of adjustment, i.e., understanding the culture of your host country, accepting new ideas and integrating new concepts into your existing patterns of interaction. During this process you may find yourself compromising. There is nothing wrong with that. You must decide for yourself what actions are right for you. You may realize that for your acceptance into your new community you may do things that you would not do at home. That's okay, because you are not at home and the rules are different there.

An example: "In my host family, the expectation was that the father was always served by a female member of the family during meals. On one occasion all of the women, except for me, were out and I was to take care of dinner. From my American and personal point of view, I find it very difficult to be expected to wait on someone, particularly in a family setting. However, I served my host father out of respect for him and the community I was living in. I could have made other decisions about this situation and held to my personal values, but that might have created an uncomfortable situation."

Remember, the emotional highs and lows of studying abroad are NORMAL. It happens to everyone, though some experience it more severely than others.

Almost everybody experiences it. It is completely normal. Dealing with it is important, though, so that it does not hinder your valuable time in your new home.

Be nice to yourself. Cry a little, take some time out to be alone, write a long letter to someone you miss, but try to concentrate on the good things that you are doing and seeing. Then pick yourself up and go out and have some fun. Try not to let yourself be in a slump for a whole day, remember- you're in a very exciting place with so much to see and do and so little time. You may want to develop some of your pictures and send them home, so that you can be reminded that you are indeed experiencing something unique!

Information for Women

You may find that stereotypes about American women abound overseas. The stereotypes, as you can imagine, are not always flattering. Rather, they tend to suggest that U.S. women are very sexually active, most likely using TV and movies as examples.

Words of wisdom from women travelers:

• Be careful of talking about sex. It may equate as a come on.
  
• Be careful in asking men to dance in clubs.
  
• Be aware of going to clubs alone. This may be interpreted as an "open invitation".
  
• Do not hitchhike alone and think twice about doing it in pairs.
  
• Do not respond to the many catcalls you may receive. Just walk on.
  
• Kissing a male friend hello or goodbye may be misinterpreted.
  
• Be firm and assertive when you say NO. Be clear and direct to be certain that your intention and the words are understood.
  
• Be aware that things which may appear as normal to you, such as getting drunk or asking someone to walk you home, may be misconstrued as an indication of poor character and place you in uncomfortable situations.
  

Violence against women is a growing concern all over the world. Sometimes when women are out of familiar environment, guards are let down. Always be alert and use the same safety precautions as you would in Pittsburgh, no matter where you are going. If something negative should happen to you, go to someone related to your program for assistance. Unfortunately, in many countries the issue of female harassment is handled quite lightly and you may be treated accordingly.

On the same note, women are subject to the same kinds of dangers abroad as they are in the United States, including the danger of rape. The occurrence of rape is often accompanied by the use of date-rape drugs, such as roofies and GHB (also known as Liquid Ecstasy, it produces a state similar to that of being drunk). Again, use the same precautions abroad that you would in the U.S., and think about these three simple common sense measures that could prevent you from being drugged:

• Do not leave your drink unattended or exchange drinks with anyone else.
  
• Don't accept a drink from anyone, no matter how nice they seem.
  
• Avoid drinking from a large open container
  

Many of the above concerns apply to men as well as women. Again, the actions which seem perfectly normal and natural in the U.S., can easily be misconstrued or out of place in another country. American men are generally stereotyped as being particulalry loud, militant, and protective of their female counterparts. One decidedly negative stereotype of American men is their inability to behave appropriately in public, particularly when alcohol is involved.

Be aware of the accepted, cultural norms which surround the country you are in. You are ultimately responsible for your own well-being.

All students remember you are guests in a foreign country. Behave in such a way that you are "asked back".