Coping with Culture Shock
General Advice for the Beginning of Your
Stay
During your first few weeks much will be happening to and
around you as you adjust and acclimate yourself to the customs and activities of Carnegie
Mellon and the United States. Most people experience "culture shock" when they
enter a new society. Remember that it is normal to experience highs and lows as part of
the adjustment process. Some helpful suggestions in dealing with culture shock are:
- Get plenty of rest to deal with the stress and jet lag that
you may experience.
- If you have children or family with you, plan activities
with them, but give them time to talk through their own emotional turmoil.
- Take time to think and/or talk through your own feelings.
- Make an effort to be optimistic, but not to the point of
avoiding negatives that should be expressed.
- Make your new home environment as comfortable as possible.
- Try to make friends as quickly as possible. If there are
others of your nationality on campus, get acquainted. It will provide a support system.
- Be sure to meet others outside of your nationality. You want
to make the most of your experience.
- Keep a diary or journal. This is a wonderful way to vent
some of the frustrations you might be too embarrassed to speak about. It may also be a
valuable record of the changes that occur.
- Try not to compare and only search out "things like
home." Things are different! Enjoy and explore those differences.
- Always, always, keep an open mind and a sense of humor!
- Remember you are welcome to come to the Office of
International Education to talk with the foreign student or foreign scholar advisors.
- Attend the cultural adjustment workshops scheduled in the
Fall to connect with other International students who may be facing the same issues and
having the same experiences you are having.

last updated 3/23/99
Questions? Comments? gfsadv@andrew.cmu.edu