Once in the U.S. participants face an adjustment period referred to as "culture shock." Moving to the U.S.can be a very stressful experience. Everything is unfamiliar; from weather, landscape and language to food, fashion, values, and customs.
The degree of "shock" depends on such factors as length of study abroad, flexibility, tolerance for ambiguity, degree of difference between home and host culture, prior experience abroad and his or her expectations. Culture shock is a normal part of study abroad, and it shows that your daughter or son is experiencing the differences between American culture and that of the host country.
Everyone goes through three similar stages when adapting to a new culture. Some of us are able to go through the process quicker and with less stress, while others go through these stages and find it difficult to adjust.
Symptoms of culture shock can include: homesickness; depression; feeling lost and out of place; frustration; irritability; and fatigue. The following information may be helpful to understand the three phases that occur in culture shock:
- See more at: http://exchanges.state.gov/non-us/adjusting-new-culture#sthash.jFvZGPW5.dpuf