CS is a psychological disorientation that most people experience when living in a culture markedly different from one’s own CS is a result of total immersion in a new culture. CS happens to people who have been suddenly transplanted abroad where they became anxious because they do not speak the language, know the customs, or understand people’s behavior in daily life

Symptoms of Cultural Shock 1)Sadness, loneliness, melancholy 2)Preoccupation with health 3)Aches, pains, and allergies 4)Insomnia, desire to sleep too much or too little 5)Changes in temperament, depression, feeling vulnerable, feeling powerless 6)Anger, irritability, resentment, unwillingness to interact with others 7)Identifying with the old culture or idealizing the old country 8)Loss of identity 9)Trying too hard to absorb everything in the new culture or country 10)Unable to solve simple problems 11)Lack of confidence 12)Feelings of inadequacy or insecurity 13)Developing stereotypes about the new culture 14)Developing obsessions such as over-cleanliness 15)Longing for family 16)Feelings of being lost, overlooked, exploited or abused

(1) Honeymoon period (2) Culture Shock (4) Mental Isolation (3) Initial Adjustment (1) Honeymoon period (5) Acceptance & Integration

(1) Honeymoon period (2) Return anxiety (4) Re-entry shock (3) Return Honeymoon (1) Acceptance & integration (5) Re-integration

The reaction someone makes in a cross-cultural encounter determines the result he gets. A positive reaction—characterized with openness, acceptance & trust— & produce rapport and understanding. A negative reaction—characterized with suspicion, fear, prejudice—& produce alienation and isolation. The outcomes a cross-cultural encounter can be of three types: 1)The encapsulators, i.e. people who keep on avoiding or fighting the second culture by trying to creating a ‘small exclusive world’ based on their first or original culture. 2)The cosmopolitan, which refers to people who adjust to both the first (original) and the second culture as well. 3)The absconder, i.e. people who adjust to the second culture and “ignore” their first (original) culture. To get more complete description, look at the following diagram.

Differences that cause disorientation Toilets—Climate Food—Water Heat—Illness Toilets—Climate Food—Water Heat—Illness Roads—Shops Driving—Money Markets—Transportation Roads—Shops Driving—Money Markets—Transportation Etiquette—Custom Habit—Belief Language—Traits Religion Etiquette—Custom Habit—Belief Language—Traits Religion FLIGHT: Rejection Retreatism Insulation Regression FIGHT: Hostility Anger “Shock” Disgust Disapproval Optimism, Empathy, Positive Outlook. Interest, Acceptance, Curiosity, Cross-Cultural Education Cross-Cultural Contact Goes ‘native’, Falls in love with the new culture, Adopts life-style, food, dress, speech, etc. May take up citizen-ship in local country May marry a local person THE ENCAPSULATOR  avoid or fight the local (second) culture  build ‘Little Batak’, ‘Little China’, etc.  Minimum contact with local people THE ENCAPSULATOR  avoid or fight the local (second) culture  build ‘Little Batak’, ‘Little China’, etc.  Minimum contact with local people THE ABSCONDER  Adjust to local (second) culture  Minimum contact with original culture  Maximum contact with local people THE ABSCONDER  Adjust to local (second) culture  Minimum contact with original culture  Maximum contact with local people THE COSMOPOLITAN  Adjust to both local (second) and original cultures  Aloof in both worlds  About equal contact with both