Sometimes, people think of culture shock as a one-time event that occurs when one encounters something unfamiliar. It's not. True culture shock is a state of accumulated stress and disorientation. It is not simply being caught off guard by an unfamiliar custom or being offered strange food.
This diagram by Duane Elmer illustrates two paths that one can take in cross-cultural encounters. One path helps a person get through "culture shock." The other path tends to make it worse. [ Animated version of this diagram ]
Diagram used with permission from Duane Elmer's Cross-Cultural Connections (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press), 72).
-- Howard Culbertson,
Culture shock refers to the disorientation and discomfort experienced after lengthy exposure to unfamiliar customs, norms, language, and social cues in a new cultural environment. This phenomenon typically occurs when individuals move to a different country or region with distinct traditions, beliefs, and behaviors.
Symptoms of culture shock range from feelings of anxiety, frustration, and confusion to a sense of isolation or severe homesickness. It is a normal part of a period of adjustment as a person navigates an unfamiliar cultural landscape where it is necessary to adapt behaviors and expectations to fit within the new social context. There is no magic pill to take. It takes time. With an open heart and mind and a willingness to change, people can gradually overcome culture shock and settle into their new cultural surroundings to the point that it becomes "home" to them.