Being chosen to study in an American university brings great excitement and heavy responsibilities. Students fortunate enough to be given this opportunity carry with them the hopes and dreams of their family, friends and community. Every student selected for overseas study has demonstrated the highest levels of achievement and a strong work ethic, and has shown that they understand the commitment that it takes to be successful.
But behind this exciting future lie the realities of adjusting to life in America. Too many high-achieving, extremely competent students are not well prepared to face these realities and therefore face unnecessary struggles in adjusting to America’s complex culture.
Research shows that the greatest challenge faced by international students in American colleges and universities isn't academic performance - it is the psychological and even physical impact of a phenomenon known as "Culture Shock" during their first six months in America.
Being ready for each of the five well-defined stages of this process, knowing what to expect and understanding where all those difficult emotions and anxieties are coming from, can make the difference between great success and great difficulty in achieving your goals in America. This book will explain each of the five stages of Culture Shock that you can expect in your first six months and recommends proven strategies you can apply to ensure that you not only survive but thrive.
Culture shock is not an exotic disease – it is a challenging set of psychological processes that occur every time a person moves to a new environment, whether that new environment is a new school, a new job, or a new country. It doesn’t just affect International students studying in America – it affects every international student in the world.
Even older people who have lived in many different countries experience culture shock every time they move to a new country. In spite of how confident and well-adjusted they may appear to be, even very experienced people still go through culture shock. They simply have been through it enough to be able to understand that there is nothing wrong with them, they are not sick, and they are not falling apart emotionally. They are just going through an unavoidable and manageable process that is part of living internationally. This book will help you achieve that level of self-confidence and get on with your successful academic career in America.
