It is common for a person who goes to live in another country (or even another culture within their own country) to experience some degree of disorientation while they adjust to the new environment. To leave familiar surroundings and go into a new environment where the food, language, ways of doing things, ways of looking and behaving are different usually causes some level of stress. It is difficult to suddenly lose one's identity of the everyday symbols and social cues, such as verbal language, facial expressions, body language, customs, etc. What was previously familiar becomes foreign and different, causing discomfort. Cultural adaptation is the emotional process that one goes through when adapting to a foreign culture.
One of the best ways to remember the stages of the cultural adaptation process is to remember 4 keywords referred to as the 4 H's.
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The 4 H's
Honeymoon = Honeymoon Stage Hostility = Culture Shock Stage Humor = Adjustment Stage at Home = Adaptation Stage |
