• What's up with Culture?: On-line cultural training resource for study abroad from the University of the Pacific
  http://www3.uop.edu/sis/culture/
• Intercultural Press – for books on travel
  http://www.nicholasbrealey.com/boston/ebooks.html?SID=0dce3ec2303c656e77e315a33b9e8468

For students with Disabilities

• Mobility International
  http://www.miusa.org/
• Transitions Abroad
  http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/travel/disability/index.shtml

For Gay, Lesbian, and Transgendered students abroad

• Lesbigay special interest group
  http://www.indiana.edu/~overseas/lesbigay/
• International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission
  http://www.iglhrc.org/cgi-bin/iowa/home/index.html
• International Lesbian and Gay Association
  http://www.ilga.org/

The following are excerpts from the above-recommended resource  “What’s Up Culture: On-line cultural training resource for study abroad”.

Ethnocentricity the view held by members of a particular culture that the values and ways of one's own group are superior to others, and that all other cultures are judged inferior with reference to this view. Ethnocentrism rests upon the assumption that the worldview of one's own culture is central to all reality. This strong cultural trait remains one of the main obstacles to functioning well in other societies, particularly those that are predominantly poor. Try to look past this. (http://www3.uop.edu/sis/culture/ and O’Neil, 2006)

Naïve Realism - meaning that they believe that everyone else in the world sees the world (or should!) and interprets events as they do. For them there is only one reasonable explanation for everything. When they discover that other do NOT share those views, the tendency is to denigrate those who are different. Implicit in such a view is the belief that if one culture is inherently better, then all others must compare unfavorably or lack some essential quality that one's own culture possesses. (http://www3.uop.edu/sis/culture/ and O’Neil, 2006)

Cultural generalization: Broad characterizations can be useful as a general guide to anticipating and discussing cultural reactions, attitudes, and behaviors in a neutral way. While cultural generalizations are helpful in analyzing cultural patterns (e.g., Americans tend to be individualistic while Japanese tend to be collectivist), it is understood that no cultural generalization will ever apply to everyone in a culture (no matter how small or isolated) because individual personalities and backgrounds always play a role in how people think and act. In intercultural communication, cultural generalizations are used as a shorthand way to make non-judgmental cross-cultural comparisons, not to oversimplify or deny the complexity of social interaction. (http://www3.uop.edu/sis/culture/ and O’Neil, 2006)

Successful communication = 2 ways to interpret a behavior – from the one performing and the one observing – when they are the same we have successful communication

• As you encounter differences in culture and behavior between American culture and the host culture, remind yourself that one way is not the “right” way to live and the other way is “wrong.” Most of these differences are simply that — just differences.
   
• In most cultures, greetings are of paramount importance. Even in the U.S., we prefer a strong handshake and polite, clearly spoken greeting to mumbling or a limp wrist. Learn the common greetings in your host culture and use them with everyone you meet. Practice on your supervisor or team members if you are uncomfortable with the foreign words or actions.
   
• Be aware of the volume of your voice when you travel overseas. Often Americans are viewed as loud and brutish because of our tendency toward boisterous conversation. Also, if someone from the local culture does not understand something you say, talking louder will not help. Take your cues from the local people for the appropriate volume of speech and laughter.
   
• Privacy is more valued in western cultures than in non-western ones. In East Africa, 20 Kenyans can fit on a church pew that would hold only 12 - 15 Americans because of the American sense of personal space that does not exist in East Africa. Be prepared for you personal space and privacy to be invaded in other cultures.
   
• “Hurry up and wait” is a typical experience overseas. Be prepared to be on time for all events, but be prepared to wait for the events to begin. Most non-Western cultures are more people-oriented and event-oriented than task oriented. That means that a meeting won’t start on time if all of the participants have not arrived because the presence of the people is more important than the time the meeting begins or ends. If you are a task-oriented person (i.e. you like to get the job done and don’t “need” to spend time socializing before you finish the job), you will want to practice enjoying events and people and leave your watch at home.
   
• Men holding hands while walking down the street in non-Western cultures is simply a statement of friendship, not of sexual orientation. Men often hold hands with male friends in public as do women with female friends. If you find a local person of your sex wanting to hold your hand in public, consider the action a giant compliment — you have been accepted as a friend. However, men and women usually do not display affection to each other publicly, whether by holding hands or otherwise. These social rules protecting cross-gender interaction are of utmost importance and should be respected by guests.
   
• For women visiting a male-dominated society, you are not there to impose your cultural and societal freedoms on the women of that culture. Your experience will be most effective and beneficial to you and the local people if you live in accordance with their modes of behavior for women that do not compromise yourself.
   
• “There is something in the mindset of the American that says being comfortable is of higher importance than dressing appropriately” says cross-cultural educator Sarah Lanier in her book Foreign to Familiar. As you pack, be sure to take some nice clothes as well as work/play clothes and remember that modesty is always the best policy. Otherwise, says Lanier, “a too-casual manner of dress says, ‘I don't respect you or your protocol and I express how casually I take it by not bothering to dress appropriately.’” If you find yourself without appropriate clothes for a situation, borrow some from your host or go to the market and buy something appropriate. You will be purchasing a souvenir at the same time.
   
• On the field, you will be out of control of your life. You will not be able to go where you want to go when you want to go; you will not be able to eat the food you like at every meal; you (probably) will not be able to communicate fluently with the local people. Be prepared to give up control of your time, your freedom and your “rights” in order to work/live effectively.

If you like to have a plan and live by the plan, teach yourself to be flexible and to embrace change. Your plans on the field will change several times and being in control of the situation is not a realistic desire. You will feel less frustrated and out-of-control if you recognize your need to know the plan and act according to the plan and teach yourself that change and flexibility can be good.

Culture "Shock": Culture Shock comes from the natural contradiction between our accustomed patterns of behavior and the psychological conflict of attempting to maintain them in the new cultural environment. While culture shock is common, relief is available. There are ways to minimize its effects -the first of which is to accept that it is a real phenomenon- and to learn to recognize its sometimes vague, if persistent, signs in yourself as well as others. Realize that there are different stages of culture shock and it does not hold the immediacy the term implies rather it may happen slowly from many cumulative events that are difficult to pinpoint.

If negative attitudes towards minor annoyances do not change, a low level of persistent frustration is likely to build up. This can quickly lead to volatile anger when accumulated stress inappropriately and unexpectedly erupts and you vent your feelings, but you are unable to trace the outburst to a single source. People around you might comment, "What was that all about?" or "Where did that come from?"

Just remember that unlike temporary annoyance when you are in the presence of a particular cultural practice (e.g., mistreatment of animals or public displays of affection), culture shock is neither caused by a single act nor easily traceable to a particular event. It is cumulative, attributable to many small things that happen over time, and it has the potential to be more deeply felt and take longer to alleviate.

Reference: La Brack, Bruce ed. “What’s Up Culture: On-line cultural training resource for study abroad”
Accessed April 2008 at http://www3.uop.edu/sis/culture/

Symptoms:

• Sadness, loneliness, melancholy
• Preoccupation with health
• Aches, pains, and allergies
• Insomnia, desire to sleep too much or too little
• Changes in temperament, depression, feeling vulnerable, feeling powerless
• Anger, irritability, resentment, unwillingness to interact with others
• Identifying with the old culture or idealizing the old country
• Loss of identity
• Trying too hard to absorb everything in the new culture or country
• Unable to solve simple problems
• Lack of confidence
• Feelings of inadequacy or insecurity
• Developing stereotypes about the new culture
• Developing obsessions such as over-cleanliness
• Longing for family
• Feelings of being lost, overlooked, exploited or abused

Culture shock has many stages. Each stage can be ongoing or appear only at certain times.

1. Incubation stage – Excitement - In this first stage, the new arrival may feel euphoric and be pleased by all of the new things encountered. This time is called the "honeymoon" stage, as everything encountered is new and exciting. Also called Culture "Surprise"
    
2. Second Stage – Withdrawal- A person may encounter some difficult times and crises in daily life. For example, communication difficulties may occur such as not being understood. In this stage, there may be feelings of discontent, impatience, anger, sadness, and feeling incompetence. This happens when a person is trying to adapt to a new culture that is very different from the culture of origin. Transition between the old methods and those of the new country is a difficult process and takes time to complete. During the transition, there can be strong feelings of dissatisfaction. This can also be termed times of “culture stress” or “culture fatigue” and is often accompanied by “language fatigue”
    
3. Third stage – adjustment- is characterized by gaining some understanding of the new culture. A new feeling of pleasure and sense of humor may be experienced. One may start to feel a certain psychological balance. The new arrival may not feel as lost and starts to have a feeling of direction. The individual is more familiar with the environment and wants to belong. This initiates an evaluation of the old ways versus those of the new.
    
4. Fourth stage – Enthusiasm- the person realizes that the new culture has good and bad things to offer. This stage can be one of double integration or triple integration depending on the number of cultures that the person has to process. This integration is accompanied by a more solid feeling of belonging. The person starts to define him/herself and establish goals for living.
    
5. Fifth - "re-entry shock" This occurs when a return to the country of origin is made. One may find that things are no longer the same. For example, some of the newly acquired customs are not in use in the old culture.

These stages are present at different times and each person has their own way of reacting in the stages of culture shock. As a consequence, some stages will be longer and more difficult than others.

The majority of individuals and families that immigrate from other countries have the ability to positively confront the obstacles of a new environment. Some ways to combat stress produced by culture shock are:

• Before you go:
  • Learn as much about the host country before you leave.
  • Make every effort to learn at least some of the language, particularly for longer visits
  • Befriend those who have gone before you
• While you are there:
  • Make effort to learn more language asking those around you for help
  • Don't forget the good things you already have!
  • Be patient, the act of immigrating is a process of adaptation to new situations. It is going to take time
  • Learn to be constructive. If you encounter an unfavorable environment, don't put yourself in that position again. Be easy on yourself.
  • Don't try too hard.
  • Relaxation and meditation are proven to be very positive for people who are passing through periods of stress
  • Allow yourself to feel sad about the things that you have left behind: your family, your friends, etc.
  • Recognize the sorrow of leaving your old country. Accept the new country. Focus your power on getting through the transition.
  • Maintain confidence in yourself. Follow your ambitions and continue your plans for the future.
  • If you feel stressed, look for help. There is always someone or some service available to help you. “have the time” to talk with trusted sources and friends

Guanipa, Carmen PhD. “Culture Shock” Updated March 17, 1998.
Accessed April 2008. http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/CGuanipa/cultshok.htm