Name : Rezah Yusniaroh

Class : A2/5
NPM : 1188203075

CHAPTER 10
CULTURAL ADJUSTMENT
Living in new country that have different culture sometimes make people exited, but sometimes
also depressed. Because there is the combination between enthusiasm and excitement. All of the new
things in other country really fascinate the traveler. They are usually eager to become familiar with a new
culture. But, not everything is easy during we live in other country. Sometimes people may feel bored or
confused to do something new. Many travelers have problems that beset them when they live there. They
do not know that problems are related to living in a other culture are not unique. A foreign culture can
effect a travelers emotions. The newness and strangeness of a foreign culture are bound to affect a
travelers emotions. The difference of culture can make people feel lonely or even frustrated.
Culture shock occurs as a result of total immersion in a new culture. Newcomers may feel
different than usual. They may be anxious because they do not speak the language fluently, quite know
about the customs or understand peoples behavior in daily life. The culture shock explains the feelings
of confusing and disorientation toward people. The problems not only about language, but also include
another general thing that related on the daily live such as understanding transportation system, knowing
how to make friends or so on. People must handle the culture shock, if they want to get adjustment to
their new place or environment.
Newcomers feel alienated from the native members of the culture. They may want to reject
everything about the new environment and glorify the positive aspects of their own culture. There are
distinct stages in the adjustment process for foreign visitors. People must have the adjustment process in
order to make them comfort even in the new environment. The adjustment stages during prolonged stays
may last several months or years. Each stage in the process is characterized by symptoms or outward
signs typifying certain kinds of behavior:



1. Honeymoon period. It is the period where people feel excited about their new environment
2. Culture shock. It happened when people start to feel shocking about all the different things.
3. Initial adjustment. Those all the different things are no longer major problems.
4. Mental isolation. People feel lonely because they have been away from their family and good
friends.
5. Acceptance and integration. People start to fell comfort about the general different things.
As they first go abroad or facing live in new environment, people have the adjustment culture
process to make them comfort. That also happened to people who back from the foreign to their native.
They have the process to make them comfort in their native because they will fell awkward even in their
house. Re-entry process occurs when the visitors return to their own country. It also has stages in this
process. Each stage is characterized by symptoms and feelings:
1. Acceptance and Integration. People make adjustment with the family environment.
2. Return anxiety. People will feel nervous about going home.
3. Return honeymoon. People start to feel excited again in their country.
4. Re-entry shock. People feel shock because their country may have changed.
5. Re-integration. People become involve with their family, friends and activities and feel to
integrate in the society.
Every individual experiences the stages of adjustment and re-entry in different ways. People who
have the ability in language or they can speak in their new environment language fluently will not
experience culture shock and mental isolation. Day-to-day, living in other country is undoubtedly an
educational experience. When they are traveling or living abroad they learn about the language, customs,
norms and values. When they are facing different values, behavior, beliefs, they develop a deeper
understanding of themselves and the society help them to shape their characters. The striking contrasts of
a second culture provide a mirror in which ones own culture is reflected.