IndexIntroductionDefinition of "culture shock"Stages of culture shockThe U-curve modelCritics of the phase modelHow to alleviate culture shock for exchange studentsConclusionBibliographyIntroductionThousands and thousands of students around the world they are entering foreign countries to live abroad for a period during their studies. Sometimes just for a short period of time, other times for chapters of one's life. It's part of today's society to experience different cultures and connect with people from all over the planet. Useful for your social contacts but also later for finding the perfect job and becoming what you have always dreamed of. But new cultures often imply huge differences from familiar and personal behavior or mannerisms. Focusing on how these differences especially affect the beginning of life in another country for students, it is worth mentioning that there is a special term for this way of behavior and feeling. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original “Culture Shock” essay. Culture shock has become increasingly important due to the evolution of society, changing global structure/infrastructure, and the ever-changing phases of globalization. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to reveal the stages of culture shock so that it can be detected more easily and provide advice for solving upcoming problems between different cultures for student exchange. We also wonder whether the phases of culture shock are differentiated correctly and whether there are any impacts that culture shock has on quality of life or being productive. Definition of "culture shock" To define the term culture shock we can generally say that it is “a state of mind that results from the transition that occurs when you move from a familiar environment to an unfamiliar one and discover that your old, established behavior patterns are ineffective ”. So, to simplify, it is a kind of natural reaction to unfamiliar environments and especially their culture and behavior. The term was first used by Kalervo Oberg in 1954. He was an American anthropologist who also developed the phase model with culture shock phases which will be presented later in this article. Today other influences are added to Oberg's initial ones. It not only leads to disruptions in daily life, but also to routine, ego and self-image. Today's typical view has led to a four-stage model and the "U-Curve" figure to vividly analyze the culture shock process. Stages of Culture Shock In common there are four different stages into which culture shock can be divided. the phases cannot be precisely isolated from each other, and not everyone passes them automatically. In the following paragraphs, the steps will be introduced in depth and shown in the form of "U-Curve" at the end. To mention them by name, the phases are divided into Excitement Phase, Disenchantment Phase, Initial Resolution Phase, and Effective Operation Phase. Excitement/Honeymoon PhaseIn this phase everything new is exciting, interesting and differences from one's own and familiar situations or mannerisms are seen as something good and special. It's exciting to meet new people who behave differently than those in your home country. Many differences that appear in the new culture can lead to a motivational drive or willingness to face new differences and learn more about the country and culture. You get excited by rather small things like smells or sounds. So, you can say that all thisthat is new and different is positive in this phase of entering a new country. It is also often called the honeymoon phase when entering a foreign country. The students really love it and think the decision to go abroad was the best one they've ever had. Disenchantment/crisis phase Here you have already gotten to know the country and its mannerisms. You start to notice some things that weren't as you imagined. It is often referred to as the crisis period. Language difficulties or other barriers appear. Students experience feelings like disappointment and start to feel sad about things that don't work on the first try. It leads to lack of motivation and everything seems to be terrible. Furthermore, even small differences are treated as catastrophes and this leads to enormous stress and frustration. The people of the host country seem to be cold and prejudices begin to develop. Eventually foreigners begin to feel homesick. Some messages arrive from home and even small or unimportant news is treated as important events that are missed. Even just good weather or the opening of a new store can be reasons to intensify homesickness and not feel welcome in the host country. Some typical symptoms are disorientation, feeling of rejection, homesickness, mental and physical illness, feeling of incomprehension or even withdrawal from staying abroad. Initial resolution/recovery phase Since the start of the stay abroad project, the stayer has already spent time in the host country. Understanding for the other culture slowly increases. At first he learns mannerisms and behaviors so different from those of his home country. Start accepting and perhaps even implementing some less diverse aspects in the host country. Now exchange students know how to behave or how to do things to get along with the culture and the natives. Maybe it's about driving in the car across the street or accepting different work schedules. The foreigner really learns more about the background of the culture to better understand how and, more importantly, why it works the way it does because the emotion is really great. The phase is over and you can focus much better on the important ways to gain new knowledge. The success can be seen and motivates visitors. Misunderstandings don't automatically lead to stress or frustration, and they often result in funny situations that can be laughed off. The attitude of “as long as I'm here, I should make the most of it” develops. Finally everything begins to seem more logical because you no longer think about every action, gesture or other expression of yourself or of the host natives. Acceptance and adaptation happen slowly. Travelers don't exactly identify with the culture and its mannerisms, but they get along well with it. To put it generally, visitors see everything more objectively and "the individual is now a more fully functioning person and less dependent on others." Actual Operation/Adjustment Phase The last phase is labeled as the adaptation phase. The foreigner accepts the host culture and can be seen as part of it. Unlike the third stage the individual no longer faces problems or setbacks because he is satisfied with the cultural behavior. Now it is possible to identify with the host culture. Exploring new differences no longer affects you negatively. On your own you can solve upcoming problems or questions. Of course you see some more efficient styles of doing something sooner or later, but you think about solutions in another way. A more host culture oriented way. So complete understanding is not what you need to accept the host culture, moreover it is the way of thinking like a host nativewould interact and feel comfortable with the unfolding of events. Often residents become attached to the host country a second time (as in the excitement phase) and enjoy living with their current situation. The U-Curve Model In 1955, Sverre Lysgaard developed the U-shaped cultural adaptation curve which described the stages of culture shock that people go through when living in a new culture. Time is shown on the x-axis and mood stage on the y-axis. So, to describe the progress it can be said that upon entering the country abroad the honeymoon phase is one of the most tense phases of the experience and the sojourner is feeling good. After some time, the excitement fades more and more until it reaches a minimum while enduring the crisis. Then a slow but progressive recovery begins which leads to the point of maximum tension and adaptation to the host culture. Naming some time intervals may be different because all individuals go through phases at different paces. Some say it takes a year to adapt to the new culture, others say it will take much longer or less. But individuals who live in a host country for a very long period often experience these curves more than once. After achieving adaptation leading to a new honeymoon, they sometimes discover some new differences and problems that cannot be solved on the first try. Criticisms on the Phase Model In addition to any negative or suffering description of culture shock, there are some opinions that CS is indeed a useful and good solution for a person's personal development and brings with it positive consequences. Zuckerman, 1978 Often the shock cultural is negatively associated with the suffering of the individual. But some people don't go through these stages of suffering. They do not experience the negative aspects mentioned above. These experiences lead to enjoyment for those called Sensation Seekers. Adler (1975) and David (1972). Another point of view concerns the development of this individual and the advantages he obtains from culture shock. He does not suffer from it but rather acquires new values, attitudes and behavior models. The difficulties the stranger faces make him more adaptable, flexible and perceptive. How to Ease Culture Shock for Exchange Students There are ways to make exchange students feel better and alleviate some of the consequences of culture shock for them. First of all, it is important to be aware of culture shock. If a student is planning to go abroad he should learn about this common problem that almost everyone faces. By having an overview of what can and probably will happen, you can easily prepare for these phases. You should also always consider the problems you are likely to face abroad. Students prepare by learning to be more patient and to remain calm even in the most difficult situations. They should give themselves permission to fail at any time and not put pressure on themselves. Furthermore, scrupulous care is important. You should maintain a good team in your host and native country to ask for help or support at any time or situation. Finding people who are in the same situation as you can make almost any situation easier, and a team is always stronger than one person themselves. Overcoming homesickness is probably one of the hardest parts of alleviating culture shock. It can often be helpful to talk to family or friends or watch your favorite movie in the most urgent moments when you miss home. Another aspect is learning. Learning the language makes everything related to the host country much easier. Meeting natives, being independent, attending sports classes or