Do Exchange Students Change? Ben jij veranderd? August 2005

Do Exchange Students Change?Do Exchange Students Change?

Ben jij veranderd?Ben jij veranderd?

August 2005August 2005

from your place to this countryfrom your place to this country

Cultural Exchange ProgramCultural Exchange Program

Culture: set of values Culture: set of values

Another culture is not a false copy of your cultureAnother culture is not a false copy of your culture

Culture - Has to do with languageCulture - Has to do with language

Dutch Orientation CourseDutch Orientation Course

Hoe goed begrijp jij ons nu? Hoe goed begrijp jij ons nu?

Wat betekent:Wat betekent:

VerzuipenVerzuipen

drinken in drinken in buitenlandbuitenland

ofofverdrinkenverdrinken

Values

Individualism/Privacy vs Group’s Welfare

Values

Personal Control over the situation vs Fate Directness/Openness/Honesty

vs Indirectness/Ritual/”Face”

Time & Its Control vs Human Interaction

Informality vs Formality

Values

Competition vs Cooperation Competition vs Cooperation

Practicality/Efficiency vs Idealism Practicality/Efficiency vs Idealism

ChangeChange vs vs Tradition Tradition

But: Most values are subconcious But: Most values are subconcious and no part of our daily awareness and no part of our daily awareness

Have you seen differences between “home and here”?

Have you adapted to cope with those differences?

Definition of Adaptation?

Developing skills at a different cultural practice in order to function effectively in that culture.

Most of you have adapted!!Most of you have adapted!!

after several stages of

Culture Shock

The sense of disorientation and discomfort that comes living in a foreign culture markedly different from one’s own.

Culture shock ??Culture shock ??

Culture Shock CycleCulture Shock Cycle

Pre-Departure

Months

Normal Level of Feelings

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Return …...

Adapted from a model by Robert Kohls

you,now?

Do you remember those phases in this year?

Culture Shock CycleCulture Shock Cycle

Pre-Departure

Months

Normal Level of Feelings

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Return …...

Adapted from a model by Robert Kohls

?

When you were adapted: When you were adapted:

when you go back you may when you go back you may have to cope with have to cope with culture shock stages culture shock stages like in this year,like in this year,

but that is unexpected because but that is unexpected because you go to YOUR HOMEyou go to YOUR HOME

Reverse culture shock

Reverse Culture Shock (Re-entry Shock)Reverse Culture Shock (Re-entry Shock)

The often unexpected and difficult period of disorientation and readjustment ......

experienced after returning to one’s own culture after an extended period of living abroad.

Very few people believe they will experience reverse culture shock

You can prepare for re-entry by: You can prepare for re-entry by:

Anticipating Reverse Culture Shock.Anticipating Reverse Culture Shock.

““Normalizing” these phenomena.Normalizing” these phenomena.– you are not “special” you are not “special” – find peers with similar experience find peers with similar experience

(ROTEX)(ROTEX) considering that you may have changed: considering that you may have changed:

For many of you this year was For many of you this year was The most exciting year of your live.The most exciting year of your live. The most challenging year of your live.The most challenging year of your live. The most growth-producing year of your The most growth-producing year of your

live.live. The most broadening year of your live.The most broadening year of your live. The most memorable year of your live.The most memorable year of your live.

If you talk much about these experiences you will notice that your audience will turn away from you,this happens everywhere.

Tell your story to one friend at a time, point to point, so that you can tell it many times to different friends.

You may miss your hostparents You may miss your hostparents and friends in the Netherlands and friends in the Netherlands

even your bike and the weathereven your bike and the weatherand and

maybe, most of all, you will miss maybe, most of all, you will miss your exchange friendsyour exchange friends

Like in this year,Like in this year,you will feel lonesome somedays you will feel lonesome somedays and not understood.and not understood.

But, tomorrow is another day!!“Het komt goed”

Be an ambassador for this program

after some time you will recognize the benefits of this experience

In an AFS study it was shown that participants in exchange programs score higher in:

understanding other culturesinternational awarenesscritical thinkingnon-materialismindependence and responsibility for selfawareness and appreciation of home country and host country

the following traits

Stay well !!Stay well !!

keep in touch with each other

Help to make the world smaller