3. Reasons to come to the United States
Better educational opportunities
Better funding opportunities
More academic freedom
Expectations that U.S. degree would improve job opportunities in home
country
Desire to experience a new culture
Came with other family members who were motivated to move to the
U.S.
4. The culture shock
Culture shock is triggered by the anxiety that results from losing all
familiar signs and symbols of social intercourse. These signs are the
thousand and one ways in which we orient ourselves to the situations of
daily life: when to shake hands and what to say when we meet people,
when and how to give tips, how to make purchases, when to accept and
when to refuse invitations, when to take statements seriously and when
not.
5. Motivation to stay in the U.S.
Better job/career opportunities
Academic freedom
Higher economic standard of living
Higher “quality of life”
Ties to friends/family
Unwillingness of partner to leave US
Opportunities for children
Political situation
6. Disincentives to stay in the US
Feeling alienation from US culture
Different understanding of friendships in US
Different priorities in US (family vs. career)
Racist attitudes encountered in US (long hours, few vacation days)
Poorer economic standard of living/low wages
Poorer “quality of life” in US
7. Motivations to return to home country
Friends and family in home country
Family members in US who want to return
Better professional opportunities
Feeling more comfortable
Higher economic standard of living
Better “quality of life”
Political situation in home country
8.
9. Re-adjustment & Reverse Culture Shock
Reverse homesickness
Relationships have changed
You can’t explain
People misunderstand
Feeling of alienation
Boredom
