This document discusses some of the major cultural shocks one may experience when studying abroad, including: 1. Language barriers, as the spoken language as well as body language and gestures differ across cultures. 2. Differences in concepts of time, as some cultures place more emphasis on punctuality than others. 3. Variations in holidays and celebrations observed in different countries, which can make people feel homesick. 4. Disparity in norms around dress and appropriate attire based on location and weather. 5. Adjusting to new types of food after losing easy access to familiar local cuisine. Studying abroad thus involves adapting to changes in many cultural aspects of daily life.

1. Prepared By: Banwan Ali Karim
University College Of Goizha Fourth Year Of English Department
Culture shock

2. Definition
Cultural shock is the trauma you experience when we move into a culture
different from your home culture.
Can be defined as the fear a person goes through when he or she leaves a
familiar culture to experiencing a new culture or living in a new
environment. It’s the feeling of being lost in an unfamiliar and unsettling
environment that bears no resemblance to your own country and culture.

3. 6 Culture Shocks You May Face When Studying Abroad
1. Language
If you decide to study in Africa, depending on the area you may have to speak
English, French or the local language. Most North African countries speak
French or Arabic. If you decide to study in South America, you may have to
learn Spanish or Portuguese. In addition, if you decide to study in Europe you
might have to learn the local language, which differs from one country to the
other. The spoken language is not the only difference when referring to
language.

4. 2. Body Language
Another type is body language, which refers to the way people interact with each other.
This is different in every culture. For example, in the Middle East it is normal for men to
greet each other with kisses on the cheek. This is always a major shock for foreigners who
see this for the first time! In countries such as the UK and US, locals do not generally
engage in greetings where such familiar touching is involved. Body language also
includes gestures, which have different meanings in different countries. For example, in
the UK a thumbs up sign means "OK" but in Greece this is an insult.

5. 3. Time
Another behavior that also differs is the concept of time. Time means
different things to different countries. Time refers to whether people are
punctual or not. UK is known for its punctuality. When someone says be
there at 10:00 a.m., they mean 10:00 a.m. exactly. Not 10.30 a.m. or 11:00
a.m.

6. 4. Celebrations And Holidays
Moreover, there is another factor to culture shock. This may surprise you,
but not all countries celebrate all holidays. This can cause you to feel
homesick. For example, in Malaysia, there are holidays given for
celebrations of Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Christmas and Eid. However,
there are countries that do not give public holidays for these events and you
might have to go to university. This may make you miss home even more.

7. 5. Dress for Culture and Weather
Additionally, when living in a foreign country you may need to consider
what is appropriate or inappropriate. Some areas require you to wear
conservative clothes, such as Saudi Arabia. Living in a foreign country may
require you to experience different types of weather. Some areas experience
extremely cold weather such as Europe, U.K, some states in U.S. which
would require you to wear bulky and heavy clothes for winter.

8. 6. Food
Lastly, another cultural shock that most people go through is the loss of
ones’ local food. Food is an important part of culture and home. Everyone
loves his or her home and local food. Moving to a new country may make it
harder for you to get your favorites.

9. Thanks for listening!