What Culture Shock Is

Culture shock is a natural emotional response to living in an unfamiliar environment, and it happens in four predictable stages:

1. Honeymoon Stage — excitement, curiosity, and joy
2. Shock Stage — frustration with systems, accents, pace of life
3. Adjustment Stage — slow understanding of routines and expectations
4. Integration Stage — confidence and emotional stability

Common Feelings

• Confusion about social norms
• Feeling tired even after sleeping
• Missing home and familiar foods
• Difficulty following different accents
• Questioning decisions ("Did I make the right choice?")

Why This Is Normal

Your brain is processing new:

• Language patterns
• Systems (NHS, buses, universities)
• Currencies
• Relationships
• Climate

This overwhelms your cognitive and emotional capacity.

Reflection Exercise

Write down:

• 3 things you find different
• 3 things you enjoy
• 3 challenges you want to work on