Adjusting to Living and Studying in the US

Adjusting to college life outside of your home country is difficult. Homesickness and adaptation is a natural reaction of your body to this change. Its effect can be amplified by a sudden change of your time zone.

You should expect to experience waves of emotion as on the graph below. The period from Honeymoon to Adjustment typically takes 4-12 weeks. During the Conflict / Culture Shock phase you will be unhappy, irritable, anxious and uncomfortable.

Graph depicting the psychological adjustment curve when adapting to a new culture, showing phases from Honeymoon, Conflict/Culture Shock, Recovery, to Adjustment. The curve illustrates the emotional highs and lows experienced during entry to a host culture and returning to the home culture.

Visit the Counseling Center at Whitman College if you need help dealing with culture shock or other mental health issues.