Achieving Success @ UWA Help for International Students managing Cultural Transition & Adjustment

1. Achieving Success @ UWAHelp for International Students managing Cultural Transition & Adjustment SkillshopAndrew Duirs : Counselling, Student Support

2. Skillshop - Info • Andrew Duirs • Psychologist • Counselling & Psychological Services, Student Support • 9-1045am • Please ask questions

3. INTRODUCTIONS Where are you from? What faculty are you in? What do you do to relax?

4. “The process of moving from one culture, location, experience, place of work, lifestyle or state of health to another” “The emotional, psychological and physical adaptation to new experiences, relationships and environments” “A learning and developmental process” Transition & Adjustment

5. Age related development child/teenager/adult/aging Moving house Relationships infatuation/serious bf-gf/marriage School to University Having children Moving jobs Interstate or international Holidays Transition & Adjustment - Experiences

6. Transition & Adjustment - Phases • Honeymoon period • Culture Shock • Transition Stress • Recovery & Adjustment • Adaptation & Enjoyment

7. What do you like about Perth so far? • What are you enjoying about UWA? • What interesting things and places have you discovered? • What experiences might you find it difficult to explain to your parents or family back home? • Have you done anything that might surprise, shock or concern your friends or family back home? • How many potential gf or bf have you noticed around the place?

8. Optimistic I can handle anything Life in Perth is going to be fantastic I am so lucky Excitement I can’t wait to try the new things and experiences here Intrigue there are lots of similarities and differences between the new culture and my home culture High motivation everything is so interesting I’m going to study English even more Phase1- Honeymoon period

9. BUT Superficial ‘tourist-like’ involvement in the host culture

10. Phase 2 - Culture Shock “Culture shock is the physical and emotional discomfort of being in a foreign country, another culture, an unfamiliar place, or all three. Culture shock occurs when many things in your new environment are unfamiliar – the language, the telephone system, people’s mannerisms, etc. The adjustment to new surroundings can be stressful, frustrating, or just plain confusing.”

11. Everyone experiences cultural shock It is normal to feel overwhelmed and frustrated Remember: Cultural adjustment is a transition process Cultural shock is a stage of cultural adjustment

12. Culture SHOCK • My way v Your way • Familiar way of thinking & doing things (MY culture) • Another way of thinking or doing things (THEIR culture)

13. Greetings

14. Morality & Gender

15. Foods

16. Transport

17. Cultural focus

19. Cooking

20. When experiencing culture shock you will experience some sense of disorientation and be tempted to try and avoid everything and everyone that is different You will also be tempted to judge people and things that are different as bad or foolish This is when Culture Shock can lead to Transition Stress BUT remember Transition Stress is also a phase of your transition and adjustment to your new environment

21. Novelty wears off Notice cultural differences everywhere Make critical comparisons with own culture Stereotypes and prejudices surface Differences appear when least expected Small differences feel like major catastrophes Frustration grows Withdrawal Cultural SHOCK Transition STRESS

22. Transition Stress - Symptoms • Changes in eating & sleeping habits • Acute homesickness - calling home more often • Hostility towards host country/culture – always critical • Irritability, sadness, depression • Frequent frustration; being easily angered • Self doubts; sense of failure • Recurrent illness • Withdrawing from friends or other people and/or activities

23. Constant complaints about the climate Continual excuses for staying indoors Utopian ideas concerning one's previous culture Continuous concern about the purity of water and food Fear of touching local people Refusal to learn the language Preoccupation about being robbed or cheated Preoccupation with returning home Transition Stress - Extreme

24. Withdrawal from lectures and tutorials Not completing assignments or course work Not participating in social activities Taking up unhealthy ‘stress relief’ strategies Alcohol, drugs Controlling, dependent or promiscuous relationships Spending money they don’t have Not taking care of health & wellbeing Not asking for help Transition stress & students

25. What was stressful about preparing to come to UWA? What was stressful about getting to Perth? What has been stressful about starting Uni? How have you noticed other people experiencing stress?

26. Recovery • Less lows & more highs • Increased familiarity with the new culture, its logic and values • Increased sense of humour & recognition that you like parts of the new culture better than that of home • Deeper understanding • More ease with life • Questioning earlier assumptions about self & capabilities, and the world around you • Creative interaction with the new culture that includes a willingness embrace new ideas and practices

27. Decide to make the most of your experience Realise that what you are going through is normal - its normal to experience stressful days and a surge in emotions while you adjust Understand stages of cultural adjustment Keep in touch with your family & friends Take care of yourself – health & wellbeing Talk to someone – friends, faculty, student support Have fun and relax Improve your cultural and language skills Adaptation strategies 1

28. Adaptation Strategies 2 • Everyone adapts in different ways • Remember what normally helps you manage stress and try to incorporate these things into your daily life abroad • Identify new ways of thinking positively and managing stress • Remember its easy to misinterpret situations in new environments and when under stress • Develop good social supports • Get involved – Make new friends

29. Skills for being adaptable • Open mindedness • Sense of humour • Viewing failure or mistakes as learning opportunities • Communication • Flexibility • Curiosity • Positive outlook • Realistic expectations • Tolerance and pride of differences • Positive regard for others • Strong sense of self

30. Honeymoon period Culture Shock Transition Stress Recovery & Adjustment Adaptation & Enjoyment Review

31. Discuss content of this course Share experiences Support each other Ask questions Take time out Relax Eat Tim Tams Skillshop Discussion Group

33. More help http://www.studentservices.uwa.edu.au/ss/learning http://www.transition.uwa.edu.au/welcome/uniskills http://www.studentservices.uwa.edu.au/ss/disability http://www.studentservices.uwa.edu.au/ss/counselling UniAccess - Disability Office Level the playing field Show your abilityAchieve success UWA Counselling & Psychological Service Supporting student wellbeing and academic success

34. COME TO A SKILLSHOP http://www.studentservices.uwa.edu.au/ss/counselling/services_for_students/skillshops

35. Please fill out the evaluation form before you leave See you at the next Skillshop Thankyou