I had earlier mentioned that among the things a student needs to tackle as he waits for his departure is the culture shock awaiting him. Going anywhere for the first time usually leaves one rather lonely, as many things appear new. He therefore needs to learn as much as possible about the new country and its people before the departure date arrives. This will give him a good idea of what to expect and how to deal with it. After he has actually traveled to his new country, the student will get some help from his institution as the universities normally conduct orientation sessions for foreign students.
To fight off creeping loneliness, he will need to keep in contact with those at home as well as interact with those he will meet through the international student office. Relatives who are already in the United States will be of great help. Let him try to avoid being aloof.
The country with its culture will be new, but let him not think that he has to change everything. He should continue with some of his routine practices, although he may need to adapt them to the new environment. He will without doubt find people with similar interests with whom he will start to keep company. This is in addition to learning new experiences that help him fit in the new community. He should be positive. He should go with some things that will let him continue enjoying his favorite hobbies such as DVDs and books.
Wherever someone goes to in this world, there will be those who discriminate. If he encounters such people, the student should not despair or over-react. If any situation threatens to get too much for him, he can seek help from psychological counseling center maintained by the university - there is usually one.
These days we are very exposed to the western culture so I don't think culture shock is a big problem. Sometimes other western cultures are amazed how progressive we are in our thinking esp in the larger cities like Delhi and Mumbai.
Turn on your TV and all you see is Friends, Sienfeld, MTV, etc. etc. Also the Indian shows Indian Idol, Nach Baliye are all based on western shows so our culture is slowly being westernized...
This is a another great example of why programs like AFS, AISEC and others are so important because they help bridge that cultural divide at a very young age and provide tremendous learning experiences in the process.
Today, these are programs are more accessible and affordable and students should be encouraged to participate in such opportunities.
