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Culture Shock - Frequently Asked Questions

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Q. I just arrived in Australia two weeks ago and feel very disoriented and upset. I thought coming to study in Australia would be a pleasant and exciting experience for me. What's wrong with me? Can you help me?

A. When you first arrive in a new country/culture, you might feel excitement and anticipation at first, but soon you can start to feel frustrated and overwhelmed by the differences between your home country and Australia. These feelings are due to anxiety that results from losing the familiar signs and ways of interactions in your home country. This experience is called "Cultural Shock', and if it persists for an extended period, I would recommend that you come to see one of the counsellors. It is important to know that experiencing cultural shock is normal, but it may be worth discussing your concerns further with a counsellor from the Student Development and Counselling service

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Q. I have been in Australia for three weeks. I am feeling quite flat and frustrated with the differences between my home country and Australia. A close friend of mine told me that I might be experiencing culture shock. If that's true, what should I do to overcome how I'm feeling? Can you give me some tips?

A. Your friend is probably right. When we arrive in a new country we do experience cultural shock when trying to adapt to all the changes and differences in the new culture. I will suggest some strategies for you below, however, if none of them work for you please come to see a counsellor.

Strategies:

  • Try to be positive, and not critical about the differences you experience between Australian culture and that of your home country.
  • Set goals, and try to stay busy.
  • Avoid isolating yourself with people from the same background. Try to make new friends and mix with people from different cultural backgrounds. This will help you feel more at home.
  • Avoid using stereotypes for people coming from different backgrounds.
  • Keep a sense of humour. When you make mistakes, don't be too hard on yourself and try to learn from them.
  • Have familiar things from your home country in your room.
  • Explore activities, hobies and clubs.
  • Familiarise yourself with your new surroundings and ask for help.
  • Be open and flexible to new experiences.
  • Keep in touch with family and friends back home.
  • Plan to visit home.

If none of the above strategies work, and you continue to feel homesick and negative (after 4-6 weeks), please come to see one of us at the Student Development and Counselling service.

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Q. I am international student from India. I am finding it very difficult to concentrate on my studies. The way they teach in Australia is very different to India and I am struggling to keep up with the work. I don't want to fail! I try to do the reading but I can't concentrate. I try to study late in the night when the house is quiet as there are 6 other people living there. But it is then difficult to get up in the morning and come to class. I like Australia but I really miss my parents. They have sacrificed so much for me to study here. I don't want to tell them about my difficulties. It is very hard for me. I am always tired and feel sick. What can I do?

A. It sounds like you are going through a very difficult time! It must be very hard to be away from your family and home environment. It seems that you may be suffering from culture shock, and this is interfering with your ability to study. Culture shock is when you are overwhelmed by the abrupt loss of everything that is familiar to you, such as your family, the way you study, the food, the climate etc. It is not uncommon to feel this way when you start living in a new country, however, it seems that it is really taking its toll on you. This is especially difficult when you would like to do well in your studies.

There may be a few things you could do to try and improve your situation:

  • Approach your teachers about some of your difficulties and ask them questions about the work. They are usually prepared to offer extra help if you go to them early.
  • If you are falling behind in work, approach the teachers and find out if you are able to apply for an extension of time to hand in assignments.
  • Talk to people in your class about the work and form a study group that meets outside of class time. This will help you with to get support with the work, as well help you in making friends.
  • Get moderate exercise three times a week, at approximately 30 minutes each time. Walking, swimming or team sports are some suggestions. This will help to improve your energy, moods and sleep routine.
  • Try to go to bed at a regular time every night and set your alarm to get up in the morning.
  • Do your homework in the library on campus so that you don’t have to wait until late at night at home for a quiet time.
  • Create a schedule to help you manage your time.
  • Go to the Swinburne Student Amenities Association (SSAA) and find out about the social club for Indian students.
  • Make an appointment to see one of the doctors on campus who will be able to do a medical assessment if you are feeling sick.
  • Make an appointment with a counsellor at Student Services for a confidential session to talk about your difficulties. Counselling is very helpful in being able to feel supported to work out ways to deal with your situation.

I hope that is some help to you. It’s great that you have contacted us to get help. The important thing is to know that you are able to get support, so that you do not feel alone in your situation. Please feel free to contact us again if you would like further help, or as mentioned, you can make an appointment at the Student Development and Counselling service.

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Q. I am an International Student and have been studying in Swinburne for a few months now... it’s been tough to cope up with the studies here and at times I get quite distressed, thinking ‘why did I opt for this course?’ and I end up wasting most of my time thinking about my future. It’s not that I do particularly badly in exams, but when I don’t get the results I want, I get really worked up and angry with myself.

I study the whole day and revise everything over and over again. Is this the best way of studying? Or should I choose some other way? When I was studying back home there were so many students involved in discussions and I didn’t find it as tough, but here everything is different.

I was also thinking about part-time work or getting a voluntary job. I had a voluntary job back home. I don’t mind doing volunteer work because I love helping people, but when it comes to the communication skills required, I have a lot of trouble. I don’t know whether working or volunteering would be a good thing as I have some academic qualifications, but not much work experience. If I did get a job, it might distract me from my distress as well. If I do want to get a volunteering job, how do I go about it?

A. It sounds like you're not coping well in your present studies and that you are facing a lot of stress in the different study culture you have experienced back home and in Australia. It's normal to experience this sort of cultural shock when you arrive in a new country, however, I would recommend that you speak to someone at the Careers & Employment service on your campus, and consider seeing a counsellor at Student Development & Counselling to discuss the issue of working and studying at the same time and different study methods you could try.

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