Adjusting to Life in the United States
Whatever your purpose is for your visit to the United States, it should include learning more about the United States and its people. If you take the opportunity to meet as many people and see as much of the country as you can, you will find yourself on a journey of discovery.
But what should you expect?
The first thing you should expect is that living in the United States is not much like what you may have seen on television or in the movies. Many of these depictions of life in the United States are not very accurate, so prepare to be surprised.
For many visitors, the pace of life is the most confusing aspect of American life. Everyone seems to be in a rush, especially in the cities; people are always hurrying to get somewhere and may be abrupt in their behavior. People in this country generally assume that others are competitive and self-sufficient; still, most will stop and help you if you let them know that you need assistance.
Most Americans are quite informal. Despite the relaxed talk, frequent use of people’s first names, and the rhetoric of equality for all, rank and status are important for people across the United States. Some visitors find it helpful to treat people in authority formally until they are invited to be more casual.
The United States is a very large country and consequently there are many differences in attitudes and behavior, even among citizens. For example, people in Atlanta may behave differently than people from New York.
The Four Stages of Cultural Adjustment
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The Honeymoon Stage is characterized by exhilaration, anticipation, and excitement at the newness of everything. The visitors are eager to please and will often smile and nod to indicate understanding when in fact they have not understood certain things. When misunderstandings mount, one moves into the second stage. |
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The Hostility Stage is characterized by frustration and anger, fear and anxiety, and sometimes depression. University bureaucracy and continuously speaking and listening to English begin to take its toll. This is a difficult stage but lasts for a short time. As international visitors learn how to resolve the various situations, they move into the next stage |
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The Humor Stage occurs when people are feeling comfortable and relaxed in the new environment. One can now smile and laugh at one’s mistakes and misunderstandings. In doing so, one is able to obtain required information and feel a sense of accomplishment at managing the complexities of U.S. daily life. |
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The Home Stage occurs when one feels at home in the U.S. culture while retaining their allegiance to their home culture. One has successfully adjusted to the norms of the new environment and has acquired the ability to live in both cultures successfully. |