You will have to "survive" mostly on your own. Getting used to it, delving into it, understanding that the people around you are not at all eccentrics trying to do everything the opposite, but very normal people – only foreigners. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, - says an English proverb. Needless to say, it applies not only to Rome…
Educational institutions are well aware of the difficulties that await foreign students. And they try to help them as much as possible. For this purpose, there are various departments and organizations – in particular, international offices working with foreigners, unions of foreign students, where newcomers are supported in every way. In addition, many universities – especially American and Australian, but also British – have special introductory orientation courses for those who have come from distant countries. Such a course usually lasts a short time – from three days to a week. What can be accomplished in such a period? It turns out, a lot.
The Technology of Adaptation
Programs of this type are held a few days before the start of classes – if the academic year begins in September, then somewhere at the end or in the middle of August. Attending them is not mandatory, but advisable. And, by the way, they are often attended even by people who are not in the country of study for the first time. After all, it is one thing to be a carefree tourist, or even to attend classes at a language school that, generally speaking, oblige you to nothing. And quite another to receive a higher education.
The orientation program can consist of various activities. They necessarily include an introduction to all the possibilities of the campus; you will be taken on several "excursions": to the library, to computer labs, to dormitories, etc. They will also show you the city where you will study, shops, and teach you how to deal with some everyday problems. In some universities, for example, at the famous Yale, newcomers from abroad are given the opportunity to hang out with students during the orientation week: go on picnics, play football and other games, go to the movies… Why include such frivolous things in the orientation course? On the contrary, it is very serious: nothing relieves wariness and stress as much as pleasant communication. Especially for young people. Moreover, you are communicating with the same foreigners who a year or two ago were also lonely, confused, scared… And today, calm and confident, they share their experience with newcomers and feel at home in the huge university.
It must be said that for many students undergoing the orientation course, it is precisely this part – communication – that seems most useful. Although, of course, the benefits of other activities cannot be overstated.
Thus, it is during the orientation session that you can become acquainted with the peculiarities of national bureaucracy, which you will inevitably have to face. In particular, these are issues of visas, immigration rules, work rights, taxes, driver's licenses, insurance, relations with the police. After all, you will agree, it is better to know about all this in advance than to later encounter unpleasant surprises. And precisely unpleasant, because you cannot expect anything else from officials, regardless of the country. Of course, you will have all the necessary information in writing – each newly arrived student is given a so-called "welcome package" where everything is written. But you will agree, rather than reading it ten times, it is better to be led "by the hand" through all the authorities once.
From Scholarships to Cheat Sheets
In some universities, during the orientation session, you will be offered to take a test in the language of instruction. The results will show whether you can immediately plunge into the academic process or whether you need to take a remedial language course. And, of course, the program organizers will be ready to answer any of your questions regarding the university, campus, and studies.
Of course, there is no single standard for conducting orientation programs at different educational institutions – they are united only by a common goal. For example, at the British Middlesex University (London), they consider it necessary to tell newcomers about the British education system, about the cultural characteristics of the British, and also to take them on excursions around London, to Brighton, and to a disco on a river steamer sailing along the Thames. At another English university – Bournemouth University – they will also pay much attention to the education system. And also give useful advice – how to properly manage time, how to establish relations with a tutor, how to study independently, "without babysitting." This course is especially recommended for students from non-EU countries – because it is they who will find many British realities particularly unfamiliar.
And at the Canadian University of Calgary, the topics of the orientation course include, among others, information about loans and scholarships, student exchange programs, the most important rules adopted at the university, life off campus, differences in the education systems of different countries. The last topic includes issues of language, learning goals, teaching style, as well as intellectual honesty: the permissibility or impermissibility of hints, cheat sheets, and plagiarism. In addition, newcomers are told what culture shock is and how to deal with it. This is not at all superfluous. After all, a short orientation program will help you solve only some problems. You will have to deal with the rest as you go along and on your own.
Free Swimming
Psychologists distinguish four stages of intercultural adaptation. The first – "honeymoon" – is a kind of "neophyte euphoria," delight that your dream has come true, that you are surrounded by so much new and interesting. Even if you don't understand something – at first you just nod happily and smile: no big deal, I'll figure it out later...
But later, alas, «misunderstandings» accumulate. And the «honeymoon» turns into a stage of permanent «family quarrel» - a hostile attitude towards everything around. Absolutely everything irritates! Both college, and the tiresome necessity to communicate in a foreign language, and «stupid» foreigners, and food, and weather, and the landscape outside the window… This period is quite dangerous. The most nervous may even develop ailments – insomnia, lack of appetite, fears. Needless to say, academic problems begin precisely at this stage?
But the main thing is to understand: all this is temporary. And your sense of humor should help you – the best medicine for cultural shock. Well, look, they are terribly funny, these Americans or Canadians! Didn't understand each other? No problem – laughed together, and figured it out. And besides, you already have some friends, and together it's always more fun… This is the third stage of adaptation – the «humorous» one, after which, if everything goes right, comes the last: the «home» stage. When everything falls into place and you finally feel at home in a foreign country. And although you realize that many things here are arranged differently than in your homeland, you calmly and confidently navigate foreign realities.
What to do to cope with the stage of hostility? Communicate, and again communicate, psychologists advise. With compatriots, with «natives», with students from «third» countries. And also – join a club or student society, find an interesting activity that will distract from sad thoughts. The sooner you adapt, the more successfully you will study.