culture shock

 As an international student, this chapter is really interesting because I have dealt with many of the issues that are being presented in the book. One of the most interesting and relatable one for me is culture shock. the book defines culture shock as “a feeling of disorientation experienced when encountering communicative events disruptive of one’s experienced routine” (156). I lived in Indonesia until I graduated from high school in 2013. I then went to Seattle for college couple of months after graduating from high school. Although everything was very different there in Seattle, I managed to still feel at home because there are many Indonesians there so we always hung out together and it didn't feel like I left Indonesia. We always talked in Indonesian there and I did not really have any foreign friends. Coming here, however, it is so very different from Indonesia and Seattle. When I first came here, I didn't know anyone. It was strange because I never been anywhere without Indonesians. Luckily, I managed to make friends with Americans and few international student. However, everything is different because the way we talk is different. I have to adapt in order for me to be able to communicate effectively with them. I knew that I have to have a good eye contact when talking to Americans but I never really talked to Americans before I came here. Knowing the theory is very different from doing it. I am used to it now and able to communicate freely with my American friends. I learn many new things from culture shock. Some of them used to make me home sick but once I adapt, I feel comfortable with it.