When you go to a foreign country for the first time, sooner or later you will run into an experience that evokes a feeling of disorientation. When such a feeling results in uncertainty, confusion, and worst of all, anxiety, you may find it hard to adjust to a new environment.
Don’t worry; this is what we call a “culture shock”, and with the right guidance, you can overcome it.
Culture shock can occur when people move to a new city or country, go on vacation, travel abroad, or go abroad for job or education opportunities. It is important to bear in mind that experiencing culture shock is either good or bad. In fact, culture shock is a normal experience that many people go through when moving or traveling abroad.
While people can be thrilled to be in their new environment, they may also become increasingly irritated as the initial excitement of being in a new environment wears off. This can result from misunderstanding other people’s actions, conversations, and ways of doing things. As a result, people can feel overwhelmed, especially if there is a language barrier.
For example, the exchange students from ICES Cambodia who are currently attending high school in the U.S., have also been exposed to culture shocks, which is generally unavoidable in the melting pot of North America.
“What shocks me the most is how open Americans are,” said Sonalen Saing, who is studying in Santa Fe High School, Oklahoma.
“They’re not afraid to be straightforward which makes me comfortable around them because I can speak my mind.”
Rathreacheany Samat from Fennimore High School in Wisconsin initially had a strange feeling about how open Americans are about dating, which is even a discussion topic between teacher and his or her students. Meanwhile, for Chealeang Ear, attending Mustang High School, the shock comes from the fact that American students can still manage to have part-time jobs despite their strong focuses on sports and extracurricular activities.
Fortunately, they have been hardly troubled by the differences, thanks to the preparation they acquired from ICES Cambodia, locally known as “Portal to the Outside World”.
ICES Cambodia has series of training before sending the students off to their study destinations. Culture shock is one of those topics.
“For the exchange students, they have the support of ICES Cambodia, Local Coordinators in the U.S., school counselors and host families who can help resolve challenges in adjusting to their new environment,” says Eun Lee, ICES Cambodia Senior International Relations Officer.
According to Lee, the trainer and a former exchange student herself, overcoming culture shock begins with being open-minded and learning about the new country to understand the reasons for cultural differences.
“Don’t get stuck in thoughts of home, constantly comparing it to the new surroundings,” she adds. “Be active and socialize with the locals and don’t be afraid to ask for advice and help.”

“You can also write a journal of your experiences, including the positive things about the new culture while talking about and sharing your cultural background with your new friends and community.”

At ICES Cambodia, ensuring the students have the best exchange year overseas is always the top priority because it is understood that any discomfort can ruin the whole experience. So don’t be afraid; come to sign up for the once-in-a-life-time adventure right now!
For more information on how you can high school abroad with ICES Cambodia, as well as the program fees and application process, please contact 061 924 141 or 098 686 901. To be eligible, you must pass the English Proficiency Test provided by ICES Cambodia and have a good academic record (Average “C” in main subjects for the past 3 years). Register now to take the English Test: https://forms.gle/3qifKLu79f4hx5uB7.