Having a Comfort Zone for Success

Some people are reluctant to leave their comfort zone where they can speak mother tongue or talk to their family. However, nowadays, why are many foreign students leaving their comfort zone, and coming to the USA  for study?  Although studying abroad  usually causes culture shocks, some aspiring students who passed the adjustment period can improve their lives because they can learn another culture and language effectively; moreover, they can make friends world-wide.  Especially, in this article, a Chinese journalist, Liu Zongren, who spent two years living and studying in Chicago will be criticized.

The Chinese student, liu, is experiencing culture shock. Because of this displeasure experience he almost gives up and goes back to China although later he decides to  study.  According to W curve  of the adjustment process, he has just entered initial adjustment stage.

W curve: Beyond Language by D. Levine and M. Adelmm, PP. 198-199, Prentics-Hall, inc., 1982.

Lie describes in detail culture shock in American home and school.  He missed his wife and child and feels depressed.  For instance, some energetic, merry young American students provoke his to have generation gap and cause extreme homesickness and grief.  Also, one day, he is, tempted to speak out in class.  Unfortunately,  his question is ignored by his professor.  Liu is furious at being treated so shabbily by American professor.  Therefore, he is frustrated the host culture.  This culture shock is common to who left home country.  For me, honeymoon stage was very long.  Everything is new and exciting.  In particular, Disney Land captured my mind.  I was font of huge land, romantic beaches and sweet, affectionate people.  After two months,  I was experiencing homesickness and was think of what each of family members are doing at this hour.  Sometimes, I was dreaming that I was still in Korea with my family. 

Even though studying abroad will induce culture shock, there are a number of foreign students overcome it and accomplishes their dream in the USA.  According to Liu, the passes culture shock and penetrates initial adjustment period. He feels hopefulness and have ability to perform well with his country’s people.  Although he is still missing ?back home,? feeling somewhat connected to people in new culture.  Despite his new adjustment which makes his much more comfortable that before, he realizes where he would find the chance to speck English when leaving Mcknights’ home.  That is true.  He gave up his good opportunity to learn English and host culture because missing his comfort zone.  On the country, many foreign students who has their strong aim and wants to learn host culture spontaneously are trying to involve  American meeting, find American friends instead of looking for home country’s people. For example, when I came to Unites States at first, I was very ambitious to achieve my goal.  Fortunately, I met someone who was eager to learn new culture.   As the result,   we was had a opportunity to spoken each other in English although we were same nationality.  Whenever I had I chance to meet American I had never hesitated.  Moreover, I could have American host family who have taught American culture  and helped me like my parents.  For me, it took six months to adjust a new culture due to my enterprising behavior and many host country’s people.  

There are another advantages as well as achieving   one’s goal.  One can learn new culture, language and make friends from another country.  As Liu admitted that the language used in daily life was quite different form that used in books, many phrases used in daily conversation can be learned only trough exposure to an situation in which native speakers speak one constantly.  According to recent studies, one who lives with host country’s family can receive more input form native speaker than one who lives oneself  or with home country’s people do.   In addition, culture such as proper manners or body languages is taken for granted by the person in his own country, so it is required to learn if he goes overseas.  For example, when one wave hand, it implies homosexual in the USA while it indicates summons n Korea.  Moreover, the biggest merit of studying abroad is giving a chance to make friends world-wild.  Thus, one can learn their culture and establish a deep friendship step by step.

Life is challenge!   For Liu, studying abroad brought his travail culture shock; nevertheless, it help students make better lives since they can learn a new culture, and language; besides, they can make various international friends.