Culture shock is one of the most exhausting experiences an individual faces when moving to a new location. In this week's journal I will talk about my experience with culture shock, how I overcame it and compare my journey to the Expatriate Adjustment model. I had to endure this feeling several times before coming to London and Hult. Since we moved often as a family, I very often had to get used to the new environment. Every time I encountered a new environment, mixed feelings emerged. Some might call these experiences “mini culture shocks,” since they were not caused by a cultural change. The differences were only subcultural in nature, since we moved within Bavaria. The real culture shock, with all its effects, came when I moved to the United States and, more recently, to London. The symptoms I can identify with the most are isolation, irritability and homesickness. I had to subject myself to each of these on a weekly, if not daily, basis. Being irritated is one of the most common symptoms for me. This is not a surprise, since people's norms and behaviors change not only from country to country, but also from region to region. This creates confusion, as people approach many aspects of life differently. It didn't take long to make friends after arriving in the United States; nor did it take long to realize the big differences. I was invited to a Thanksgiving gathering. I met many kind people and got along very well with them. Before leaving their home, I was invited to go ice fishing with them in the winter. They promised to call me as soon as possible. Needless to say, people never contacted me and so I never went ice fishing. This experience left me irritated. If a Germa...... middle of paper...... expected me first. Time didn't help my culture shock phase either. Strangely enough, the climate in Germany is even worse, because it is even colder. The most significant factor that contributed to that phase was the fact that I miss my family and friends. Two weeks ago, I noticed an improvement in my entire situation. Now I'm almost completely settled, I know the ins and outs of London a little better and so I've started to appreciate my new situation. This is why I would put myself at the beginning of the gradual adjustment phase. I realize that these stages need to be addressed more than once. They will definitely come and go again and again. In my opinion it is important to have symptoms of culture shock. Not only does it help you appreciate the little things you've always taken for granted, but it also serves to remind you of your love for your family and culture.