Culture adaption is principally the long-term process of adjusting to and finally feeling comfortable in a new environment.
Language differences, distinct speech patterns, and physical characteristics play a salient role in determining compatibility and subsequent communication with host nationals. Additional differences to be spanned in the adaption process include verbal and nonverbal behaviors, rules and norms of social engagement, economic and political ideology, and religious beliefs, ceremonies, and rituals.
The stages of intercultural adaptation are important to consider when drawing
connections to social media use. The four stages are honeymoon, crisis, adjustment, and biculturalism. During the honeymoon stage people experience initial euphoria with being abroad in a different country. The crisis stage consists of hostility and frustration with living in an unfamiliar culture. Then there is gradual adjustment and recovery, and biculturalism is the full adjustment and adaptation. According to Kohls (2001), culture shock is the “psychological disorientation most people experience when they move for an extended period of time into a culture different from their own.” Culture shock is a distress that everyone feels during intercultural adaptation that can influence their communication and behavior.
In addition, communication is an important feature in this intercultural process. Having as much knowledge possible about the host culture and intercultural process
influences the adjustment and emotions.
Thinking globally has become such an integral part of our lives in today’s globalizing society as we have become more interconnected and interdependent with cultures around the world
Subject: Adaptation and acculturation 
Thu Apr 24, 2014 8:00 am
