Despite the opinions of many, the immigration experience is not universal. Aspects such as personal circumstances, socioeconomic profile, language, and cultural background profoundly impact the cultural integration process. African immigrants don’t experience the same as Latin American ones. In turn, Somali immigrants have a different journey from Cote d’Ivoire ones. Even within the same country, two stories won’t be the same.
But as it happens with everything, there is nuance. Despite these differences, sociologists and anthropologists noticed certain common factors that seem to be nearly universal. As such, they have determined that the cultural adjustment process of an immigrant takes place on four (4) different stages.
The first stage, often called Honeymoon, involves feelings of excitement and optimism upon arriving in your new home. Afterward, Hostility usually takes place after cultural shock settles in and the first signs of adversity develop, creating a sense of anger and hopelessness. The third stage, Humor, begins after you have started to understand the culture and catch the nuance of situations that used to cause distress, therefore demonstrating adjustment. At last, the Home stage signals the completion of the cultural integration journey. It takes place when you finally feel a sense of belonging within the new country.
As a general rule, most expats will experience these stages, although always in different timeframes and lengths—some may go through them in months, and some can take years. The key to success is to understand each stage, the appropriate measures to confront it and develop the tools to move forward until you feel at home.
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