Adjustment & Community

The Honeymoon stage signifies the start of your adventure. It represents both excitement and anxiety about your new experience – like attending your first American football game or living with a roommate. Everything feels new, interesting, and full of possibility. During this time, you may also begin to feel a growing sense of autonomy and independence as you live on your own for the first time. The excitement and novelty of the experience often outweighs any initial challenges or homesickness during this stage of adjustment.

After the initial excitement wears off, you may enter the Culture Shock stage. During this phase, you might begin to notice differences between your expectations and the reality of life in the U.S. You may feel frustrated or tired from not understanding new cultural norms, academic expectations, or social cues. Homesickness, loneliness, and changes to your eating or sleeping habits are also common as you adjust.

For example, living with new roommates or being on your own – while exciting at first – may eventually become challenging. You might struggle to adapt to your new surroundings or find that sharing space with others is more difficult than you anticipated.

During the Initial Adjustment stage, you may begin to feel more comfortable and capable of managing daily life in your new environment. You might start to settle into a routine, build new habits, and learn how to navigate campus with greater ease. As you feel more comfortable and in control of your daily life, you may also become more confident in handling academic and social situations at school.

For example, if you’re living with a roommate, this might be the time when you establish shared expectations for cleaning, quiet hours, or dividing expenses. 

During the Mental Isolation stage, you may begin to feel disconnected from your surroundings or emotionally removed from others. You might be missing home and also not feel completely at home in your new environment. It’s not uncommon to feel lonely or depressed and find yourself avoiding social and academic situations. You might also notice changes in your eating and sleeping habits or question your decision to come to the university.

For example, you may find your beliefs and values being challenged and feel like you are losing your cultural identity. Global events back home may also make you feel more isolated from the people around you.

Mental isolation is common, and it’s something many students experience. If you’re feeling isolated, remember that it’s okay to ask for help. The university has many resources to help you get through this stage.

The Acceptance and Integration stage is when you begin to feel truly settled in your new environment. This might look like being a part of student groups on campus, making deep connections with new friends, and feeling like the U of A is your home away from home. You might also feel more independent and less reliant on family and friends back home. At this stage, you may feel less like an outsider and develop a deeper sense of belonging in your new community.

At International Student Services, you have access to your own life management counselor who can support a variety of mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, homesickness, and academic or financial stress.

Counseling services offered through ISS are:

• Confidential
• Paid for by the International Student Fee (no additional costs for F-1 or J-1 students)
• Usually available within one to two weeks

In addition to ISS services, Counseling & Psych Services (CAPS) offers counseling, workshops, peer groups, crisis support, and short-term psychiatry. They can also connect students with long-term community resources.

Drop-in services are available Monday–Friday, 8:00-4:30 pm at both CAPS clinic locations.

CAPS charges a fee for counseling, but many of their other services are free.

For Additional Support:

• Site-Based Counseling
• Crisis Support