When you're away from the people, traditions, foods, language and environment that you are used to, it's natural that you will feel a little overwhelmed - we call this culture shock, and culture shock can be rough! Here are a few tips for how adjust to your new surroundings:

1. Be aware that culture shock is bound to happen! You may hit a time where you just aren't feeling like yourself, and this is probably it.

2. Be curious about your new location. The best way to feel less shocked it by exploring your new world.

3. Make a friend. Sometimes it takes just one person to make you feel just a little bit at home. Having someone to talk to takes away a surprising amount of the stress of moving to a new country.

4. Don't be afraid to ask for help! People can often surprise you - if you ask for help, they will probably be curious about you, your country, and where you are from, in addition to telling you about themselves.

5. Keep up with your friends and family at home with a quick email or Skype conversation.

6. Realize that some things about your new life are just different, and maybe even hard. Try to embrace them!

7. Try new foods. One of the most fun things about being in a different countries is the food that you would never have seen at home.

8. And finally, learn patience. Be patient with yourself and also with the new things around you. Before long, your new country will feel like home.

Coming to a new country comes with an assortment of new surprises. Students coming from abroad to study in the United States will be getting used to a whole new lifestyle of different foods, different accents from around the country, different fashion trends, and lots of different new slang. To help you fit right in with your new classmates, we have compiled a list of words that you most likely won't have found in your English textbooks...

Campus Lingo

Ace - To do very well, receive the grade of an “A”. Example: “I feel like I aced my math test!”
All-Nighter - To put off studying until the night before an exam or deadline. Example: “John pulled an all-nighter to get his paper finished.”
B.A. or B.S. - B.A. stands for “Bachelor of Arts” and B.S. stands for “Bachelor of Science”. Both degrees can be earned
at four-year colleges.
Bounce - To leave. Example: “I have to bounce— I have to go home to study.”
Bouncer - Security guard at bar or club.
Buzz Kill - When someone or something ruins a special moment. Example: “My mom was a buzz kill and made me stay home to do chores.”
Chick - Young attractive woman (the expression may be seen as derogatory). Example: “I have my eye on the chick across the room.”
Cramming - Intensive memorization in a short period of time — usually done by a student preparing for a school examination. Example: “I’m always stuck cramming for that professor’s class.”
Crash - 1. To sleep. Example: “I crashed on the couch last night.”
2. A common term for a computer fault. Example: “My hard drive crashed and I lost my term paper!”
Credits - A unit that gives weighting to the value, level or time requirements of an academic course. Various systems of credits exist: one per course, one per hour/week in class, one per hour/week devoted to the course (including homework), etc.
Cut - To purposely miss class. Example: “Joe cut class in order to attend a concert.”
Dude - An informal term of address, usually referring to a man or boy. Example: “Hey dude! I haven’t seen you on campus in forever!”
Elective - An academic course chosen by the student from a set of options, as opposed to a required course.
Final - Exam given to students at the end of a particular academic term, typically a semester, or more traditionally at the end of a complete degree course.
Flunk - To fail. Example: “I totally flunked that math exam!”
Frat - Short for “fraternity,” referring to all-male or mixed-gender social organization.

Freshman - (Alternatives: frosh, newbie, freshie, or fresh-meat) A first-year student in college or university.
Have a good one! - Short for “Have a good day/evening.”
Homey, Homes or Homeboy - Generally refers to a close friend, usually a male friend who exhibits strong loyalty. Derived from hip-hop and rap music. Example: “Jack and I go way back — he’s my homey.”
Hoodie - A sweatshirt with a hood. Example: “May I borrow your hoodie? I’m cold.”
Hottie - A very attractive person. Example: “My girlfriend is a real hottie!”
Junior - A student in the penultimate (usually third) year in college or university.
Jock - A classic American stereotype of an athlete.

Major - A college or university student’s main field of specialization during his or her undergraduate studies.
Mid-term - Exam given in the middle of a term or semester to measure students’ progress and comprehension of course material.
Minor - Secondary focus of a student’s studies.
Nerd - Alternatives: geek or dork
A stereo-typical designation, referring to somebody who passionately pursues intellectual knowledge or pastimes, rather than engaging in a social life or other main-stream activities. Example: “Bob is such a nerd, he reads instead of going to parties.”
Junior - A student in the penultimate (usually third) year in college or university.
Jock - A classic American stereotype of an athlete.
Major - A college or university student’s main field of specialization during his or her undergraduate studies.
Mid-term - Exam given in the middle of a term or semester to measure students’ progress and comprehension of course material.
Minor - Secondary focus of a student’s studies.
Nerd - (Alternatives: geek or dork)
A stereo-typical designation, referring to somebody who passionately pursues intellectual knowledge or pastimes, rather than engaging in a social life or other main-stream activities. Example: “Bob is such a nerd, he reads instead of going to parties.”
Pad - A place to live. Example: “Let’s go back to your pad and study.”
Party Animal - Someone who loves fun and parties.
Peace or Peace Out - A friendly phrase to say goodbye. Example: “Peace out, guys. I’m going home.”
Prof - Short for “professor”.
Psyched - To be excited or looking forward to an event. Example: “I’m so psyched to get my pay check!”
Quiz - A form of student assessment that often has fewer questions of lesser difficulty and requires less time for completion than a test or exam.
Senior - A student in the last (usually fourth) year at a college or university.
Sophomore - A student in the second year of study at a college or university.
Sorority - A women’s social organization, comparable to a male fraternity.
Syllabus - A professor’s outline of the class highlighting assignments, test dates, policies, and textbooks.
Term - A division of an academic year, the time during which a college or university holds classes. These divisions may be called terms, semesters, quarters, or trimesters, depending on the institution.
What’s up? or Wassup? - An informal expression meaning “What are you doing?”, “How are you?”, or “What is happening?”
Work-study - Programs that allow students to work, often on campus, as part of their financial aid package.
24/7 - All of the time. Derived from the fact that there are 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week. Example: “It seems like I am at my desk 24/7.”

Definitions adapted from Wikipedia®

http://www.internationalstudentguidetotheusa.com/articles/campus-lingo.php

Monday, July 11, 2011

WORRIED ABOUT CULTURE SHOCK?

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

Campus Lingo

HELLO WORLD!