CULTURE SHOCK
Adjusting to Life in a New Place
Starting medical school on an island can be
difficult. You have left your family, friends,
home, community, are beginning a
professional degree and you are now living in
a new country.
You may feel that everything is now on the
line: your ability to succeed at a post-graduate
level, building new relationships, and adapting
to a new country all at once.
A few phases you may go through in St.
Kitts include:
1. Honeymoon: Everything is great, nothing is
wrong; you are having a wonderful time.
2. Shock: There are many differences in this
country that you don’t know how to deal with.
You didn’t think things would be like this.
3. Negotiation: You learn to deal with the
problems set before you and try to integrate
them with your own beliefs.
4. Acceptance: You are able to live well in the
environment with the differences you are
experiencing.
CULTURE SHOCK
Coming to a new country, you will experience
differences in St. Kitts’ culture and your own.
Sometimes, these differences can lead to
culture shock.
Some symptoms of culture shock include:
(you do not need to have all the symptoms to
have culture shock)
1. Feeling angry over minor inconveniences
2. Irritability
3. Withdrawal from people who are different
from you
4. Extreme homesickness
5. Sudden intense feeling of loyalty to your
own country
6. Overeating or loss of appetite
7. Boredom
8. A need for excessive sleep
9. Headaches
10. Stomach aches
11. Small pains really hurt
12. Depression
13. Loss of ability to work or study effectively
14. Unexplainable crying
15. Relationship stress
16. Exaggerated cleanliness
17. Feeling sick more often than at home
SOLUTIONS
Some ways to help adjust to your new life and
relieve stress of culture shock include:
1. Keep Active: Get outside of your room and
classroom and participate in an
extracurricular activity. This will help you
meet people who share your interests and
develop a local support system.
2. Make Friends: Find someone who you can
relate to and who can support you during your
time at UMHS. Make friends with a Kittian.  Join a UMHS club surrounding your
This will allow you to ask questions about interests
aspects of the culture you do not understand  Go to a local church service
and can help you adjust more smoothly to the  Spend time at the beach
island.  Go for a hike
3. Learn about the Culture: St. Kitts is a  Find a place to volunteer
beautiful place with friendly people. Read the  Try some local cuisine
local newspapers and information on the  Explore shops downtown
internet to learn more about where you are
living.
4. Participate in Community Activities: Get
involved with your community both in school
and in St. Kitts; join religious services,
volunteer opportunities, and other special
events.
5. Practice Relaxation Methods: Exercise,
COUNSELING AT UMHS
deep breathing, meditation, and other
relaxation activities can help reduce stress and Amanda Massicott, MA
feelings of discomfort. Student Counselor
6. Take Time for Yourself: Take a few Main Administration Building – Room 223
minutes each day to think about your feelings Email: amaassicott@umhs-sk.net
and dreams. Focusing on these can help you Phone: (869) 466-2043 x120
re-energize and remember your purpose for
being at UMHS. For urgent after-hours mental health crisis
please contact: (869) 662-4686
7. Time Management: Make time to
prioritize your work, but also to sleep and In the case of a life threatening emergency,
relax. Try to get 7-8 hrs. of sleep a night and please call:
avoid doing school work right before bed. The hospital at (869) 465-2551
8. Be PATIENT: Remember that everyone Or dial 911
experiences adjustment issues in some form
while they are here. It is not permanent and
takes some time to overcome.

ENJOYING ST. KITTS

There are many activities to do in St. Kitts
when you are not studying.

 Look at upcoming events on

SKNVibes.com (keep an eye out for
food festivals!)
 Join a UMHS intramural sports team