Success! in the ALP; Factors Affecting Your Success!

Success!
in the ALP
Factors Affecting Your Success!
There are many factors involved in being successful as a college student in the U.S. and in the ALP. These include self-discipline, good study skills, listening, and note-taking skills. But beyond studying and going to class there are things you can do to be a successful student:
4 Your social life is important and can provide needed breaks from studying. However, be careful not to over-indulge in alcohol. Also, friends are a good way to relieve stress, but spending TOO much time with friends can mean less time to study.
4 Activities outside of the classroom can help you develop leadership and organizational skills. It is also a great way to meet people. Come to the ALP office to learn more about clubs and religious groups on campus.
4 Good health is very important for your success in college. Be sure to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and take time to relax each day.
Taking the best care of yourself that you possibly can will make it much easier to be a very successful student in the U.S. u

Important Issues
Degrees of Friendship

As it is probably true in your own culture, it takes time for friendship to develop between Americans. Nevertheless, most Americans are very “friendly” and appear to be very open when you meet them. You may hear Americans refer to acquaintances, such as persons who happen to sit together in class, as “friends.” There are, however, degrees of friendship.
In the United States, people often say, “Hi, how are you?” or “How’s it going?” and then do not wait for a response. This is a polite phrase, not really a question. It is another way of just saying, “Hello.” You can respond by saying, “Fine, thanks.” Or you may hear an American say, “Drop by anytime” or “Let’s get together soon.” These are friendly expressions, but they may not be meant literally. It is polite to call someone on the telephone before you visit. Even without an invitation, it is acceptable to call a new acquaintance to see if he or she would like to go to a campus activity with you.
You will have to make an effort to meet people so that friendships can develop. Because going abroad to study is a unique and powerful experience and you may find, at least initially, that you have more in common with other foreign students than with Americans. Some of your strongest friendships will be made with other foreigners. You should try to meet Americans who have studied abroad—and who therefore know something of what you are experiencing—as well as individuals who share your interests, academic and otherwise.
Many students believe that there is no better place to make friends than the college dormitory (or the UV). There may be 30 different students living on your floor with different accents, different music tastes, and possibly 30 different standards of acceptable behavior. Be prepared for very open discussions. Take advantage of this opportunity to get to know people from the United States and from other countries. Z
Source: “NAFSA’s International Student Handbook”

Important Issues

Smoking
Remember that in California, there are very few places where you can smoke inside. If you are smoking outside where there are a lot of people and no one else is smoking, it is polite to ask those around you if it is okay to smoke.

Alcohol Use & Abuse
You MUST be 21 years old to drink alcohol is the United States. This may be different in your home country, but in the US it is the law. If you are 21, please remember that it is against the law and very dangerous to drive if you have been drinking. If you are over 21 years old and want to drink, the most important thing to remember is to drink RESPONSIBILY!! Be safe.




Distributed by Mrs. Azimi

Culture Shock
What YOU Need To Know
Culture shock is a well-known phenomenon and occurs every time a person moves to a new environment. However, many students know little about culture shock. Each month, in the The ALP Exchange, there will be a column about culture shock, the different stages one might go through, and some helpful strategies to reduce the effects of culture shock.
Culture shock occurs because your mind and body have to go through a period of adjustment when you move to an unfamiliar environment. The cumulative effect of the changes and stresses is culture shock, and it usually lasts about 6 months for most people. There are many models of culture shock. The one we will discuss here uses five stages to describe how culture shock occurs. In this issue, we will look at Stages One and Two.
Stage One – The Honeymoon
This stage is appropriately named The Honeymoon stage because the feelings experienced are much like those when you first fall in love. This stage usually lasts between two and four weeks. Most people feel optimistic during this stage and everything has a tendency to be seen as new and exotic. The people around you seem friendly and most of your experiences are positive. You can use this positive energy to help sustain you during the upcoming challenges of adjustment. Here are some strategies that have worked for others to make the honeymoon experience a way to store up positive resources for the future.
Honeymoon Stage Characteristics:
· Everything will seem different, yet will be fascinating and will not seem threatening.
· All of your experiences will seem intensified.
· You are insulated and protected by your own culture and feel in control.
During this phase it is a good idea to move slowly with new relationships because one’s confidence and judgment is often misplaced.
Honeymoon Stage Strategies:
· Take advantage of your positive feelings by experiencing your new environment as much as possible. Be a tourist.
· Begin written or email correspondence with people from home.
· Join organizations and clubs.
Setting up commitments to people and organizations will help put positive pressure on you to stay involved in your new culture as you go through the tough part of the adjustment cycle.
Stage Two – Disintegration
After the first few weeks, you will begin to notice that things that were fascinating are now beginning to lose their appeal. People will seem less open and friendly, and you may feel less like having conversations with them. The positive mood from stage one is replaced by a mood that includes doubt, loss of confidence and rejection. The disintegration phase of culture shock usually lasts between one and two months.
Disintegration Stage Characteristics:
· A gradual disillusionment and increasing discomfort.
· Normal emotional responses include confusion, disorientation, a sense of loss, apathy, and feelings of loneliness and inadequacy.
· Tendency to spend more time with others from your home country.
· Focus on the negative things about your host country.Feelings of homesickness.
During this phase it is normal to feel homesick. Discussing these feelings openly and honestly can be very beneficial to you.
Disintegration Stage Strategies:
· Take care of yourself by staying with routines, including regular exercise, listening to music, taking long walks, or other things that are enjoyable to you.
· Go very lightly on drinking alcohol.
· Be careful not to over-indulge on food.
· Find ways to be with others.
· Keep studying the language.
The most important thing to remember is that everyone experiences culture shock. It is normal to experience many types of emotions. It is best to acknowledge your feelings rather than ignore them. Just remember to take care of yourself. You can talk with your friends, your teachers, or the ALP staff. We are here to help you.
¶

Culture Shock
Stage Three
As a review, we know that culture shock occurs because your mind and body have to go through a period of adjustment when you move to an unfamiliar environment. The cumulative effect of the changes and stresses is culture shock, and it usually lasts about 6 months for most people. Here is a description and suggestions for students in Stage Three of Culture Shock.
Stage Three – Reintegration
The third stage of culture shock usually begins at about the end of the third month and usually lasts about three months. During this stage, negative feelings and experiences will be much more common than before. This does not mean, though, that all of your experiences will be negative. Also, during this stage there is a tendency to withdraw into yourself and communicate less rather than more with other people. Yet, the outcome of successfully overcoming the challenges of this stage of culture shock is enhanced self-confidence.
Reintegration Stage Characteristics:
· You may stop being a victim, but may become hostile.
· Many people experience a basic rejection of their host culture.
· You may engage in heavy stereotyping.
· Your relationships, although difficult, are with real people and not just false images.
During this stage, you may realize that you are getting quite good at figuring things out and getting things done.
Reintegration Stage Strategies:




Slang Corner
Okay, here’s your chance to either learn some new vocabulary or refresh your memory… Here are some words that will make you sound even COOLER than you already are!!
All over it (phrase) To be very interested or involved in something. eg. “Have you done your homework yet?” “I’m all over it!”
Awesome (adj.) Outstanding.
Buds (noun) Pals, buddies, male or female. “I’m going to the mall to hang out with my buds.”
Da Bomb (phrase) The ultimate, the greatest, the champion, awesome. “Michael Jordan is Da Bomb!”
Jiggy (adj.) Stylish, sexy. “Gettin’ jiggy with it.” (song by Will Smith)
Kick-it (verb) To chill out, take it easy, to hang out. “I was kicking it with my friends at the UV this weekend.”
Rocks (verb) Being very good at something. “Jane rocks at math: She gets an A on every test!”
Shagadelic (adj.) Splendid. (see the movie “Austin Powers” for use of this word.)
Stoked (adj.) Thrilled, excited. “I am stoked to go to the ALP Halloween party.”
Trip (verb) To worry, get upset. “When my dad sees my bad grades, he’s going to trip.”
Wack (noun) Bad, unfortunate, crazy in an uncool way. “An F on my vocabulary test? Now that’s wack!”
Whassup? or S’up? What’s up. Hi. Multi-purpose conversation starter.

eg. “Whassup?”
“Nothin’ ”
“Cool.” a