Culture Shock in China cs en the author reflects on the different stages of the culture shock she experienced when moving to China. Assumption

2. Acculturative stress
According to Thomas & Schenk (2001:14-15) cultural values lead the thinking, the judgements and the acting of the members of a culture within wide ranges. They are deep- rooted and multiple linked in history, philosophy and religion of a culture. They are matter of courses and guidelines of social acting, which are learned by the individual during socialisation into the society. How strong and in which way the own behaviour is shaped by such cultural values, becomes often only apparent in contact with members of a different culture. In co-operation and by dealing with them the matter of course of certain actions and attitudes are put into question. When individuals of two cultures meet, meet not only two humans with different languages and goals but also humans with different cultural values.
This fact affects their way of acting even like current events and conditions. Sometimes this misunderstandings, also due to different cultural values, can lead according to Triandis (1994:262-265) to uncertainties. Such loading situations produce the phenomenon culture shock. Characteristics of a culture shock can be physical and psychological symptoms. A possible explanation for the culture shock lies after Triandis (1994), similarly as for Thomas & Schenk (2001) in the fact that our doing is founded in "control by habit". We react to certain references and expect from the others that they behave in such a way, as we already know it. Humans in unusual environment however can behave in such a way, we do not expect and are not able to understand it. We might feel, as if we lose control. Persons, who notice that they have little control, can become depressive and helpless. After Thomas & Schenk (2001:15-16) the purpose of ones own doing is put in question and one devalues the foreign culture as peculiar or irrationally. Only an understanding for the meaning and purpose of the observed foreign cultural behaviours leads to a process of intercultural learning and out of the crisis. If it becomes understandable and comprehensible why which behaviour when is shown, orientation returns and with it action security. The more we know about the other culture, the more control and security we have and it becomes easier to live in the new culture.
Culture shock is an individual experience. The intensity and the process of culture shock experience can be different for everyone. The culture shock experiences can vary also with the same person. It appears in an unknown environment under unusual circumstances. The new circumstances can force one to regard himself and his new environment from completely different side. Culture shock is not an illness, although it can often cause a physical indisposition and appropriate symptoms. On the contrary, culture shock is a learning process. Culture shock can cause following symptoms, which Berry & Sam (1997:301-302) differentiate three levels: