Thousands of students leave the familiar behind when they decide to attend college.

If a student were moving to a foreign country, he or she would encounter a totally different language, culture, climate and educational system.

These differences can be shocking to students and may become barriers in cross-cultural communication.

A person goes through a process before he or she experiences culture shock. First, a period of excitement and exhilaration at being in a new place, followed by confusion and depression as he or she encounters difficulties.

“When I first came to Ames two years ago, things were very different than in China,” said Michelle Qin, junior in computer engineering.

On the surface, language is often perceived as the main barrier, but most problems are deeply rooted in cultural differences.

“At first, I couldn’t understand what the local people said even though I’ve learned English before,” she said.

She said she was confused by slang language used by American students.

Once a classmate asked her about the grade she received on an exam.

When the classmate learned that Michelle had gotten the same grade she earned, she responded with a common expression that was confusing to Michelle.

“She raised her right hand with her palm open and said `Give me five,’ but I was puzzled, because I couldn’t understand what she meant,” Qin said.

Juan Carlos, a student from Peru who hopes to be accepted to the communication studies graduate program, said he had difficulties in recognizing the meanings of some words when he came here a year ago.

“I went to a convenience store when I heard an American ask one of the cashiers to show him the section for light beers,” he said.”I was confused, because I used to know that light means bright, however, my friend told me that light can also mean the opposite of heavy.”

Besides communication, each culture has its own form of body language.

Raised in a conservative culture, Qin said she was unprepared to face liberal lifestyles in the United States.

“I was shocked when I found out many teenagers here are cuddling or kissing in public, because in China most of the parents and school principals wouldn’t allow students to have boyfriends or girlfriends,” she said.

“Studying was the only thing that we had to do. We had less of a social life, but we got used to it.”

Yurike Inrumitah, junior in hotel, restaurant and institution management from Indonesia, said she disagrees with the American practice of young people addressing older people by first names.

“I heard most of the students calling their teachers or parents by name,” she said. “In my country, we are obliged to refer to teachers or older people with Mr. or Mrs. to show respect to them.”

Inrumitah said she was also surprised by the summer attire of many women on campus.

“Most of the girls wear mini shorts, tank tops and sandals, but style like this is not acceptable by university officials in Indonesia, because it would draw a lot of people’s attention,” Inrumitah said.

She said doing house cleaning, cooking and laundry on her own was another adjustment she had to make.

“In Indonesia, most of the households have at least one maid to help the owner do the housework, but here I have to do that all by myself,” she said.