INVESTIGATING STUDENTS’ CULTURAL SHOCK EXPERIENCE: A QUALITATIVE STUDY IN COASTAL AREAS IN NORTH SUMATRA

This research aimed to investigate the realization of the phases of culture shock and
to find out the cultural elements experienced by coastal (TanjungBalai) students
who studied at Universitas Negeri Medan through Samovar et al. (2010) theory.
This research used qualitative research by Aspers & Corte (2021). Interviews and
questionnaires as instruments of the research on twenty participants who studied at
Universitas Negeri Medan. This research showed that coastal (Tanjung Balai)
students experienced four phases of culture shock. Such as the optimistic phase was
the first phase because of impressed with the friendliness of the Medan residents
and the beauty of Medan City. The second was the cultural phase because of
language and culinary confusion. The third was the recovery phase, where coastal
(Tanjung Balai) students began to try developing various ways to adapt to existing
conditions and overcome challenges encountered previously so that they might
continue to survive in a new environment. The recovery phase contained the
capability to learn a language and get used to the culinary. Finally was the
adjustment phase where they enjoyed all of the differences and problems of the new
culture in a new environment. Two cultural elements experienced by coastal
students (Tanjung Balai) were also found by the researcher. They were value and
language. Based on the findings and discussions, the conclusions were coastal
(Tanjung Balai) students who studied at Universitas Negeri Medan experienced
four phases of culture shock and two cultural elements. The implication of this
research was to give an understanding of culture shock.