Problems and Issues for Students living in Hostels.
THE PROBLEM FACED BY THE STUDENTS WHILE LIVING IN THE HOSTELS.
This study aims at exploring the adjustment problems and stages through which a non-local student, from a different cultural background, has to pass in his/her attempt to get well-adjusted at a foreign place. During the process of adjustment in a foreign culture, newcomers may encounter the situations that work as stressors for them. These stressors can be physical, social, cultural, functional and biological. Physical stressors include new settings, changes of weather, safety problems and accommodation. Social stressors refer to difficulty in communicating with new people and making friends, the issue of homesickness and loneliness and difficulty in relating oneself with that of the hosts. Cultural stressors include the differences in norms, beliefs, customs, and ways of dressing, traditions and racial or ethnic discrimination. Functional stressors are work or study conditions, language, transport system and financial problems. Biological stressors include different food or eating traditions, diseases and illness. If a person responds negatively to these stressors, the sensation of being lost in so many unfamiliar people is great.
Previous literature indicates that less research has been carried out with respect to our indigenous culture to address the issue of acculturation of non-local students; however in the west this issue has captured the attention of the researchers and the psychologists. A study conducted on the adjustment issues of Turkish college students studying in the United States discusses that during the process of cross cultural adjustment, students have to pass through various stages to acquire culturally defined roles. (Poyrazli, Arbone, Bulington and Pisecco, 2001). Trifonovitch (1973) in his book On Cross-Cultural Orientation Technique has discussed four stages through which student have to undergo, in order to adopt and assimilate a new culture. First stage is excitement
This study aims at exploring the adjustment problems and stages through which a non-local student, from a different cultural background, has to pass in his/her attempt to get well-adjusted at a foreign place. During the process of adjustment in a foreign culture, newcomers may encounter the situations that work as stressors for them. These stressors can be physical, social, cultural, functional and biological. Physical stressors include new settings, changes of weather, safety problems and accommodation. Social stressors refer to difficulty in communicating with new people and making friends, the issue of homesickness and loneliness and difficulty in relating oneself with that of the hosts. Cultural stressors include the differences in norms, beliefs, customs, and ways of dressing, traditions and racial or ethnic discrimination. Functional stressors are work or study conditions, language, transport system and financial problems. Biological stressors include different food or eating traditions, diseases and illness. If a person responds negatively to these stressors, the sensation of being lost in so many unfamiliar people is great.
Previous literature indicates that less research has been carried out with respect to our indigenous culture to address the issue of acculturation of non-local students; however in the west this issue has captured the attention of the researchers and the psychologists. A study conducted on the adjustment issues of Turkish college students studying in the United States discusses that during the process of cross cultural adjustment, students have to pass through various stages to acquire culturally defined roles. (Poyrazli, Arbone, Bulington and Pisecco, 2001). Trifonovitch (1973) in his book On Cross-Cultural Orientation Technique has discussed four stages through which student have to undergo, in order to adopt and assimilate a new culture. First stage is excitement