For the past several weeks I have been living in Italy. After taking an Intercultural Communication class, I am fully aware of the process of culture shock. While I was making preparations for my journey to Italy. Packing. Buying medications. I also was bracing myself for the impact of the cultural shock.

However, when I arrived in Certaldo, I realized that I while I was living in Italy, I may have just barely missed the wave of shock that can only come from entering a different culture. There is a multitude of reasons why I feel like you can go to Europe or any country for that matter, and not fully get emerged into the culture.

Being mainly surrounded by other American students has played a part in Italy feeling just like back home. In all of my classes, there are students from my university back in the states. My directors, professors, and assistants are mostly American.

Where I am living is the heart of a small town in Italy. I could not imagine a more perfect place for a study abroad program. Nor am I disappointed at the lack of culture shock. I just also realized that many of my fellow students didn't know what culture shock actually is.

It is not missing home, friends or family. It is not anxiety from schoolwork. It is not adapting to new friends or relationships.

Culture shock is a bell curve of feelings that emerge only when one is fully integrated into a different culture. This would happen if I were to have class at an Italian University and be surrounded by Italians and their culture. So far on my study abroad trip, I haven't been thrown into Italian culture but slowly learned more and more about the Italians I live close to. Culture shock can happen to anyone while living abroad, but it usually takes a consistent format.

There are four stages of cultural shock.

1. Honeymoon Phase

In this phase, everything is beautiful, new, and better. Infatuation of the food, people, and language is common during this phase.

2. Frustration Phase

Everything feels annoying during this phase. At first, you thought the language was beautiful and now you are just struggling to figure out how to communicate. Little differences are suddenly huge annoyances.

3. Adjustment Phase

Humans have the unique ability to adapt to their surroundings after a while you will learn to speak and navigate through the new city.

4. Acceptance Phase

In this phase, travelers are able to accept the differences and feel comfortable in their new environment.

I could not be happier about studying abroad, and I am thankful to slowly integrate into Italian culture.

Maybe who knows I will still experience cultural shock. I have only been here for a few weeks. In total I will only be here for a few months, which seems like a short amount of time for culture shock to take place, but who knows.