Final answer:
Acculturation involves adapting to cultural norms and behaviors of a new society, and it is common to experience culture shock during this process. This adaptation takes time as individuals observer, learn, and integrate new cultural behaviors, eventually reconciling their own cultural expectations with those of the host culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
When individuals like Sabrina from Isamanig, Germany, participate in a student exchange program and find themselves in unfamiliar cultural settings, such as Germantown High School in Wisconsin, they often undergo a process called acculturation. This involves learning and adapting to the cultural norms and behaviors of the new society. It's common to experience culture shock during this period, which is a feeling of disorientation and uncertainty that arises from encountering different cultural values and practices.
For example, Sabrina might notice that in the U.S, there's a different approach to classroom participation, where asking questions and engaging in discussions is more common and encouraged, while in Germany, this might be seen as disruptive. Understanding that everyone initially approaches a new culture through the lens of their own cultural background, and that it takes time to adjust, can help ease the transition. The process of overcoming culture shock involves observing, learning, and eventually integrating new cultural behaviors.
As Sabrina continues to engage with her host culture, she might find herself reconciling her German cultural expectations with the American ones she encounters. Over time, with patience and effort, she will likely adapt to the expectations and norms of her host country, exemplifying a successful acculturation process.