How Chinese Buddhism Students Integrate into the American Way of Life
Integration refers to how a visitor learns and adopts the sociocultural life of a host nation.

Buddhists are highly disciplined and conservative, yet they have to integrate with America’s way
of life, such as language, English alphabet, dressing, religions, politics, justice system, and
government organization structures (US-American Values). One way is to have the hosts
understand their beliefs. Chinese students join Buddhists groups such as Nichire Shoshu of
America and Soka Gakkai, to propagate Buddhism (Nattier et al.).

Differentiating between High Context Culture and Low Context Culture
High context culture emphasizes on communality, passive communication, and
realization that learning is based on a specific situation. Learning is by accurate observation and
understanding of the values of host groups, the values are given careful thought before
assimilating the acquired knowledge. The host community’s values are given priority, especially
conservative values. On it part, low context culture emphasizes learning by explicit instructions,
having a culture of independence, and individualism. Communication is through conversation,
rather than cues and engagement is individualized and not socialized. Knowledge is acquired
through thinking inductively, and disagreement is allowed. Changes are dynamic and fast
(Context of Cultures: High and Low).

Sociocultural Adjustment

Name 2
Sociocultural adjustment refers to the changes that a foreign student makes in order to fit
in the local cultures and social behavior. The student coming from a high context, into a low
context community needs to learn to cope quickly, and this ability is determined by level of
education, prior exposure, and the individual’s capacity to adjust (Cole). Sojourners normally
suffer from cultural shock before beginning to adjust and fit in. they are introduced to a different
way of life such as diet, relationships, entertainment, work culture, and so on (Zhao). The
adjustment curve is initially rapid because of euphoria, then after six months it slows down as the
sojourner asserts themselves, and rapid again after eighteen months when the sojourner gains a
sense of belonging (Cole and Swami).

Psychological adjustment

Psychological adjustment involves adopting a flexible mindset. The foreign students have
to tone down their reaction to situations by being humble and accepting criticism. They should
also show curiosity about the American way of life, for example, both American and Chinese
people are hard-working, but American life involves much flamboyance, whereas Chinese life is
conservative (Coles and Swami).

Three Things I Have Liked Most In This Class

The three things I like most in this class are the Chinese teacher, sampling American
cheese, and participating in group work. The Chinese teacher is amusing because of the clothes
he wears. They are all of the same color and design, making it look as if he does not have any
other clothes. In China it is common to find who wear the same design and color of clothes a
mark of their personality. I think the student body should all show the American spirit of care
and generosity, by coming together and raising money for his wardrobe makeover. In China
there are only a few types of cheese. At Subway we have many brands like Mozarella, Buratta,

Name 3
Robusto, and Grana Padano. Cheese, especially blue cheese, is not popular in china because they
find it smelly. The Subway cheeses taste a lot better than the Chinese cheese, and so Chinese
students have decided that they will not eat Chinese cheese again. The students are learning to
eat and enjoy American foods. I like group work a lot. In the group we are able to discuss culture
in our different countries. We are also able to polish our communication skills, and improve our
language. According to Paicifceduc.com, it is by reading and discussing American books that we
are able to understand the American way of life and adopt it even better. It is fun listening to
each other’s views and laugh at our mistakes and accents.

Name 4

References

Coles, R., and V. Swami. “The Sociocultural Adjustment Trajectory of International University
Students and the Role of University Structures: A Qualitative Investigation”. Journal of
Research in International Education 11.1 (2012): 87-100. Web. 29 Feb. 2016.
Nattier, Jan et al. “The Direction of Buddhism in America”. Urbandharma.org. N.p., 2016. Web.
29 Feb. 2016.
Pacific,. “1.4.6 – Context of Cultures: High and Low”. Www2.pacific.edu. N.p., 2016. Web. 29
Feb. 2016.
Pacific,. “1.5.2 – US-American Values”. Www2.pacific.edu. N.p., 2011. Web. 29 Feb. 2016.
Zhao, L. “”Socio-Cultural Adjustment of International Students as Expatriates in America”.
Digitalcommons.wku.edu. N.p., 2010. Web. 29 Feb. 2016.