Description
Intercultural adaptation has become a dominant issue in an increasingly globalized interaction context. It is especially important for international students who move away from relationships with family, friends and acquaintances in their home country to the United States. A series of adaptation difficulties may result in experiences of anxiety, tension and depression. Because of the progress of technology, communicative patterns have been brought to another level. Boundless networks created by the Internet not only provide more options for students to expand their social networks but affect students' adaptation process. The emotions experienced by international students during this process can be difficult to access. As such, this study employed qualitative methods to better illuminate the communication of emotions online in intercultural adaptation. In this qualitative study, the researcher observed international students' personal online websites and conducted interviews. Students used the Internet to initiate contacts with people from the host culture, interact with other international students, join online ethnic groups and maintain old ties with family and friends in home country. These findings hold significant impacts on students' adaptation process.
