Culture Shock, acculturation and cultural adaptation are intercultural issues that often migrants’ encounter. Based on those issues, this paper is initiated to study the comparison in intercultural experience among the international students particularly from People’s Republic of China (PRC) who are pursuing their studies at Universiti Malaysia Sabah. Based on Berry’s acculturation and Kim’s cultural adaptation theories as well as observation, focus group and in-depth interviews techniques, the comparative and qualitative research based analyzed two fieldwork studies conducted within different temporal periods, i.e a research which were conducted in 2006-2007 and 2014-2016 respectively. Culture shock among PRC students was discussed in several aspects namely language: communication pattern and social relationship; academic: teaching and learning; practical: market price, financial and lifestyle pattern as well as socio-cultural: food, clothing and grooming. On the contrary, acculturation and cultural adaptation are classified into several themes, namely verbal and non-verbal communication as well as language proficiency, relationship with co-nationals and locals, centralised or grouped settlement pattern and intermediary individuals. Contributing factors towards the comparison in intercultural experiences are the existence of alumni, student enrolment procedures, course structures, the increasing number of PRC students and community as well as service improvement and empowerment. From theorethical perspective, acculturation and cultural adaptation among the students are characterized with the combination of both integration and separation strategies. © 2018, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Press. All rights reserved.

Cultural adaptation Acculturation Sojourners Culture shock Universiti Malaysia Sabah

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