Adaptasi Budaya pada Mahasiswa Pertukaran Mahasiswa Merdeka (PMM) di Universitas Sumatera Utara

Abstract

This research is entitled " Cultural Adaptation Students of Merdeka Student Exchange Students at the University of Sumatera Utara”. The purpose of the study was to find out the cultural adaptation phases that PMM students go through at University of Sumatera Utara, cultural adaptation strategies for PMM students at University of Sumatera Utara and the factors that support and hinder the process of cultural adaptation to PMM students at University of Sumatera Utara. The theories in this research are communication, intercultural communication, cultural adaptation and PMM Students. This research uses a qualitative approach with descriptive research methods. The data collection technique used in-depth interview and observation. The informants were active students who participated in the Pertukaran Mahasiswa Merdeka (PMM) program at University of Sumatera Utara and came from various universities throughout Indonesia who were selected using a purposive samplinnhg technique. The cultural adaptation phase in this study uses the theory put forward by Young Yun Kim (2001) that there are 5 cultural adaptation phases namely planning, honeymoon, frustration, readjustment and resolution. The results of this study indicate that six out of eight research informants experienced all adaptation phases, but two research informants missed the honey moon phase. The forms of cultural adaptation that were acceptable to the informants varied from the taste of food, habits/customs, use of language, climate/weather and religious life. The culture of dragging, huddled together when queuing and the habit of honking during traffic jams are forms of culture that some research informants cannot accept. Meanwhile, cultural diversity such as multi-ethnic, religion and racial in Medan is something that can be immediately accepted by informants while living in Medan