Culture shock might be called an occupational disease of people who have been suddenly transplanted abroad. Like most disease, it has own symptoms.
  Culture shock is caused by the anxiety that results from losing all our familiar signs and symbols of social intercourse. Those signs or cues include the thousand and one ways with which we are familiar in the situation of daily life: when to shake hands and what to say when we meet people, when and how to give tips, how to go shopping, when to accept and when to refuse invitations, when to take statement seriously and when not. These cues, which may be words, gestures, facial expressions, customs, or norms, are acquired by all of us in the course of growing up and are as much a part of our culture as the language we speak or beliefs we accept. All of us depend for our peace of mind and our efficiency on hundreds of these cues, often without conscious awareness.
  Now when a person enters a strange culture, all or most of these familiar cues are removed. He or she is like a fish out of water. No matter how broad-minded or full of goodwill you may be, a series of props have been knocked from under you, followed by a feeling of frustration and anxiety. People react to the frustration much the same way. First they reject the environment which causes the discomfort. “The ways of the host country are bad because they make us feel bad.” When foreigners in a strange land get together to grumble about the host country and its people, you can be sure they are suffering from culture shock. Another symptom of culture shock is regression. The home environment suddenly takes on a tremendous importance. To the foreigner everything becomes irrationally glorified. All the difficulties and problems are forgotten and only the good things back home are remembered. It usually takes a trip home to bring one back to reality.
Some of the symptoms of culture shock are excessive washing of the hands; excessive concern over drinking water, food dished, and bedding; fear of physical contact with attendants; the absent-minded stare; a feeling of helplessness and a desire for dependence on long-term residents of one’s own nationality; fits of anger over minor frustrations; great concern over minor pains and eruptions of the skin; and finally, that terrible longing to be back home.
Individuals differ greatly in the degree in which culture shock affects them. Although not common, there are individuals who can not live in foreign countries. However, those who have been people go through culture shock and on to a satisfactory adjustment can see steps in the process.

Very academic!