Imagine stepping into a new world, where every interaction feels like a puzzle and every conversation a potential misstep. There are more than 1 million international students coming to the US every year and approximately 90% of international students experience some level of culture shock during their education in the United States. I am one of them. While this issue has been systematically overlooked, when I first came here, I had to deal with feelings of self-doubt, frustration, and complex emotions on my own.
Adapting to a new culture feels overwhelming – there is not personalized support for understanding, norms, managing emotions, or reflecting on progress.
This is why I created CUCUNUT (Culture and Communication Navigation Utility Tool) – an intelligent companion for cross-cultural navigation. It is designed to bridge cultural gaps and transform the challenging journey of cultural adaptation into an enriching adventure through three core pillars:
⛽️ Cultural Compass (文化适应加油站)
- Real-time cultural insights powered by trained AI
- Contextual advice for academic, social, and professional situations
- Personalized guidance that considers your unique cultural background
- Bilingual support (English-Chinese) for nuanced understanding
- Goal: By providing real-time, culturally contextualized responses, the Cultural Compass aims to help users construct meaningful understandings of cultural norms and behaviors, enhancing their ability to adapt effectively.
💕 Comfort Corner (暖心聊天室)
- A safe space for expressing cultural adjustment challenges
- AI-powered empathetic responses that understand cultural nuances
- Guided sessions for common adaptation scenarios
- Research-backed Emotional support in user’s native language
- Goal: Aim to reduce user anxiety, as, according to Maslow’s Affective Filter Hypothesis, individuals must feel emotionally secure to reach higher levels of self-actualization.
🌳Whisper Grove (匿名树洞)
- A private space to share user’s unfiltered thoughts and experiences
- Interactive Mood Calendar for tracking your emotional journey
- Visual analytics to understand your adaptation patterns
- Supportive community sharing while maintaining complete anonymity
- Goal: Following Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, this feature aims to inspire users to engage in reflective observation, allowing them to process and make sense of their cultural interactions, connect their experiences to broader patterns, and adapt more effectively over time.
What Makes CUCUNUT Unique:
CUCUNUT utilizes a comprehensive approach to cultural navigation. Powered by GPT-4, it offers deep cultural intelligence that adapts to your unique journey. The app features a mother tongue interface, bridging language barriers for seamless communication. With a privacy-first approach, users can share anonymously, fostering a safe environment for open expression. Visual tracking tools provide long-term insights into your cultural adaptation progress, while personalized support evolves alongside your experiences, ensuring relevant guidance at every step of your cross-cultural adventure.
Who It’s For:
- International students navigating university life
- Professionals adapting to new cultural environments
- Anyone seeking to understand and bridge cultural differences
- Individuals looking for emotional support during cultural transition
💡 CUCUNUT isn’t just an app – it’s a personal guide through the complexities of cultural adaptation. Whether you’re confused about classroom etiquette, struggling with social norms, or simply need a space to express yourself, CUCUNUT transforms these challenges into opportunities for growth.
The project is still in development, and I welcome your feedback. I’ve already received some valuable input, but I’m eager to gather more insights to help refine and improve CUCUNUT.
App link: https://cucunet-ihslvhugi7xhygjzdbpd8p.streamlit.app/
Survey link: https://forms.gle/tN2k4p6FvEDxriu4A
