Cross-Cultural Adaptation Experiences of Pattani Thai Students in Banten, Indonesia: A Micro-Level Qualitative Study

Abstract

This study examines the cross-cultural adaptation of Pattani Thai students pursuing higher education at UIN Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin Banten, Indonesia. Grounded in Kim’s integrative theory of cross-cultural adaptation, the research aims to explore how minority Muslim students negotiate cultural, communicative, and religious differences within a Muslim-majority host environment. A qualitative ethnomethodological approach was employed to capture participants’ lived experiences. Four Pattani Thai students were purposively selected as research participants. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, non-participant observation, and documentation, and analyzed using Miles and Huberman’s interactive model, including data reduction, data display, and conclusion verification, with source triangulation to ensure credibility. The findings reveal a dynamic stress–adaptation–growth process characterized by initial culture shock, language barriers, differences in social norms, and religious identity negotiation. Participants developed adaptive strategies through social support, communicative adjustment, and gradual emotional regulation, leading to increased intercultural competence and identity flexibility. While based on a small purposive sample (n=4), the study provides contextually grounded insights into intra-ASEAN student mobility, demonstrating that adaptation within culturally proximate yet normatively distinct Muslim societies remains complex and negotiated. These findings contribute to intercultural communication scholarship and offer practical implications for culturally responsive student support programs in Southeast Asian higher education contexts.