Culture shock is the term for the confusion, annoyance, and/or animosity you may feel while visiting a nation whose customs and conventions differ from your own. Although there are various stages of culture shock, it usually leads to an awareness of your new country’s customs and conventions. Everybody experiences culture shock differently, and your perception of your new nation is frequently influenced by your prior experiences.

Before leaving for a foreign destination, consider your expectations. Do some advance research on the area to get involved before you visit. Your integration will be facilitated by this.

When you set foot in a new nation, you are preoccupied with exploring your new surroundings. You’re grinning at the fruit sellers on the street at every turn, and the unexpected openness of those around you captivates you. Alternatively, you might see the tactful division of age groups and genders or be perplexed as to why your host mother ducks some of your inquiries. Traveller, this is known as culture shock.

Most people who have travelled for more than a short distance are familiar with the expression. It doesn’t matter if you have been abroad before or this is your first trip; you need to understand what culture shock is and how to deal with it while you’re there.

When you travel overseas, your everyday routine, the local cuisine, culture, and people’s attitudes are all unfamiliar. Culture shock is the term used to describe the experience of realising, comprehending, and adjusting to these differences.

Widely accepted cultural cues influence many facets of our daily behaviour, including our gestures, voice tones, interactions, and line-waiting techniques. However, we are oblivious to these since they are a part of our implicit norm. When we visit a new country, we notice these subtle cultural variations more since they are out of the ordinary for us.

Even with drastically diverse culinary traditions, culture shock can happen. Food plays a major role in our society, and there are both good and bad associations we have with the meals we eat. When you’re away from home and find that comfort foods or essential items you usually eat aren’t available, strong emotions may surface.

Culture shock is disoriented and adjusting to new attitudes, ways of life, and cultural conventions. You may not be shocked in the traditional sense.

If you feel that you are approaching or have already entered this state, don’t attempt to go through it alone. Don’t isolate yourself; instead, speak with the coordinators of your study programme or volunteer programme.

Tips for dealing with culture shock

After learning what culture shock is and how to identify it, let’s move on to practical solutions and advice for overcoming it.

GET AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE ABOUT YOUR HOST COUNTRY

Look over guidebooks, news stories, travel discussion boards, or novels. Talk to people who have been there before or, better yet, those who are locals. Get as much knowledge as you can on proper conduct (did you know, for example, that in Madagascar, walking on someone’s suitcase is considered impolite?) and prepare yourself before you visit for some of the changes.

SET AIM HIGH FOR YOUR TRAVEL ADVANCED STUDIES

Even if it might seem obvious, one of your travel goals should be to become familiar with the local culture. Do you have a taste for food? Make it your mission to learn how to prepare local food with skill.

WHEN YOU FIRST ARRIVE, WRITE DOWN WHAT YOU LOVE AND REVIEW IT LATER.

Jot down all the wonderful aspects of your new home nation while you’re still on your honeymoon. Use this list to remind yourself later, when you’re feeling agitated or angry, of your host nation’s positive aspects rather than the things that bother you.

SEEK OUT A SAFE DISTRACTION

Locate a constructive diversion, particularly during stage two, when you might feel hostile towards your host culture. Spend some alone time, cook dinner at home, watch an episode of your favourite TV show, or host a solitary dance party at your home. It’s acceptable to feel stressed out and need time away from your new country; make sure it’s a constructive diversion, and you don’t stay inside your home all day!

SPEAK WITH OTHERS ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS

If you aren’t travelling with a group, make connections with local expatriates. Discuss with them their opinions of your host culture. Inquire about their feelings and how they’ve managed their lives around.

AIM TO LET GO OF YOUR PRECONDITIONS

Assuming local customs are the same as your own is a common mistake when living abroad. Doing so is the simplest way to feel irritated, let down, and resentful. Strive to approach the new circumstance with an open mind. By doing this, you can reduce the expectations that will unavoidably surface.

When it comes to eating, you could experience some culture shock if the cuisine in a specific country isn’t what you expected. It’s possible that your preferred Chinese takeaway meal doesn’t even exist in China, just as your preferred Indian curry isn’t available there. But don’t allow that to prevent you from discovering a new favourite! Things start to become intriguing at this point.

AIM TO VIEW THE WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF YOUR HOST CULTURE

Try to put your worldview in your pocket and comprehend the world as your host culture does during each phase of culture shock.

Certain ideologies may not resonate with you and may not make sense in the context of your culture. However, this need not be the case. Just make an effort to comprehend their perspective. Be inquisitive, impartial, and anthropological!

Participate in the local community.

Get as involved in your local community as you can because feeling like too much of an outsider may be contributing to your emotions of culture shock. Creating friends is a part of this! Attend church there if you attended it at home. If you volunteered at home, look for a volunteer opportunity in your host city. Make this new place your home, attend large-scale events, and join a sports team!

GO AHEAD AND TEACH YOURSELF THE LOCAL LANGUAGE

Try to pick up a few (or more!) fundamental phrases in the native tongue. Making friends is equally important as learning more about the culture—language and culture are intertwined. Hey, it’s simply entertaining.

Don’t allow cultural shock prevent you from travelling elsewhere.

There’s more to living abroad than late-night parties and weekend excursions. It can be difficult, a cultural introduction and an emotional roller coaster simultaneously. Nonetheless, the highs and lows are worthwhile. We assure you that once you’re home, you’ll cherish the friendships and memories you formed and forget about everything that annoyed you.