How to cope with culture shock on your gap year

Travelling or living in another country is great, but it's ok to feel a little strange at first - if you do get a bit wobbly, you've probably just got a bit of culture shock

A gap year is a fantastic opportunity to see the world. But being away from home, living in a different culture and always being surrounded by the unfamiliar - well that can take it’s toll. You can’t let a little culture shock ruin your gap year though, so we’ve put together a handy guide to help you get through the difficult times.

It starts with euphoria

The first thing you’ll feel when you get off the plane is euphoria. You’re in a new country, surrounded by new things and it’s simply amazing. But this natural high has its drawbacks - after all, what goes up, must come down.

The full force of culture shock

Everyone’s different and some people won’t even get culture shock. But those who do have reported feelings of unease, negativity and the strong desire to shy away from everything new. Homesickness becomes more pronounced too, so you might find yourself longing for your own bed or just a nice bag of Walkers Crisps.

How to deal with it

Dealing with culture shock isn’t as difficult as you’d think. In fact, we’ve got some handy little tricks to make life easier while you’re away. They’re pretty simple but they can make a big difference.

• 1. Be prepared

  Knowing what to expect goes a long way to helping you deal with it. So research the countries and cultures that you’ll be visiting before you go. If you don’t get a chance to do it before you travel, do it while you’re there. It’ll help you avoid any nasty surprises and take the shock out of the transition.

• 2. Be yourself

  It sounds obvious doesn’t it? But you’d be surprised how many people travel to a new country and try to become a completely different person at the same time. There’s no denying the fact that your travels will change you. Just let it happen naturally and keep hold of who you are because if you don’t, you’ll feel even more lost.

• 3. Take one day at a time

  If you’re taking a gap year, you’re probably going to be away for a long time. But imagining a whole month or year in this new, scary place can be unbearable. So stay focused on the now and take one day at a time.

• 4. Make friends

  One of the things you’ll miss the most when you travel is your friends, so make new ones. And you know what they say - a problem shared is a problem halved. So if you’re feeling down, tell someone.

• 5. Explore

  Getting to know your destination will help make it more familiar. And that’s the ultimate cure for culture shock. Start by looking for similarities with this culture and your own. They’re always there and it’ll make it seem less alien.

• 6. Stay in touch

  When you’re feeling homesick, there’s nothing better than calling home. So make sure you keep in close contact with everyone back home. Take advantage of sites like Facebook to keep on top of what’s going on. And every time you’re feeling down, just remind yourself that everyone’s just a phone call away.

• 7. Bring a little reminder

  When you’re packing your bags, remember to put in a couple of little treats that remind you of home. It might be your favourite chocolate bar, a picture of your mum or that comfort blanket you’ve had since childhood - whatever it is, make space for it.

• 8. Learn the lingo

  The language barrier can put a real strain on you while you’re abroad. So you might find it useful to take a course before you go or while you’re there. And remember, you won’t pick it up in a day. Just because you’re struggling with a language, doesn’t mean you’re stupid, so don’t let it get you down.

Your trip will be whole lot better if you embrace new cultures, instead of clashing with them. So follow these tips and say goodbye to culture shock.

http://www.i-to-i.com/campfire/travel-guides/3-Cultural-considerations-in-Africa

http://www.i-to-i.com/campfire/travel-guides/3-Cultural-considerations-in-Australasia

http://www.i-to-i.com/campfire/travel-guides/3-Cultural-considerations-in-Asia

http://www.i-to-i.com/campfire/travel-guides/3-Cultural-considerations-in-Latin America

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