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Overcoming culture shock

Living or travelling in a completely different culture can leave you feeling a little homesick - Here are a few tips to help you acclimatise

You’re going to explore new cultures, do new things and meet new people. But all that change can set you a little off kilter. That’s where culture shock comes in.

What is culture shock?

When you travel, you have to adapt to a new culture. For some, this is easy. While for others, living in a culture that is so different from their own can cause feelings of unease and panic. This is culture shock.

What are the symptoms?

Strangely, the first stage of culture shock is euphoria. It’s that moment when you first step off the plane and everything’s new and amazing. Unfortunately, this feeling doesn’t always last. And the unfamiliarity that was so great when you first arrived can start to weigh down on you. Typical symptoms include:

Sleepiness or apathy
Excessive eating or drinking
Homesickness
Unproductiveness
Negative views of the nationals

How to overcome it

In the worst-case scenario, your culture shock could be so bad that you just want to go home. Don’t let it ruin your trip, make sure you’re prepared and know what to do if it strikes.

1. Do your research

The unfamiliar is a little less scary when you know it’s coming. So do your research before you travel. Find out what the countries you’re travelling to are really like. Look into the customs and traditions that run through their culture and make notes of anything that is absolutely taboo. The last thing you want to do is make a blunder, it’s not good for your confidence!

The Internet is a great place to start your research. Try Country Reports for cultural insights. Or take a look at our Cultural Considerations series. Forums and chat rooms come in really handy too. Not only can you talk to people who’ve done it before, but you can make new friends along the way. And if you’re on Facebook, why not join one of the many travel and destination groups? Travel guides are a great place to find information too. Even if you don’t want to buy one, you can usually find them at your local library and you can always photocopy any important pages.

2. Keep a diary

Remember, those first days are going to be incredible. So note it all down before you forget. Then if you do find yourself with a nasty bout of culture shock, you can take out your diary and remind yourself why the place you’re in is so amazing. Your diary is also a great way to get your feelings out. And you’ll feel much better once you’ve poured your heart out.

3. Take home with you

When it comes to culture shock, nothing is more comforting than home. So make sure you’ve got it with you. Obviously you can’t fit your entire house into a back pack, but you can take a couple of things that will remind you of home.

Before you leave, think about what you’ll miss most when you go away. For some it’s family, for others it’s the local coffee shop but there’s always something. If you can’t fold it up and take it with you - take a photo of it and pack that. Then you’ll have a little bit of familiarity in your new country.

4. Keep in touch

Finally, don’t cut yourself off from the people who mean the most to you. It’d probably do you more harm than good to talk to your friends every day, but the occasional phone call can be just what you need to pick you up. So before you travel, invest in a Travel Sim for your phone. That way you can have a good old natter without blowing your travel budget.

And that’s it. Dealing with culture shock isn’t always easy. But it’s definitely worth it, because there’s nothing quite like embracing a new culture.