Culture Shock
Stages, Symptoms and Relief
Music
Music
Experiencing a new place is always exciting...
... however, sometimes we long for the familiar comforts of home and our close friends, relatives, or even just a favorite pair of slippers you didn't bring with you.
Usually, being in a new place is exciting, but sometimes it just doesn't feel quite like home.
Here are the stages and symptoms of culture shock.
It's Okay! There's still hope.
How you can overcome culture shock.
How to cope with culture shock:
Keep an open mind. Try to see things with a sense of humor. If you can laugh about getting lost, it will be a lot easier. It also won't hurt to study a map of the area.
Stay positive. This sounds easier said than done, but just think about it. How many people would give anything to visit where you are (or are going). You get to experience something that many people can only dream of.
Stay Healthy. Try not to get over-stressed. Keep calm. That’s where that sense of humor will come in handy. Eat healthy and exercise to keep your brain happy.
Find a friend. No, don’t grab random people off the street! See if you can branch out in your local community. Volunteer, join a club, or meet people online. There are various ways to find a friend. Unless you’re too grumpy, then it will be a little more difficult.
Before you go:
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Learn as much as possible about the culture, the customs, and the language, even the area specific to where you are staying. Try to meet some new friends before you get there. There are plenty of websites that can help you to meet people around the world.
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Find logical reasons for cultural differences. Most have evolved over time for purposes that are no longer apparent.
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Don't denigrate your host culture. Spending time with other's from your own country and condemning the host country will only exacerbate the problem and not help you adjust.
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Try to find a host national whom you trust and can communicate your needs and feelings with. Spend time with those from the host country, and talk about your experiences. Give specific details; tell how you would do something at home, and ask what you did incongruently with the host culture.
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Know that you will survive, cope, and can have a positive experience. This knowledge that you have the ability and energy to learn about a new culture will inevitably make for a remarkable experience.
If you stay positive, you
may really come to enjoy
your experience and
see things a little
more clearly.
Venturing out can be
uncomfortable or frustrating.
Click the link above to read about some personal experiences with culture shock.
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The Honeymoon Stage: Everything is wonderful. You are positive, and everything is seen in a good light. You are still curious, and hopefull to have new and exciting adventures. You may even idealize the host culture.
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Irritability & Hostility: You may start to feel that whatever is different is actually inferior. The host culture may be confusing and not right, because it is different. 'Different' becomes 'stupid,' and you are unhappily adjusting to a new environment. You may blame outside forces for trivial things and displaced emotions.
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Gradual Adjustment: You become more relaxed and develop a more knoweldgeable and open-minded view of your time in another culture.
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Adaptation of Biculturalism: There is a new sense of belonging and sensitivity to the host culture. You may even become defensive of the host culture to others.
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Re-entry Shock: Once you return home, everything is different from how you remember. It's not what you expect.
Boredom and withdrawal. You may lose your desire to venture out, experience things, and may even begin to read more. Along with withdrawal, you may begin avoiding contact with other people.
Feeling isolated or helpless. Not knowing what to do about anything you feel that is out of your control.
*At this point, many people will return home.
Sleeping a lot or tiring easily. It now takes a lot more energy to do simple activities, so you are more likely to withdraw.
Irritation over delays and other minor frustrations. Simple things aggravate you for no reason.
Suffering from various body aches and pains. This is also a sign of depression, so be careful.
Longing to be back home and unduly criticizing the local culture. Customs and ways of doing things become targets simply because they're different.
Stages of Culture Shock
It might be culture shock if you are experiencing:
Symptoms of Culture Shock
It really can affect you pysically.
Here you are in this beautiful, amazing place that you love, but something is not quite right. Could it be... Culture Shock?!