cul·ture shock
/ˈkəlCHər ˌSHäk/
Noun
The feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes. Symptoms include tension, embarrassment, longing for home.
Culture Shock takes some time to manifest and you do not automatically feel the effect as soon as you step off the plane, train, or automobile. There are 6 stages of culture shock which include: optimism, disappointment, adaptation, recovery, reverse shock, and readjustment. These phases will be longer or shorter depending on the length of the trip and some might be missed entirely. Yet knowing which stage you are in will help you adjust to a new culture quicker and allow you to enjoy your trip more.
OPTIMISM
Optimism is the period of time before the trip and at the start of the trip where everything is exciting and thrilling. The prospect of a new country to visit and new places to see always give me a thrill, however, this is also the time to prepare yourself for culture shock. Here are a couple of tips for this stage:
Read about the culture
The number one way to prepare yourself for a new country and culture is to read about it. You can read travel magazines, travel guides, personal blogs, vlogs, and so much more to get ready for a trip! I personally prefer to read personal blogs but I also use the Lonely Planet travel guide books as an additional way to read about a country.
Travel with a friend
I am a big component of solo travel and even have a tips and tricks post about solo traveling, however, traveling with a friend lessens the impact of culture shock. Why is this? Experiencing something new is always scary and daunting when alone; yet with a travel buddy, the new and different can seem like an adventure waiting to happen.
Experience the culture
This one can seem to be pretty obvious however it is important to make clear. Traveling to another country and trying to interact with culture through your home country's customs and way of life will set you up for an even bigger shock than if you 100% embrace the new culture and strive to take everything in as much as possible. I tend to try to avoid the big tour bus companies and instead walk a new city in order to prevent any distance between me and the new culture.
DISAPPOINTMENT
This is a hard stage, it is the point of the trip that the differences between your home culture and the new culture are very visible and can be unnerving. Here are some ways to overcome these feelings:
Make a friend
Learning about a culture from someone you personally know is 10x more effective than learning about it through a blog or stranger, and I would definitely recommend making a friend in another country even if you are not feeling the disappointment of Culture Shock.
Call home
I would definitely link the disappointment stage with the time when tourists start to feel a little homesick. There might not be anything that can remotely be related to your home country and so you will need to reassure yourself with home. I usually facetime with family and friends in order to stay connected especially on long trips.
ADAPTATION
This is the final stage that is during the trip and the best phase to be in when traveling in another country. You have accepted the new culture and even have started to follow some of the customs! There are not many tips for this stage as you have are pretty much recovered from culture shock, however, here are some ideas on how to keep this from fading while traveling:
Have Fun
Take this time in your trip to fully immerse yourself into the culture and the country; go to events, look for less touristy destinations to visit, and make sure to enjoy yourself. Learning and experiencing a new culture will increase your understanding of the world.
RECOVERY
This stage is the period of time when you finally arrive back in your home country and everything feels familiar. This is the time when you eat at all your favorite restaurants and visit your favorite places that you have missed while traveling. There isn’t really any tips that will make this phase better, but I will say that whenever I arrive back home after a trip no matter how short or long it was; I will always fall in love with San Diego again.
REVERSE SHOCK
Every time you visit a new country and experience a new culture, you will take a part of that countries customs and lifestyle back with you at the end of your trip. This could be a new food that has become your favorite, new music, and maybe a phrase that is prevalent in you speech. Reverse shock will definitely affect you since this is when you have to transition back into your previous daily life, however, you have been changed during your trip.
Save Your Memories
Take this time to download all your photos and collect all your mementos into keepsake boxes or albums so that you are able to relive your memories.
READJUSTMENT
The final stage of Culture Shock is the period of time that you will be finally back into your daily life after the thrill of being on a trip. Don’t let this make you sad; look forward to the future.
Plan your next trip
Not sure about you but I love making draft travel plans that I save for when I am ready to go on another trip. A couple of travel websites that are designed for travel plans include:
So there you have it; a couple of tips and tricks in order to prevent culture shock from ruining your next trip to a new country! Let me know what is your best way to explore a new city and experience a new culture.
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