Learning how to beat culture shock is simply a matter of time, practice, and experience. Every traveler in Asia deals with it at some point, particularly right after the magic of arrival wears off.
Culture shock isn’t only a problem in ‘busy’ countries such as China or India. Even in places where the language barrier isn’t severe, the cold tentacles of culture shock can twist enjoyment and excitement into dread and homesickness. These 10 tips will help you to minimize or beat culture shock quickly.
Dealing with initial culture shock is a part of any first trip abroad and you certainly won't be the first to experience fear, homesickness, or sensory overload. Recognize that your negative feelings are simply part of being yanked out of your comfort zone, rather than because of the particular destination.
Avoid thoughts such as these:
Negative filters will cloud judgment of a new country. Remember that culture shock is a real psychological issue, the same as depression. It certainly doesn’t last forever -- you’ll be enjoying a positive trip experience soon enough.
Unfortunately, the cheapest flights to a new place nearly always tend to be to the biggest cities. Stepping off of a plane and into the frenetic pace, traffic, and noise of a capital city in Asia is enough to make anyone anxious. The big cities even stress out locals who are from rural parts of the country!
No one says you have to begin your explorations of a new country in the city where you arrived. Why not check it out before your departure flight once you’re more in tune with the local culture? Escaping to a smaller, quieter place immediately after arrival will allow time to get over jet lag, learn a little about the local culture, and become adjusted to the new food. You’ll quickly learn the ins and outs of your new country and can then move on to bigger challenges further afield.
A packed itinerary is more of a burden than a blessing, particularly if you aren’t feeling well after traveling thousands of miles. You don’t have to see and do everything all at once; allow ample time to adjust before making yourself too busy.
Even if you have a tight itinerary, allow at least a buffer day or two after you arrive before embarking on tours or adventures. With regained energy, the rest of your travels will be far more enjoyable.
Burning up timezones and a sudden change in diet can certainly hit your immune system. More than half of travelers experience traveler’s diarrhea during their first week abroad, mostly because of the exposure to new bacteria in local food. With a weakened immune system, travelers are more susceptible to the microbes encountered on the flight and public transportation.
Begin by drinking lots of water to counter dehydration caused by flying. Take advantage of local fruit, eat mindfully, and don’t sucker punch your body with excessive partying until you’re back to 100%.
Knowing a little bit about your future destination before you arrive is a great way to keep culture shock in check. Focus your research on the cultural aspects of a new country such as the history, ideology, and religious beliefs, rather than on what to see and where to go. Read with the goal of better understanding the local people’s perspective.
For instance, people in countries who have experienced decades of war may not seem to smile much, but they may warm up quickly. Did local residents recently deal with a natural disaster such as a tsunami or typhoon? Are there political problems? Without knowing the background story, it’s too easy to simply disregard locals as unfriendly.
Don’t live and die by the guidebook. While a little research is a good thing, too much research can have the opposite effect. People often experience the same place in completely different ways. Regardless of how nice a destination is, if it isn’t as described and already envisioned in your mind, you may not like it.
Don’t build a bias or install mental filters before you arrive -- your experience may be completely different than the writer’s!
Even if you simply learn how to say hello, having a tiny grasp on the local language will help ease culture shock. Learning the language is often completely optional, as people in tourist areas will undoubtedly speak some English. Regardless, knowing a few basics such as ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’ will help bridge the gap between your cultures. At the least, trying to learn shows that you have a genuine interest in a country as more than just a cheap, one-time vacation destination.
Being able to speak a few words in another language is a huge confidence boost for dealing with culture shock.
Talk to everyone! People who are sharing experiences in foreign countries are often easy to befriend and get to know. Experienced travelers who have been in a place for longer may have good tips for places to visit. They may have already fallen for local scams and can help you to steer clear.
Remember that you aren’t alone in your struggle to adjust in a new country. Share feelings, tips, and insight with other travelers who will undoubtedly understand -- they probably just dealt with the same.
The first thing that many travelers who are culture shocked do is turn to social media. While having a steady connection to home can be comforting, that isn’t why you changed countries in the first place! The more that you stay connected to home via smartphone or laptop, the longer your culture shock will persist.
Call home when you need to but avoid the temptation of excessive social media use.
Time and experience make all new endeavors a little bit easier. Remember what it was like to be a freshman in school? Or to start a new job? Once you adjusted and learned the ropes, getting around became easy and routine.
Visiting a new country works much the same way. The longer that you stay in a place, the more you learn. Push through and learn how to beat culture shock. Pretty soon you’ll be thriving in a new destination rather than just surviving.
Culture shock isn’t only a problem in ‘busy’ countries such as China or India. Even in places where the language barrier isn’t severe, the cold tentacles of culture shock can twist enjoyment and excitement into dread and homesickness. These 10 tips will help you to minimize or beat culture shock quickly.
- First, read about how to beat jet lag after a long flight.
1. Recognize That You Have Culture Shock
Dealing with initial culture shock is a part of any first trip abroad and you certainly won't be the first to experience fear, homesickness, or sensory overload. Recognize that your negative feelings are simply part of being yanked out of your comfort zone, rather than because of the particular destination.
Avoid thoughts such as these:
- I made a mistake by coming here
- Other destinations would have been easier
- I’m not cut out for this country
- I should have stayed at home
- This place is inferior and/or people are not smart
- People here are not friendly
Negative filters will cloud judgment of a new country. Remember that culture shock is a real psychological issue, the same as depression. It certainly doesn’t last forever -- you’ll be enjoying a positive trip experience soon enough.
- See answers to 10 frequently asked questions about Asia.
2. Start Somewhere Quiet
Unfortunately, the cheapest flights to a new place nearly always tend to be to the biggest cities. Stepping off of a plane and into the frenetic pace, traffic, and noise of a capital city in Asia is enough to make anyone anxious. The big cities even stress out locals who are from rural parts of the country!
No one says you have to begin your explorations of a new country in the city where you arrived. Why not check it out before your departure flight once you’re more in tune with the local culture? Escaping to a smaller, quieter place immediately after arrival will allow time to get over jet lag, learn a little about the local culture, and become adjusted to the new food. You’ll quickly learn the ins and outs of your new country and can then move on to bigger challenges further afield.
3. Slow Down
A packed itinerary is more of a burden than a blessing, particularly if you aren’t feeling well after traveling thousands of miles. You don’t have to see and do everything all at once; allow ample time to adjust before making yourself too busy.
Even if you have a tight itinerary, allow at least a buffer day or two after you arrive before embarking on tours or adventures. With regained energy, the rest of your travels will be far more enjoyable.
4. Keep Yourself Healthy
Burning up timezones and a sudden change in diet can certainly hit your immune system. More than half of travelers experience traveler’s diarrhea during their first week abroad, mostly because of the exposure to new bacteria in local food. With a weakened immune system, travelers are more susceptible to the microbes encountered on the flight and public transportation.
Begin by drinking lots of water to counter dehydration caused by flying. Take advantage of local fruit, eat mindfully, and don’t sucker punch your body with excessive partying until you’re back to 100%.
- See five common travel health problems and how to beat them.
5. Do a Little Research
Knowing a little bit about your future destination before you arrive is a great way to keep culture shock in check. Focus your research on the cultural aspects of a new country such as the history, ideology, and religious beliefs, rather than on what to see and where to go. Read with the goal of better understanding the local people’s perspective.
For instance, people in countries who have experienced decades of war may not seem to smile much, but they may warm up quickly. Did local residents recently deal with a natural disaster such as a tsunami or typhoon? Are there political problems? Without knowing the background story, it’s too easy to simply disregard locals as unfriendly.
6. Don’t Do Too Much Research
Don’t live and die by the guidebook. While a little research is a good thing, too much research can have the opposite effect. People often experience the same place in completely different ways. Regardless of how nice a destination is, if it isn’t as described and already envisioned in your mind, you may not like it.
Don’t build a bias or install mental filters before you arrive -- your experience may be completely different than the writer’s!
7. Learn Some of the Local Language
Even if you simply learn how to say hello, having a tiny grasp on the local language will help ease culture shock. Learning the language is often completely optional, as people in tourist areas will undoubtedly speak some English. Regardless, knowing a few basics such as ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’ will help bridge the gap between your cultures. At the least, trying to learn shows that you have a genuine interest in a country as more than just a cheap, one-time vacation destination.
Being able to speak a few words in another language is a huge confidence boost for dealing with culture shock.
- Learn how to say hello in many Asian countries.
8. Talk to Other Travelers
Talk to everyone! People who are sharing experiences in foreign countries are often easy to befriend and get to know. Experienced travelers who have been in a place for longer may have good tips for places to visit. They may have already fallen for local scams and can help you to steer clear.
Remember that you aren’t alone in your struggle to adjust in a new country. Share feelings, tips, and insight with other travelers who will undoubtedly understand -- they probably just dealt with the same.
9. Unplug a Little
The first thing that many travelers who are culture shocked do is turn to social media. While having a steady connection to home can be comforting, that isn’t why you changed countries in the first place! The more that you stay connected to home via smartphone or laptop, the longer your culture shock will persist.
Call home when you need to but avoid the temptation of excessive social media use.
- Read about carrying a laptop while traveling in Asia.
- Should you bring a smartphone to Asia?
10. Give a Place Time
Time and experience make all new endeavors a little bit easier. Remember what it was like to be a freshman in school? Or to start a new job? Once you adjusted and learned the ropes, getting around became easy and routine.
Visiting a new country works much the same way. The longer that you stay in a place, the more you learn. Push through and learn how to beat culture shock. Pretty soon you’ll be thriving in a new destination rather than just surviving.
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