Coping with Culture Shock

Home : Going Solo : Coping with Culture Shock

Coping with Culture Shock: When Nothing Stays the Same

Coping with culture shock is something most travelers have to go through. Don't worry though: the shock will wear off, you'll get used to the differences, and in time you'll even look forward to them.

That said, much of what you see and experience on the road may be unfamiliar and while some of the differences may be amusing and interesting, others may dismay you and - shock you.

Here are some of the situations in which your coping skills might come in useful:

Food

**Fried insects - yum?**
Photo: star5112 via Flickr

Even if we're used to eating internationally at the Chinese or Indian restaurant down the street, eating abroad may come as a surprise. It may only be the brands that change but usually there's a bit more to it. Perhaps you've made it through frogs' legs and garlic snails, but how will you cope with deep-fried snake or crispy grasshoppers, or in some places even dog or cat? I drew the line at snails the size of tennis balls in Nigeria - yet I love their smaller, garlic-drenched French cousins. Wherever you go and however foreign, you'll 'almost always' find something you're familiar with - even if it's only rice or fruit. I say 'almost always' because there are times - rare, I admit - when nothing will suit your palate, and you'll just have to go hungry until the next town.

Language
We are fortunate that English is widely spoken around the world. Widely, but not everywhere. So a major part of coping with culture shock is realizing that sometimes we can't manage the simplest things on our own - going to the post office, buying something in the market... The best way around this is to figure out how to learn a language - even a few words will help keep that culture shock at bay. And don't think your English is everyone's English - some accents are so thick you may wonder if you're speaking the same language!

Time is of the essence
Photo: Andrew Larsen via Flickr

Punctuality
When it comes to coping with culture shock this is one of my pet peeves - and greatest challenges. While some societies tend to see punctuality as an asset, in others the concept is far more flexible. Tomorrow may mean next week, and next week may mean, well, who knows. A good way of avoiding frustration if you're a punctuality maven is to either expect others to be late, or decide ahead of time not to care. However frustrating, you won't change others - so you might as well change the only thing you do have control over: your own expectations.

Pollution

**Not all Western cities are clean: Los Angeles**
Photo: Chang'r via Flickr

Many western societies have started cutting back on polluting emissions and city traffic so even some (though certainly not all) of the larger cities have breathable air. You may be in for a surprise in the world's megacities. When I moved to Bangkok it took me two weeks to simply learn how to breathe in the city. Throughout Asia and South America, expect pollution to be an issue, especially when the weather gets warm and humid. If you have breathing problems, check with your doctor first and choose your season and destination wisely.

Hygiene
Cleanliness that seems normal and expected at home may be out of reach abroad.

**Not everyone has clean water**
Photo: Geof Wilson via Flickr

You may take things like clean drinking water for granted, but millions have no access to these luxuries. A shower might be a ladle dipped into a barrel of rainwater, and you may have to squat to go to the bathroom. In poorer areas, standards of cleanliness will drop, given the lack of clean water. On the other hand, some societies pride themselves on being so particular people wouldn't dream of stepping outside without first taking a shower. No matter how hot and muggy, they always look as though they've stepped out of a magazine page.

Being a woman

**Women can be invisible**
Photo: Justin Hall via Flickr

Being a woman in a Western country is relatively straightforward. We are treated equally and in most cases our gender isn't really an issue. Where it is, there is usually legal and social redress. I wish I could say it was the same everywhere. In some countries though we are almost invisible - coping with culture shock will be a much-needed skill (and many of us simply won't adapt, ever). Men may talk through us, especially if another man - a tour guide or younger brother - is present. In the most conservative regions of the Middle East, we may not exist at all, shrouded from head to toe in a world ruled by men. Women travelers who can't or won't put up with these restrictions should stay away. And lets not forget that in some countries harassment of women is a way of life - if you go you'll need to learn to avoid unwanted male attention.

Discrimination
In many countries discrimination, while it does exist, is rare or avoidable. Unfortunately this isn't the case everywhere. Being African in some parts of Eastern Europe requires huge fortitude. In Japan you might not get a lease if you're a foreigner. In China you might have to pay more. Being a Muslim in many countries means you'll attract mistrust. Experiencing discrimination is still a reality and there's every chance that wherever you're from and whoever you are, you'll experience it at some point - although, I hope, increasingly rarely. This is where coping with culture shock may be most needed.

Different customs
The most mundane customs and habits can be surprising. Walk into an elevator in Switzerland and everyone says hello. In some countries admiring something even casually means the owner feels obliged to give it to you. Americans are at ease talking about money - most others aren't. Modesty is a cultural concept - in some countries wearing shorts and a T-shirt would be considered insulting while in others it's the norm and perfectly acceptable.

No right or wrong: some societies are more conservative than others
Photo t-bet via Flickr

Regular everyday things
Coping with culture shock is often more about the little things than the big ones. The lack of toilet paper. Phones that work differently. Strange smells. Unusual wildlife. How cheap - or expensive - things are. Sizes that are too small. More people packed into smaller spaces. Noise levels. Tap water (or taps that work). And so on.

Not all differences should make you wary, though. Imagine your surprise at discovering new foods. The kindness of strangers. Amazing landscapes. Unusual art and compelling cultures. New cloths. Anticuated but colorful transportation. Unfamiliar philosophies and beliefs. Festivals and music. The joy of communicating with someone from another culture. Unexpected and unscripted adventures. Freedom. Openmindedness. Sunrises and sunsets. Washing in a tropical rainstorm. Fresh tropical fish from the sea.

You will eventually get over the culture shock and you may well begin to seek out the differences. After all, we don't travel so we can experience what we do at home. If we did, we could save a lot of money by simply staying put!

Have you ever experienced culture shock during your travels?

If you travel, chances are you've experienced some kind of culture shock. I know I have, with both positive and negative outcomes.

Where were you? What shocked you? How did you feel at the time, and how did you cope with it?

Please share your insight, experience and understanding with us - we'd love to hear from you!

Title of your culture shock experience

Please tell us about it here [ ? ]

Upload A Picture (optional) [ ? ]

Add Picture Caption (optional)

Author Information (optional)

To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

Your Name	(first or full name)
Your Location	(ex. City, State, Country)

Submit Your Contribution

Check box to agree to these submission guidelines.

(You can preview and edit on the next page)

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Ready, Set, Run! My sister and I were on vacation in the Yucatan. We were going to attend the night show at Chichen Itza. There was a huge group of Venezuelans that were ...

No Ringy-Dingy A few years back I was traveling with a couple friends from Australia to Singapore to London and then back to Canada. We had been very busy on business ...

What's New?

Are you planning to travel?

Get free monthly travel tips just for women, and download a free copy of my Bare Minimum Packing List to learn to pack like a pro!