Tips for coping with culture shock

by Andrew Whittaker
January 6th, 2010

I spend a lot of time daydreaming about being somewhere else. France, Spain, Italy, the Moon – anywhere will do. Usually I’m there doing something mundane: peeling spuds in my (imaginary) Parisian kitchen; or perhaps waiting at a bus stop in Florence – simply enjoying the feeling of being somewhere foreign.

And yet when the time comes for actual travel – usually the night before I’m due to go – I get jittery. Can’t I just stay at home? I know how everything works here and understand what people are saying (usually it’s ‘stop daydreaming and do some work’). The disquiet normally lasts two or three days into any trip, after which I start enjoying myself, filing away some new daydreams for when I eventually return home.

Many have described a similar disquiet – the sense of foreboding and alienation in a foreign land – and given it a name: culture shock. Unfamiliar attitudes, alien customs and different sounds, sights and smells all contribute to that feeling of disorientation. And then, if you’re lucky, something clicks and you learn to relax, to go with it and to enjoy it.

To help speed that sense of confidence and acceptance in a foreign land, follow Speak the Culture’s five tips for dealing with culture shock:

1. Watch a few films produced by your host nation – subtitled if necessary. Each country – be it Britain, Italy or Iran – expresses itself (its humour, traditions, customs, issues) through its cinema.

2. Get a basic grasp of the country’s political landscape. Understand who is in power and how they’re perceived by the public. What are the dominant issues discussed in the press? A basic understanding will lessen feelings of estrangement (and provide a possible topic of conversation).

3. Learn about the national cuisine, and in particular the food of the region you’re staying in. Chomping on unidentified frying objects doesn’t heighten the travelling experience. So, at least understand (and hopefully enjoy) what the local dishes and delicacies are.

4. Learn at least something of the language. Bit of an obvious one this, but nothing sharpens the sense of alienation like an inability to communicate.

5. Cultural understanding is, of course, a two way street, so be prepared to exchange elements of your own culture with those of the country you’re visiting. Talk about your own music, food or literature – compare, contrast and enjoy.

… in short, immerse yourself in the culture. Participate in it. Embrace and understand it. Hopefully it won’t be so shocking after all.