How to Survive a Culture Shock?

Introduction

People who have experienced a culture shock have much in common to talk about. Even though it affects everyone in different ways, it’s always a shared unifying experience. There are many ways to survive through a culture shock depending on the level of it. And also as many methods to ease life in the middle of a shock.

 

My Experience

When I went on exchange I experienced a culture shock. The time I spent abroad was long enough for me to experience it strongly in the beginning and then have it fade little by little in time. When I was experiencing it very strongly, I managed to find things to help me control it.

Talking to other people who shared the same feelings helped almost always. Also thinking of the reasons why I put myself into this situation to have to go through it, how strong I will feel afterwards and how much I will grow during the experience helped me accept my feelings. Sometimes it was hard trying to live in the moment and at the same time to survive through something so huge going on in your mind. However, it was all worth it in the end.

Now that I think of it afterwards, I wouldn’t say I want everyone to experience it in terms of the hardest moments. But at the same time, I think everyone should go through something similar in order to have to reflect themselves and their values through a process like a culture shock.

 

Ways to Get Through a Culture Shock

Nowadays, it is easy to find help from the internet and to read about experiences written by other people. Even if you didn’t have anyone to talk to at times, there are written guides online on how to survive through hard phases like a culture shock in life. Trying to take it day by day is probably the most annoying but also the most accurate tip to get. Other concrete tips that I can think of are:

• Try enjoying the things you really like in the new culture and get most of them instead of thinking about what all was better back home.
• Talk to people and keep yourself busy.
• Accept your feelings and that there will be better days and bad days. Bad days are for growing as a person, and good days are for enjoying the experience. Both are a part of the process.

In time you will realize all the things that you appreciate in your home country and -culture in a totally new level than ever before. Realizing them, is something that hopefully gives you motivation to accept that not everything in your current life is like it used to be. Having to adapt to a totally new environment gives you new perspectives in life and helps you grow as a person.