15 Culture Shocks You Could Experience While Traveling
One of the most common reasons to travel is to see somewhere new and experience something different from what you’re used to. This is also one of the most beautiful reasons to travel! By immersing yourself in a new place, you can truly get a feel for the place and how the locals live, in contrast to wherever you’re from. However, this positive reason to travel may also cause discomfort in the form of culture shock. In this article, we’ll go over what culture shock is and 15 common culture shocks you could experience while traveling so you can be prepared for your next adventure. Keep reading to learn more!
What is Culture Shock?
First, it is important to know what we mean by “culture shock.” Culture shock is the discomfort or annoyance travelers may feel when adjusting to cultural norms that differ from their own. Culture shock manifests differently for different people, but feelings of annoyance, discomfort, anxiety, or unease often characterize it. It is your mental and emotional response to adjusting to a new way of life.
If you experience culture shock on your travels, don’t worry! It is completelynormal to go through an adjustment period when traveling away from home. While these culture shocks fade over time, you can be better prepared to handle culture shock by understanding what types of culture shock are most common for foreign travelers.
15 Common Culture Shocks Travelers Experience
Since no two people are the same, we can’t tell you which type of culture shocks you’ll be most vulnerable to during your trip. However, we’ve compiled a list of 15 culture shocks that happen regularly worldwide. Read through the list with yourself in mind and try to think about which ones you might be most susceptible to.
1. Language
This can be an enormous culture shock if you don’t speak the language of whatever country you’re visiting. Not communicating effectively with people around you can be stressful and trigger culture shock. Combat this culture shock by studying basics in your target language before traveling. Knowing simple greetings and phrases will help you feel more at home and in control when navigating a new place. Having a dictionary or translation tool on hand can be helpful as well!
2. Food / Cuisine
For many people, trying new food is one of the most exciting parts of traveling. However, it can also be disorienting if you can’t find food that you’re used to. Additionally, changing your diet suddenly may impact digestion or cause digestive issues. We suggest researching the food beforehand so you know what to expect. If you have dietary restrictions, plan your meals or pack items to supplement meals. We also always recommend bringing stomach remedies from your home country that work for you so you know you have relief if you need some medicine.
3. Climate
People often travel across hemispheres, moving from one climate to another. Even if you don’t cross into a new hemisphere, you may find weather very different from where you just left. This transition can feel sharp and difficultsince not everyone adjusts well to new climates. Make sure that you check the weather before packing for a trip and pack with the climate in mind. Being prepared for the right weather means you can avoid that culture shock altogether.
4. Fashion
Around the world, fashion comes to life in a variety of ways. A local in Paris dresses very differently from how you’d find a local in the United States. Dressing differently from most of the population can cause culture shock since travelers may feel that they stand out from the rest of the crowd. If you’re concerned about this, do some online research to understand what type of clothes and colors are typical in your destination and keep those in mind while packing.
5. Tipping Culture
Tipping is obligatory in some places and downright rude in others. When travelers move between countries, the differences in tipping culture can cause a great deal of culture shock. You can generally figure out what tipping culture is like in a given place with a quick search; we suggest you do some before leaving on your trip. Even better, if you have the opportunity, ask a local what the tipping customs are and stick to that.
6. Personal Space
How much personal space you can expect, whether on a bus or in a conversation, varies from culture to culture. Differences in personal space expectations can cause culture shock since you may feel off-put or threatened by the new spatial relationships between yourself and others. Pay attention to locals and how they relate to one another to understand how much personal space is appropriate wherever you visit.
7. Homesickness
This one is obvious, but traveling away from home often takes you away from your friends, family, and familiar environments. This can be very jarring, especially if you’ve gone into a very different culture. Stay connected to friends and family while you’re away traveling. If you’re especially worried about homesickness, pack some souvenirs and trinkets to remind you of home while traveling.
8. Rhythm of Life
People live very differently in different places around the world. For example, you’ll find bright lights and loud noises all night in New York. Meanwhile, you’ll find that people in Spain eat late, and people in Argentina take a nap in the middle of the day. As you travel, you may experience different rhythms of life. This can cause culture shock since you may have to adjust your routine to fit into the culture.
9. Poverty or Homelessness
Depending on where you’re traveling from, you may experience culture shock due to visible poverty or homelessness. In some places, there is significant poverty, and you may find that residents even approach you and ask for money. Thiscan be off-putting to tourists who aren’t used to this behavior. Be aware of the socio-economic conditions of the place you’re traveling to so you can understand what you’ll likely encounter on your trip.
10. Transportation
Going to new places often means taking different forms of transportation! If you’re used to driving yourself around, it can be very disorienting to take the subway, bus, or other transportation. Whenever you’re traveling, make sure you understand the transportation options where you’re going and which ones are safe and efficient. Knowing how you’ll get between things and places you want to see will help calm any nerves around transportation.
11. Gestures
Gestures vary widely between cultures. What may be a pleasant gesture where you’re from could very well be rude in a different culture. This can cause culture shock for travelers who don’t understand the host country’s body language well. Try to be sensitive to your culture by asking if there are any gestures you should avoid.
12. Not Fitting In
You may feel like you don’t fit in when you step into a new place. You may feel convinced that everyone is staring at you, that they know you don’t belong. This feeling can cause culture shock since it is stressful to feel you’re constantly being watched. If you worry about this feeling, research fashion and customs in the place you’re visiting, so you can try to fit in.
13. Eye Contact
Connection between people is another tricky element of culture shock. If you’re from a more aloof culture, you may find heavy eye contact in another culture unnerving. Similarly, if you’re used to more connection, you may be put off if locals refuse to look you in the eye. Knowing how your culture compares to wherever you’re visiting should help prevent this culture shock.
14. Bathrooms
Bathrooms look different depending on where you are in the world. You may find a luxury bathroom with total privacy or a drop toilet in a rural area. This all depends on your destination and the level of infrastructure there. If you have particular needs, such as a baby to take care of, make sure that you read up on the bathroom situation at your destination. This can help you plan your days and minimize anxiety around trips to the bathroom.
15. Taxes
In some countries, tax is automatically calculated as part of your tab. In other places, taxes are added on after the fact. If you’re traveling on a strict budget, or just watching your dollars, learn a bit about the exchange rate and tax system before traveling. This should help you estimate prices in real-time and minimize the culture shocks you may experience due to different taxes.
Overcoming Common Culture Shocks
When traveling to a new place, it is not uncommon to experience culture shock. If you don’t experience any culture shock, it may indicate that you haven’t truly immersed yourself in the culture of wherever you travel. Culture shock is a completely normal phenomenon that helps travelers understand how their culture differs from the country they’re visiting. So, we suggest you embrace any culture shocks that come your way and let them roll off of your back. Culture shocks like the ones described above are a natural part of travel, and it does get better with time!
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