Introduction
Traveling is an amazing way to get out of your comfort zone, see the world, and meet new people. It’s also a great way to learn about yourself and grow as an individual—both personally and professionally. The longer I travel, however, the more aware I’m becoming that traveling can be quite overwhelming at times! Sure, part of it is just being in an unfamiliar place where you don’t know how things work or what people expect from you. But another big part is dealing with culture shock: feeling overwhelmed by something so different from what one’s used to (or comfortable with) that it causes anxiety or depression. In this post we’ll talk about some ways for dealing with culture shock while traveling so that you can stay focused on enjoying your trip rather than worrying about how much it’s affecting your mental health!
You’ll get over it.
You will get over it.
It’s natural to feel this way and it will pass. The more you travel, the easier it gets.
Be aware of your own culture bias.
It’s easy to assume that your culture is the only one that exists. You might think everyone else thinks the way you do, or that they act or dress in certain ways. But this isn’t always true–and it can lead to some uncomfortable situations if you aren’t careful.
Be aware of your own culture bias and try not to judge other cultures based solely on what may be different from what you’re used to at home. Be open-minded when interacting with people from other backgrounds; ask questions if something seems unusual or confusing, especially if it affects your travel plans (like whether or not a place serves vegetarian food). The more open-mindedness there is between travelers from different countries, races and beliefs–the better off we’ll all be!
Be open to new experiences.
One of the best ways to deal with culture shock is by being open to new experiences. The more you can do this, the more you’ll be able to enjoy your trip and avoid feeling overwhelmed by it.
Try a restaurant you’ve never been to before or try a food that’s different from what you’re used to eating at home. Try learning how to play a new sport or activity while on vacation (or even just playing catch with some locals). Take public transportation instead of taxis or Ubers everywhere–it’s fun! Stay in hostels instead of hotels when possible; they’re fun places where people meet each other and talk about their travels all day long!
Go somewhere different.
It’s important to go somewhere that is very different from your home. This can be a place where you don’t know the language, food, or customs. One of my favorite ways of doing this is traveling abroad and staying in hostels with people from all over the world who have come to see what life on the other side of their borders looks like.
Get out of your comfort zone.
The best way to beat culture shock is to get out of your comfort zone. Try new foods, activities, languages and people. Make an effort to learn about the culture by talking with locals and reading up on it before you go. If all else fails, make friends with people who have already been there!
Embrace the newness of travel.
While traveling is exciting, it can also be stressful. It’s important to embrace the newness of travel and try to get as much out of each experience as possible. One way that you can do this is by trying new foods or taking a tour around your host city.
Try not to compare where you are with where you’ve been in the past or where you think you should be going next time (because there will be a next time).
- Don’t compare where you are with where you’ve been in the past or where you think you should be going next time (because there will be a next time).
- Don’t compare your current location with other people’s travel experiences, or even worse, their home locations. This is especially true if they have traveled extensively and have a great deal of experience with different cultures around the world.
- Try not to compare your current location with other people’s travel experiences either — unless it’s someone close to your age who has similar interests, backgrounds and goals as yours.
If you can, bring another person along with you who has a similar interest level in culture and travel so that they can help keep each other grounded and excited about being there together! That can be a friend, an Airbnb host, or even a local tour guide if necessary!
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The longer we travel and experience other cultures, the more likely we are to accept them as valid ways of doing things AND realize that our way is just one way; not necessarily better than anyone else’s way but simply different.
The longer we travel and experience other cultures, the more likely we are to accept them as valid ways of doing things AND realize that our way is just one way; not necessarily better than anyone else’s way but simply different.
In other words, by traveling you will come to see that there are many different ways of being human and all of them have value. You may find yourself becoming more open-minded, accepting new ideas and customs or even changing your opinions about things based on what you learn while traveling abroad!
Conclusion
If you’re traveling abroad, it’s important to keep in mind that there are going to be lots of new things happening around you. You might find yourself overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of a foreign city, or even just tired from all that walking around! But don’t worry–culture shock is normal, and there are plenty of ways we can cope with it so that our travels remain fun and exciting instead of overwhelming or stressful. By remembering these tips (and maybe even bringing along an extra friend), anyone can successfully overcome this hurdle on their way towards becoming more worldly-minded individuals.”
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