Culture Shock: What It Is and How to Overcome It (Without Losing Your Mind)

18-Jul-25

So, you’ve packed your bags, kissed your dog goodbye, and flown halfway across the planet to “find yourself.” You imagined your study abroad life as a montage of you sipping espresso in cute cafes, wearing scarves, and saying bonjour with perfect pronunciation.

Then reality hits you in the face harder than a customs officer’s stamp on your passport. Congratulations: you’ve met culture shock.

The “Wait, What?” Phase

Culture shock is that weird, bewildering cocktail of confusion, excitement, and what-have-I-done-ness you feel when you land somewhere completely new. Suddenly, everyone’s driving on the “wrong” side of the road, eating things you can’t pronounce, and greeting you with cheek kisses you didn’t consent to.

You’ll catch yourself thinking, Why is nobody using a fork? or Does everyone here just yell all the time, or are they actually happy?

The “Everything Was Better at Home” Phase

Ah, the honeymoon ends. You start romanticizing your homeland’s boring cereal and the potholes on your street. You mourn the days when you knew how to buy shampoo without miming hair-washing to an unamused cashier.So, you’ve packed your bags, kissed your dog goodbye, and flown halfway across the planet to “find yourself.” You imagined your study abroad life as a montage of you sipping espresso in cute cafes, wearing scarves, and saying 

bonjour with perfect pronunciation.

Then reality hits you in the face harder than a customs officer’s stamp on your passport. Congratulations: you’ve met culture shock.

The “Wait, What?” Phase

Culture shock is that weird, bewildering cocktail of confusion, excitement, and what-have-I-done-ness you feel when you land somewhere completely new. Suddenly, everyone’s driving on the “wrong” side of the road, eating things you can’t pronounce, and greeting you with cheek kisses you didn’t consent to.

You’ll catch yourself thinking, Why is nobody using a fork? or Does everyone here just yell all the time, or are they actually happy?

The “Everything Was Better at Home” Phase

Ah, the honeymoon ends. You start romanticizing your homeland’s boring cereal and the potholes on your street. You mourn the days when you knew how to buy shampoo without miming hair-washing to an unamused cashier.the fermented fish (or at least watching someone else eat it).

Call home – Let your family remind you that you’re loved, even if you’re halfway across the globe and eating dinner at what feels like 3 a.m.

Be patient – You won’t feel settled overnight. That’s okay. Growth is supposed to be awkward. Like middle school, but with better souvenirs.

Final Thoughts

Culture shock is like that annoying but well-meaning friend who pushes you to grow out of your comfort zone. One day, you’ll wake up and realize you can navigate the streets, order your favorite snack, and maybe even dream in the local language.

And when you fly home, you’ll shock yourself by missing all the quirks you once found so confusing.

So hang in there, international explorer. You’ve got this and it’ll make a great story later.