International culture shock

It doesn't matter how different the culture is from your own: Whether you're moving to India or moving to England, you'll likely experience culture shock at some point.

"Shock" is probably overstating it -- it's usually just a mild depression over what might seem like minor things. For instance, maybe you miss a food from home and are confused about the food choices in your new country. Maybe you're afraid of getting lost, or having to converse in an unfamiliar language. Maybe you just feel out of place, and you don't know why.

Just about everyone who does any sort of international moving will feel this. The key is to develop strategies to confront it.

The first step is just recognizing you have it, and that it's a normal part of your overseas adventure. Just recognizing that culture shock is a normal thing can be therapeutic for dealing with it.

Some ways of dealing it include just talking to other people who have experienced it. Knowing you're not alone is a productive thing.

If you're not around other people from your country, seek out an ex-pat community where you live. The Internet can be particularly helpful this way. Just knowing that others have experienced it, and survived, can be helpful.

Other things to do include spending some time alone, whether reading a book or exercising by yourself. You can also go to places that might be comfortable for you, like a familiar restaurant or a theater that shows movies produced in your home.

However, the only 'real' fix is to understand the culture that's 'shocking' you. Culture shock at its core is unfamiliarity. As you get more used to your surroundings and feeling more comfortable, your culture shock will dissipate in time. But you have to push yourself to get out there so you can get acclimated.

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