A Shock To The System
If theres ever a time in your life to go somewhere completely different and challenge yourself in ways youve never done before, its on your gap year. A gap year is a chance to travel to new and exciting places, learn about cultures that are entirely different to your own and experience a new and unpredictable way of life.
It may come as a surprise then, if once youve landed and are attempting to acclimatise to your new surroundings, it starts to feel a little bit too strange and altogether overwhelming. Dont worry, youre not suffering from seriously delayed jet lag, what youve got is a case of culture shock.
Culture shock effects people in different ways but can leave you feeling a little lost and lonely, maybe even a bit homesick. Though it is a wonderful experience, being in a new country for the first time can be a little disorientating; new people, new culture and a new way of life can all seem a bit much to take in. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to make sure you set off with the know how to deal with every situation you encounter and enough confidence to fill the whole plane, all it takes is a little preparation
Homework doesnt end with school
If you thought study was just for the classroom, thats where youre wrong! Taking the time to do some research about your destination can go a long way towards helping you adjust once youre there, and making sure you can get the most out of your trip. Planning every minute of your trip can be limiting but looking at places youd like to visit and finding out how to get to them can not only maximise your time, it will also give you the confidence youll need to explore the sights once youre in country.
Whether its looking into a countrys history or finding out the price of a meal in a local restaurant, knowledge about your destination can be comforting and its easy to find. The internet is a massively useful resource and there are tons of guidebooks out there to choose from. If youre travelling with a company you will also have access to a treasure trove of pre-departure information.
Companies like Real Gap not only give travellers a full orientation session when they arrive, they provide them with a whole host of useful travel advice, packing tips and information about how to prepare for their travels via an online account. Though reading through it might seem tedious at the time, youll be wishing youd read the packing section when youre eaten alive by mozzies on the first night!
A touch of realism goes a long way
One of the things that makes gap year travel such a fantastic experience is the endless diversity you will encounter. Cultural traditions, social conventions and the standard of living vary all over the world and its important to remember that no two countries are the same. You will often find that the social rules that we follow without question at home are completely redundant overseas, and remembering that youre a visitor in another country will help you to view these differences as an important and enlightening aspect of your trip.
You can significantly lessen the chance of culture shock if you travel with an open mind and maintain realistic expectations. If youre volunteering in an underprivileged country, expecting modern facilities and access to the latest technological gadgets may well leave you disappointed and could increase the possibility of homesickness. Accepting and embracing cultural differences you find will not only greatly enhance your experience; it will allow you to gain an authentic insight into the countrys way of life; after all thats what taking a gap year is all about!
If youve chosen to travel with a company like Real Gap, you will have the reassuring knowledge that there will be a whole team of people there to help you adjust to your new surroundings. Moreover, if youve read all of the handy pre-departure information, youll also have a realistic idea of what life in country will be like, as well as better adaptation skills than a chameleon!
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
A vital part of travelling and exploring other cultures is respecting the rules and beliefs of the country youre in. This doesnt mean that you have to pass the citizenship test or wave the country flag wherever you gobut it does mean that if the country holds different religious or social principals to your own, you may occasionally need to cover up or act a little differently than you normally do.
For most travellers it will make sense that in deeply religious countries, hotpants may not be the best idea, however, some Brits have gained a rather unfortunate reputation for over-exposure. Take Waderlusts lead and Put your Brits away while youre overseas and your trip will be an enriching and positive experience.
Another helpful tip is to bear in mind that certain places, names, people and even animals might have special significance, and showing them the same respect the locals do will make your cultural immersion a much easier transition. Other social quirks and cultural peculiarities might also leave you feeling like youve landed on a different planet, if youre willing to bite the bullet and not only respect them, but give them a try, youll feel a lot less like a stranger and more like part of the community in no time!
Top culture shock busting tips
If youre still feeling a little worried about taking the cultural plunge, here are a few extra trips to help you stay level headed, no matter which side of the world youre on! Here are the top 3 culture shock busting trips
Shutdown those panic stations
No one expects you to be able to speak the local lingo and know the streets like the back of your hand straight away, so neither should you. If you feel homesick, dont worry about it, its normal to feel a bit unsteady in a new country, give yourself a few days and that excited travel buzz will soon kick in!
You are the one and only
Travelling will inevitably change your life and may even change you, but that doesnt mean you need to make a conscious effort to be someone else as soon as you get there. Losing your sense of self will only increase any feelings of being lost so keep a clear sense of who you are and be open and friendly to your fellow travellers. Youll make more friends and feel like youve added, rather than lost an element of your personality.
Theres no place like home
If there are certain people, pets or places that you know youre going to miss, take a picture or a little memento with you that will remind you of them. Your little pieces of home wont take up much room in your bag and can be comforting to have a look at if youre feeling a bit blue.
If an I love London key ring just isnt enough, you can always find ways to stay in contact with the people you miss. Internet cafes are available almost everywhere, so you can chat and email around the world. Volunteer and gap year providers such as Real Gap will even give you a global SIM, so you can natter for real if cyber contact isnt enough!
Feeling less apprehensive about cultural exploration? There are plenty of travel options open to you, if youd like to check out the choices from Real Gap the company website is http://www.realgap.co.uk
It may come as a surprise then, if once youve landed and are attempting to acclimatise to your new surroundings, it starts to feel a little bit too strange and altogether overwhelming. Dont worry, youre not suffering from seriously delayed jet lag, what youve got is a case of culture shock.
Culture shock effects people in different ways but can leave you feeling a little lost and lonely, maybe even a bit homesick. Though it is a wonderful experience, being in a new country for the first time can be a little disorientating; new people, new culture and a new way of life can all seem a bit much to take in. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to make sure you set off with the know how to deal with every situation you encounter and enough confidence to fill the whole plane, all it takes is a little preparation
Homework doesnt end with school
If you thought study was just for the classroom, thats where youre wrong! Taking the time to do some research about your destination can go a long way towards helping you adjust once youre there, and making sure you can get the most out of your trip. Planning every minute of your trip can be limiting but looking at places youd like to visit and finding out how to get to them can not only maximise your time, it will also give you the confidence youll need to explore the sights once youre in country.
Whether its looking into a countrys history or finding out the price of a meal in a local restaurant, knowledge about your destination can be comforting and its easy to find. The internet is a massively useful resource and there are tons of guidebooks out there to choose from. If youre travelling with a company you will also have access to a treasure trove of pre-departure information.
Companies like Real Gap not only give travellers a full orientation session when they arrive, they provide them with a whole host of useful travel advice, packing tips and information about how to prepare for their travels via an online account. Though reading through it might seem tedious at the time, youll be wishing youd read the packing section when youre eaten alive by mozzies on the first night!
A touch of realism goes a long way
One of the things that makes gap year travel such a fantastic experience is the endless diversity you will encounter. Cultural traditions, social conventions and the standard of living vary all over the world and its important to remember that no two countries are the same. You will often find that the social rules that we follow without question at home are completely redundant overseas, and remembering that youre a visitor in another country will help you to view these differences as an important and enlightening aspect of your trip.
You can significantly lessen the chance of culture shock if you travel with an open mind and maintain realistic expectations. If youre volunteering in an underprivileged country, expecting modern facilities and access to the latest technological gadgets may well leave you disappointed and could increase the possibility of homesickness. Accepting and embracing cultural differences you find will not only greatly enhance your experience; it will allow you to gain an authentic insight into the countrys way of life; after all thats what taking a gap year is all about!
If youve chosen to travel with a company like Real Gap, you will have the reassuring knowledge that there will be a whole team of people there to help you adjust to your new surroundings. Moreover, if youve read all of the handy pre-departure information, youll also have a realistic idea of what life in country will be like, as well as better adaptation skills than a chameleon!
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
A vital part of travelling and exploring other cultures is respecting the rules and beliefs of the country youre in. This doesnt mean that you have to pass the citizenship test or wave the country flag wherever you gobut it does mean that if the country holds different religious or social principals to your own, you may occasionally need to cover up or act a little differently than you normally do.
For most travellers it will make sense that in deeply religious countries, hotpants may not be the best idea, however, some Brits have gained a rather unfortunate reputation for over-exposure. Take Waderlusts lead and Put your Brits away while youre overseas and your trip will be an enriching and positive experience.
Another helpful tip is to bear in mind that certain places, names, people and even animals might have special significance, and showing them the same respect the locals do will make your cultural immersion a much easier transition. Other social quirks and cultural peculiarities might also leave you feeling like youve landed on a different planet, if youre willing to bite the bullet and not only respect them, but give them a try, youll feel a lot less like a stranger and more like part of the community in no time!
Top culture shock busting tips
If youre still feeling a little worried about taking the cultural plunge, here are a few extra trips to help you stay level headed, no matter which side of the world youre on! Here are the top 3 culture shock busting trips
Shutdown those panic stations
No one expects you to be able to speak the local lingo and know the streets like the back of your hand straight away, so neither should you. If you feel homesick, dont worry about it, its normal to feel a bit unsteady in a new country, give yourself a few days and that excited travel buzz will soon kick in!
You are the one and only
Travelling will inevitably change your life and may even change you, but that doesnt mean you need to make a conscious effort to be someone else as soon as you get there. Losing your sense of self will only increase any feelings of being lost so keep a clear sense of who you are and be open and friendly to your fellow travellers. Youll make more friends and feel like youve added, rather than lost an element of your personality.
Theres no place like home
If there are certain people, pets or places that you know youre going to miss, take a picture or a little memento with you that will remind you of them. Your little pieces of home wont take up much room in your bag and can be comforting to have a look at if youre feeling a bit blue.
If an I love London key ring just isnt enough, you can always find ways to stay in contact with the people you miss. Internet cafes are available almost everywhere, so you can chat and email around the world. Volunteer and gap year providers such as Real Gap will even give you a global SIM, so you can natter for real if cyber contact isnt enough!
Feeling less apprehensive about cultural exploration? There are plenty of travel options open to you, if youd like to check out the choices from Real Gap the company website is http://www.realgap.co.uk
