Overcome Culture Shock

Expats moving overseas or working abroad will certainly experience some degree of culture shock. Whether you’re completely lost in translation, adapting to the frenetic pace of a big city, or struggling to get used to different systems of religion and politics, relocation takes some getting used to.

More than anything, expats overcoming culture shock will find there’s no such thing as a black and white comprehensive guide to the ins and outs of settling. Acclimatisation exists in a permanent greyscale.

Peruse the following articles about cultural customs, eccentric etiquette and learning language to better prepare yourself for living or working overseas.

Articles about overcoming culture shock

General

• Expat repatriation: a guide for expat kids returning home for college
• Expat Adjustment: The Second Settling In - A Two Part Series
• Making the first connection - establishing new friendships
• Beating Loneliness as an expat
• From Small Town Comfort to Big City Calamity
• Managing expat communication - a balancing act
• Green Values Now the Norm in the Bay Area
• Cultural Intelligence Matters
• Expatriate Management Skills

Culture Shock in Europe

• Study Abroad in Spain: How to Make the Most Out of Your Time
• Northern Exposure: Surviving winter in the Nordics as an expat
• Got Light? The Importance of Sunlight While Living in the Nordics
• Four things to know before you move to the Netherlands

Culture Shock in the Middle East

• Ramadan for Expats in the Middle East
• Religion and Worship in Saudi Arabia
• Cultural Adjustments in the UAE
• Culture Shock in the Arab World

Culture Shock in Asia

• Learning to Speak Thai: the Ins and Outs of Tackling the Thai Language
• Six Steps to Tapping into Local Culture in Southeast Asia
• Street Smarts: Guide to Eating at a Hawker Centre in Singapore
• Surviving Jakarta: An expats account of culture shock in Indonesia
• What to expect when moving to Delhi: Advice from an expat and cross-cultural expert