They've picked you up from the airport and you're on your way to the train station. You're exhausted from the long flights but exhilarated to finally be here in this new country. Everything looks strange and exotic. The people are wearing different clothes, people are speaking a different language, and you've just passed an elephant on the road! This place is amazing and you can't wait to take it all in.

You arrive at the train station and pile out of the taxi with two suitcases, a carry-on bag, and a jacket that is useless in this heat. Suddenly you're swarmed by pushy men in red shirts and turbans. They're in your face and shouting something you can't understand while they try to grab your bags. You look down and find a filthy child tugging at your leg and holding out her hand. Suddenly this is a little bit scary. The guy who picked you up at the airport calls to you to ignore them, pick up your bags and follow him. You try to roll your suitcases, but the ground is uneven, with lots of potholes and steps. Cars are honking everywhere. There are more people than you have ever seen in your life. It smells bad. Is that a cow on the tracks? You can't read the signs and you don't know where to go. Your excitement turns to fear as you realize that if you lose your guide, you'll be completely lost and helpless in a foreign country. You hastily gather up your luggage and hurry forward, narrowly missing a cow pie.

This is your first taste of culture shock.

Much of what we do at Home requires little thought or effort. It comes easily because we know the rules. When we enter a new culture, we find that the rules have changed , and we don't know what they are. Simple things like bathing, eating, shopping, or chatting with a neighbor suddenly become difficult. The emotional and physical stress that results from entering a new environment is called Culture Shock...

Though everyone experiences Culture Shock differently, there are some common indicators. Sometimes the best coping strategy is to be forewarned…

The very words “Culture Shock” make cultural transition sound unpleasant and undesirable, but the truth is that it is worth the struggle. Tourists who remain on the surface never really get to experience the depth that a new culture has to offer. Those who are living for a long period of time in a new culture, though, have a great opportunity to stretch themselves, learn, and change for the better. Most who have gone through Culture Shock are glad they did…

Find out more here.