Culture Shock & How to Adapt to Life Abroad – My Honest Story by Shivansh - iFlyLink : Study Abroad Scholarships, Math Challenges , University Guides

Hey everyone, I’m Shivansh. When I moved abroad for my studies, I thought it would be all excitement, travel, friends and fun. And yes, it was—but there was also something I wasn’t totally ready for: **culture shock**. In this post I’m going to walk you through what culture shock really means, what I personally faced, and **how you can adapt to life abroad** in a healthy, confident way. This isn’t just generic advice—it’s real, human, and with my personal touches.

What Is Culture Shock (in My Words)

When I first landed in a new country, everything felt fresh: the food, the weather, the faces, the rules. I was pumped. But after a few weeks, I noticed things like “Why is dinner at 10 pm here?”, “Why do people talk so directly?”, “Why do I feel lonely even though I’m surrounded by people?” That, I came to realise, was culture shock. According to study-abroad guides: “culture shock is a feeling of disorientation or discomfort when you enter a new environment or culture.” :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

In short: you’re away from home, in a place where many things (language, social norms, pace of life) are different—and it takes time to adjust.

The Typical Phases I Went Through (And You Might) 🌀

From my experience (and supported by other research) culture-shock doesn’t hit all at once—it happens in phases. Understanding these phases helped me feel *less weird* about what I was going through. Good news: recognizing them means you can manage them better.

Honeymoon phase: Everything’s new, exciting, you’re loving it. For me it lasted maybe 3-4 weeks. I was taking selfies, exploring the city, telling everyone I was living the dream.
Crisis / culture-shock phase: Then came the “why is this so weird” phase. I missed things from home. I felt misunderstood. I got frustrated over small stuff (queue culture, campus rules, local humour I didn’t get). This aligns with what many guides say. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Adjustment phase: Slowly things started to make sense. I found rhythm, made friends, learnt shortcuts, felt somewhat comfortable.
Adaptation / integration: This is when life starts to feel normal. I wasn’t completely “at home” like I would be back home, but I was comfortable enough to enjoy rather than just survive.

It’s important to note: you might not flow linearly through these, you may jump back and forth. I did. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

My Biggest Culture Shock Moments

Here are three personal experiences that shook me (in a good way) and taught me something:

The food schedule change: I was used to eating dinner by 7 pm at home. In my host city, dinners started at 9-10 pm. At first I was hungry, weirded out, and felt out of sync.
The social small talk gap: Back home I could jump into conversations easily. Here, people seemed more reserved, I felt like I didn’t know when to speak or how to join the conversation.
The academic style difference: My home university was lecture-dominated; here it was group work, seminars, lots of participation. I felt uneasy about speaking up. It triggered self-doubt.

Every one of those triggered a small panic moment for me. But later I realised they were *growth moments*.

Why Adapting Matters (More than You Think)

Adaptation isn’t about “giving up your culture” or “becoming someone else”. It’s more about finding your place in the new culture while keeping your own identity. According to one resource: it’s about developing “flexibility/adaptability”, “open-mindedness”, “empathy” and other skills that help you not just abroad but for life. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

For me, adapting meant I could enjoy the experience, perform better academically, build friendships, and avoid the dreaded “counting days until I go home” mindset.

My Framework for Adapting to Life Abroad

Here’s a structure I developed (and used) for myself. You can use a notebook or mobile app and score yourself in each area, so you stay on track.

Mindset shift – Accept that you will feel weird; it’s normal.
Learn & research – Know the culture, language basics, norms, local habits.
Connect & engage – Built local friendships, joined clubs, attended events.
Routine & self-care – Maintain healthy habits to ground yourself.
Reflect & adapt – Journal your feelings, track changes, adjust plans.
Balance home & host culture – Stay connected with home, but invest in the new place.

Mindset Shift

I remember thinking: “Am I the only one feeling like this?” Once I realised most people feel this way, it eased a lot of pressure. Guides say: “You will become more relaxed, regain your self-confidence, and enjoy life in your new country.” :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

What helped me:

Reminding myself: *This is temporary, and I will adapt.*
Telling myself: *Feeling different doesn’t equal failure.*
Accepting that some habits from home may need temporary pause or change.

Learn & Research

Before going and after arriving I spent time researching: local customs, how people greet each other, typical student life, local language phrases. One excellent tip: “Research your host country: travel forums, ask people who have been there.” :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Examples I did:

Learned key local language phrases (“hello”, “please”, “thank you”, “sorry I don’t understand”).
Read about the culture of the city/university I was going to—what’s considered polite/rude.
Checked typical student blogs from the host country to get a sense of day-to-day life.

Connect & Engage

It was tempting at first to hang out only with students from my home country (because it felt safe). But I realised that limited me. I made an effort to:

Join student organisations & cultural clubs.
Talk to roommates/flatmates and ask about their culture.
Attend local events (festivals, sports, field trips) even if I felt shy at first.

Studies show: making local friends and engaging helps reduce culture shock significantly. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Routine & Self-Care

While adventure is fun, I found that I also needed some “home-anchors”: a routine, familiar habits, self-care. Without this, the “fun new place” feeling easily slid into “I’m overwhelmed”. Here’s what worked for me:

Exercise regularly (running, gym, yoga). Movement helps mental reset.
Schedule weekly video-calls with family/friends back home.
Keep one familiar habit: for me it was Sunday cooking session with flatmates—a dish from back home.
Sleep and eat reasonably. Jet-lag & weird meals messed me up early on.

Reflect & Adapt

I kept a simple journal (mobile app + handwritten notes) where I wrote one line each evening: “What surprised me today? What did I learn? What felt odd? What am I grateful for?”

Over weeks I saw the notes shift from “I felt left out” to “I made a local friend” and that felt good. Reflection helped me interpret my feelings rather than suppress them. Many resources advise journaling to process culture shock. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Balance Home & Host Culture

One challenge I had: I either hung out only with Indian friends (felt safe) or tried to fully “be local” (felt fake). The sweet spot was somewhere in between.

What I did:

Kept one meal a week where I cooked Indian food or called home.
On other days, I tried a local dish or invited local friends to try Indian food.
I spoke with home friends about what I’m experiencing—this made me feel anchored.

Challenges You’ll Likely Face (And How I Dealt With Them)

Here’s a breakdown of typical challenges and how I addressed them—useful for your own strategy.

Challenge	My Experience	Strategy That Helped
Homesickness	Missed home, friends, favourite food especially in the first month.	Video-calls home, invited new friends over to cook something “home-like”, joined a cultural club.
Language barrier / feeling left out	Missed jokes, could not fully follow casual chats, group discussions felt tougher.	Learned key phrases, asked flatmate to explain slang, joined language-exchange groups.
Academic style difference	Classes expected active discussion; I was used to lectures so I held back.	Went to study-skills workshop, asked professor questions after class, formed study group with locals/internationals.
Social culture differences	How meetings started late, how people greeted each other differently, food portion sizes surprised me. For example I was amused when someone told me that big plates = good value. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}	I asked questions, observed behaviour, accepted it wasn’t “wrong”, just different. I slowed down, watched, asked friends for context.
Feeling isolated / not connecting	In a corridor full of students from host country, I still felt apart because I didn’t know the references.	Joined clubs, signed up for buddy programmes, volunteered—any activity that forces interaction.

Practical Checklist for You (My Pre-Departure + Post-Arrival)

Having a checklist made me feel prepared rather than reactive. Feel free to copy/adapt this.

Learn at least 10–15 phrases in the host country’s language (“Hello”, “Excuse me”, “Thank you”, “Can you help?”).
Research cultural norms: greetings, tipping, public behaviour, classroom etiquette.
Pack one comfort item from home (photo, favourite snack, local music playlist).
Find and join social media groups for new students at your university before arrival.
On arrival: attend orientation, make at least one host-country local friend in the first month.
Within first 2 weeks: explore your neighbourhood (grocery store, local bus/tram, local hangout).
Set a weekly reflection habit (journal or voice note) about your feelings and adjustments.
Plan a “first month” budget and include visits to one local cultural event/trip to immerse.
If you feel stuck: reach out to international student services, counsellor or peer mentor. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

FAQ – What Students Ask (And My Honest Answers)

Q: Is culture shock only experienced by new students abroad?

Not at all. Even students who have travelled before can feel culture shock, especially if the host culture is very different. The key is to expect it, accept it, and manage it. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

Q: How long will culture shock last?

There’s no fixed timeline. For some, a few weeks; for others, a few months. What matters is your adaptation pace, your engagement level, and your self-care. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

Q: Can I avoid culture shock completely?

Not really. It’s a normal reaction to new culture. Trying to “skip” it often means you don’t engage deeply and miss growth. But you can reduce its impact with preparation. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

Q: What signs should I watch out for that mean I’m struggling?

Look out for persistent homesickness, avoidance of social interaction, anxiety, trouble sleeping/eating, feeling constantly “left out”. These might suggest you need support. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}

Q: Will it get better on its own?

Yes, but you don’t just wait—you take actions that help yourself move forward. My adaptation progressed faster when I actively engaged rather than just hoping time would fix it.

Internal Links – Related Posts

My Final Take (From Me to You)

Living abroad changed me in ways I didn’t expect. The culture shock, the weird moments, the loneliness—they all became part of my story. But more importantly, adapting to them helped me grow. If I were to give one piece of advice: **embrace the weird**, because inside the weird is your growth zone.

You will feel awkward, maybe lost—but that’s okay. It means you’re trying. And trying means you’re learning. Make it fun, stay curious, reach out when needed, and remember—and this is important—this experience is not just about getting a degree abroad. It’s about discovering *you* in a different world.

If you ever want to talk about specific cultural surprises you faced, send me a message or comment below—I’d love to hear your story and share mine.

Safe travels, curious learning, and meaningful adaptation! 😊

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Culture Shock & How to Adapt to Life Abroad – My Honest Story by Shivansh