You are here: DIME Home > Travel and Vacations > Learn How To Prepare Yourself For Culture Shock

Learn How To Prepare Yourself For Culture Shock

The main reason why people want to travel abroad is to see the world in its variety, beauty, and culture. Accordingly, we want to experience different customs and cultures with the aim of broadening our understanding of other cultures.

Author: Andrew Mohebbi
Date: Oct 26, 2009 - 12:02:31 AM

Printer friendly page

The main reason why people want to travel abroad is to see the world in its variety, beauty, and culture. Accordingly, we want to experience different customs and cultures with the aim of broadening our understanding of other cultures. The main problem, however, is when we come to a place unprepared and experience the so-called "culture-shock". No matter how broad-minded we are, sometimes we may get offended, disgusted or irritated with some of the practices that we see in another country. Of course, this works both ways. We may also offend the locals of the country. This in turn may lead us to misunderstand another culture or worse, vow never to return to the place again. That is why it is very important to prepare ourselves before our overseas travel so that we could have a truly worthwhile and satisfying experience.

Cultural sensitivity is a key to fruitful and enjoyable trip abroad. But what does it mean to be culturally sensitive? Of prime importance is getting to know a locale's traditions, customs, and way of life. The more our familiarity with the practice, then the less strange it would seem. Appreciation entails understanding and respect from the traveler. We should be able to see them in their own eyes.

An important travel advice that should be observed by everybody is to be culturally sensitive. This entails getting to know about customs, traditions and local folkways of the place. The key to avoiding misunderstanding is to have a good knowledge and background of the people and locale. That way, we can practice the proper etiquette and respect. Pointing at people for instance is considered insulting in some countries. By knowing information such as this, we are sure to avoid inconveniences along the way.

The importance of communication cannot be overemphasized especially for overseas travel. Not only should we be knowledgeable about the local customs, but the language as well. Not a few would often find themselves frustrated for they are unable to communicate with others. Assuming that everybody speaks the same language as we would, it proves costly. That is why many try to get hold of a phrase book when traveling abroad. That way, we are able to explain ourselves and are able to get around more effectively. Being able to say "thank you" and "please" in the local language is a must.

When it comes to food, we should also be prepared. Those who follow a certain diet like vegetarians must know what kind of dishes they could eat. Trying the local cuisine requires a certain degree of courage so it is best if we know what we are about to put in. Even the gastronomically adventurous would benefit from knowing the local cuisine. We can never know if a dish has an ingredient that we are allergic to. Another advantage is that we can avoid insulting a host and also avoid waste when we are unable to finish the food served or offered.

When choosing and buying souvenirs, we should consider if the items we brought are appropriate or not. This means to say that we should be sensitive on the nature of the items. For instance, some souvenirs are objects that are considered sacred by the locals. As such, they require proper handling or packing. Contrary to common opinion, being culturally sensitive is not that hard. By observing these advices, our travel abroad would surely be a delightful experience.

Are you planning to go on vacation and have fun while travelling? Get tips on travel abroad, overseas travel, <a href="http://www.triphip.com">get travel advice</a> and travel packing tips at Andrew Mohebbi's <a href="http://www.triphip.com">http://www.triphip.com</a>.

View all articles by Andrew Mohebbi

Link to this article:

Related Articles...

Experience Unforgettable Vacation With Gatlinburg Rafting Adventures Jul 13, 2011 - 2:39:18 PM ... [Read the full story]

Expert Advice for Hassle-Free Travel Jul 12, 2011 - 8:20:42 AM Traveling doesn’t always turn out to be a pleasant experience. One has to be fully prepared for the worst of situations including loss of baggage, accident or illness. Traveling to international destinations begins to pose lots of hassles from the planning stage itself as one need to be well prepared on all counts- emotional, physical and financial.... [Read the full story]

Take Control of Outdoor trips with Leatherman Tools May 29, 2011 - 12:48:16 AM Farnham, Surrey - Having the right tools is the key to survival. History points out that the person with the superior tools has always been at the command of their own lives. The outdoors can be a difficult terrain to master and very uncertain. To ensure safety in such locations, the presence of multipurpose knives and tools is essential. Leatherman Store looks to provide people with a chance to acquire the right tools for their next outdoor adventure. With a wide range of quality equipment which have become popular across the markets, Leatherman UK brings to customers easy to handle, and portable multi-purpose knives and other accessories to carry during an outdoor camping or wildlife tour.... [Read the full story]

National Zoo of Washington May 5, 2011 - 1:37:20 PM When you are visiting Washington DC you should not forget to visit the National Zoo of Washington along with your family. The National Zoo is one of the most exquisite places in the world where you can find a wide range of the wild life. It contains species that are very rare and even near extinct in the world. Due to this reason it is playing a great role in protecting the endangered species. Small children in the family enjoy a lot and learn from their trip and thus it is always great to take them along. The zoo also has a walking/ and jogging track where you can enjoy the cool breeze of the morning as well as mesmerize by the beauty of natural... [Read the full story]

---

Newest Articles in Popular Topics:

Business & Marketing	Computers & the Internet	Entertainment	Health & Fitness
Finding Ways To Save Money And Maximize Revenue In Business Cooper's Golf Park Tees Off Their New Website Fiinovation Adjudged CSR Team of the Year & Caring Company at World CSR Day Reasons Why Kale Realty is the Best Real Estate Firm in All of Chicago Montreal Tech Startup Kangaroo Rewards Launches Mobile Loyalty Program for Local Merchants	It is time we break out of the SEO Shelter 3 Strong Reasons You Should Start Your Own Blog Evolve Your Career With CompTIA A+ Certification Exam High speed VMware Backups - Powered by UltraBlaze(™) from Vembu Things to Consider When Selecting a Domain Name for Your Website	Fling Boom "Launches" This Holiday Season Beautiful Abstract Canvas Art is Up for Grabs Buying Art as a Gift: Tips From an Expert Complete Guide to the 2014 Gatlinburg Fine Arts Festival Released by Jackson Mountain Homes Learn Blues Music Online-Alternative to Traditional Piano Lessons	Causes and Treatment of Acne What Type Of Constipation Home Remedies Are There? Manual Wheelchairs: Buying One Instant Facelift with Dental Implants Lasik Surgery Leading Correction Of Vision Issues
Home & Family	Shopping	Sports	Travel
Enhance Your Learning Experience Through Best Responsive Elearning Development Tools Best Apps for Learning German Esvees is Cranbourne's Elite Hair Dressing Company Ozone Generator Practical Tips When Choosing Gates and Gate Openers for Your Home or Business	Why Cases are Required for Mobile Phones? Are Dealership Services Worth It? 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Named Must-Shop SUV for Towing from AutoTrader.com Online Selling With An Appraisal Advantage Macsome AudioBook Converter released New Version V2.0.4	Aditi Ashok signs off with a double Softball Coaching: Avoid Becoming A Nattering Nabob of Negativity Softball Coaching Tips - The Funnel Approach Pick Up Specialized Advice on Jumping Exercises Which Are Highly Effective Vertical Jump Training Tactics to Increase Your Athletic Performance	Tips for Choosing the Right Paris Short Lets Hostels - the best choice for working womens and college students Perfect holiday? Book a cruise and sail in Croatia! Say Aloha to Your Best Vacation Ever with Kohala Coast Properties The Perfect Guide for a Fantastic Family Trip to Kansas City

 

Follow & Share Your Favorite Video Articles

Tell a Friend About This Site

Tweet about this site

Follow @dimeco

Recommended Associates

Putting Up a Small Commercial Printing Business

So You Might Be Unemployed And Desire To Become A San Francisco Real Estate Investor Now

Meditation and Mindfulness: Dealing With Emotion

CPA Websites: Five Essential Ideas for Composing Convincing Articles

Set Goals In Order to Come Up With Your Action Plan

Is the Air in Your Home Safe to Breathe?

Coarse Fishing Tackle Review: The JW Young 13ft Trotter Rod

Section 1031 Exchanges For San Diego Real Estate Investors

Phoenix Real Estate Investing For Highest Possible Earnings

Legendary are the Volk Racing TE37 Wheels

Developing the Next Generation Wall Station (ChaseDesk™) for Healthcare - A Case Study

What are step down transformers?

Introducing Sharehype, the Revolutionary Tool for Online Marketers

Rewards To Shopping For Austin Real Estate On The Web

Hydroponics for Beginners

Do you write?

Would you like submit your articles and have them approved on a priority status? Find out more about how you can become a Priority author for pennies a day! Click here.

News Feed

Dime-co.com Home

Business (9328)

Computers & The Internet (5740)

Entertainment (1348)

Family (958)

Finance (1963)

Health (4246)

Home and Living (6670)

Marketing (6113)

Shopping & Product Reviews (2624)

Sports (694)

Travel and Vacations (1689)

Video Articles (1)

Editors Pick (1)