5 Ways You Can Ease Reverse Culture Shock When Traveling

Reverse culture shock is a feeling of disorientation that can occur when you return to your home country after living in another country. 

This can be caused by the sudden change in your surroundings, the people you interact with and the way you are expected to behave. Reverse culture shock can be a very confusing and overwhelming experience, but there are ways to cope with it.

There are some things you can do to ease the experience of reverse culture shock:

1. Be Prepared for the Change  

Make sure you have a solid plan for your return home, including where you will live and how you will support yourself. This will help reduce the stress and anxiety that can come with making such a big transition.

2. Stay in Touch with Your Friends and Family

When you’re away from home, it can be easy to feel isolated and alone. Staying in touch with the people you love can help alleviate some of that feeling. 

When you keep up to date with the goings on in your loved ones’ lives, it can feel like you were never away from each other. You should be able to transition back into your old life in a much easier way and feel less lonely and awkward about interacting with them.

3. Be Patient with Yourself

The emotional and psychological effects of reverse culture shock can pop up when you least expect them. You may feel disoriented and confused. These feelings are normal and may linger longer than you’d like.

Allow yourself time to adjust to your new surroundings and don’t be too hard on yourself if things don’t go perfectly at first. It takes time to get used to a new place, and there will be bumps along the way.

4. Seek Out Support

If you’re finding it difficult to adjust, there are many resources available to help. There are often support groups for people who have gone through similar experiences, and you can also speak to a therapist or counselor if you’re struggling. 

You may also find it helpful to read books or articles about adjusting to the same life.

5. Find Things to Enjoy About Your New Home

Moving to a new place can be difficult, but there are usually things about the new place that you come to enjoy. Try to focus on those things.

When you travel to volunteer abroad, you have the opportunity to make a positive impact in the communities you visit. This type of travel can also help you build new skills and knowledge and improve your professional development. All of these factors create a meaningful travel experience.

Volunteering while abroad can help you to feel good about the time you spent in another country and how you contributed to a positive global impact. It can also give you a new perspective that may make you see your place in the world in a more positive light when you return home.

Why Volunteer Abroad?

Volunteering abroad can be one of the most rewarding experiences in your life. It can help you gain new skills, knowledge and experiences while making a difference in the world.

Find your passion abroad through Volunteering Solutions. We offer a short-term volunteer abroad program where you can experience culture and help those in need. Get in touch with us today to learn how.