How culture shock will add to personal life experience:

When travelling to a new environment, it may be a harrowing experience and frightening for some. Be it for study, work, or travel, entering a new culture can be exciting from pure curiosity. Experiencing these shocks can be worrying but are valuable nonetheless in adding into our life experiences so long no one is offended or nothing impolite is done. Here's why we think experiencing culture shock can be beneficial for the individual.

1. Adds to knowledge of context between countries:

When thrown into a new country with a culture that is completely different, adjusting requires perseverance and determination. It is easy but this allows us to take a good look at how people in other countries go about their everyday life and deal with conflicts in their own unique way. Most of the time, different cultures present different form of challenges and these will help us understand the context of the country.

2. Adaptability:

In a new environment, it is expected that we quickly adapt and adopt the status quo. This forces the person to break out of their comfort zone and immerse themselves into the culture. Breaking out of our shells is one of the responses to culture shocks and this shapes personality for the future.

3. Growth of open-mindedness:

Far away from our old stomping grounds, we have no other choice but to rely on ourselves and monitor our behaviour, manners, and actions. This causes a person to become more observant. As the individual grows in their new environment, the chance influences them to be more open-minded about others, becoming more understanding and accepting of their ways of life

4. Networking and exchange of information:

Receiving culture shocks may be embarrassing at first but this can be seen as a spark to network and connect with locals who can show the ropes and exchange information. When conversing with newly made contacts and connections, it would benefit both sides by sharing the differences and learning from one another.

5. Understand the world and how we are connected:

With a wider connection and network of friends, acquaintances or partners, this opens our world and broadens the horizons of our view of the world. In troubled times, we can rely on our connections and try to solve the problem in mutual interest. Culture shocks also presents the fact that no matter how different a community can be from the other, we are all connected and share the world together; which in turn presents new opportunities and issues as we grow together.

Aside these, experiencing culture shocks will leave us with memories that may be humorous after a few years down the road. It will stay with us and may be a way to crack and break the ice with new contacts when we share our experiences with others.

Nonetheless, we urge everyone to not be petrified by the possibility of making a fool out of ourselves as growing and learning is part of life. Be sure to apologize and do research when entering a new culture so the effects of the shock may be reduced.

Till next time, safe travels and have a great time on your journey!