The Five Stages of Culture Shock
1. The Honeymoon Stage
You're in love with a new destination. Everything is great at this stage as it is new.
The Five Stages of Culture Shock
2. Hostility and Irritability
A new culture can quickly become overwhelming, confusing and fraustrating. This is when cultural differences can be challenging
The Five Stages of Culture Shock
3. Gradual Adjustment
You begin to slowly adjust to your surrondings. Things start to make more sense as you settle in to your new destination.
The Five Stages of Culture Shock
4. Adaptation
The cultural differences are overcome and you accept these differences. You're much more comfortable in this new destination. How long it takes to get to this point is hard to say.
The Five Stages of Culture Shock
5. Re-Entry Travel Shock
After everything, when you return home, things are different from what you're used to. It's easy to think things won't catch you off guard, but it's very common for re-entry travel shock to get even seasoned travelers.