Traveling Abroad: 3 Ways to Combat Culture Shock

Many times when students travel abroad for either a short or extended period of time, they experience some sort of culture shock. The feelings of culture shock can either be barely noticeable, or hardly tolerable, but the most important thing to remember is that the feelings of culture shock are completely normal! We have compiled a list of common feelings that students often express when traveling abroad and how those students dealt with the shock. Do you have some additional experiences? Feel free to share them in the comment section with us!

1. You become frustrated with new or different foods.

• Offer to cook a meal from your home country for your host family. This gesture will allow you to experience a bit of your home culture while also sharing it with your host family. Every country has a unique array of foods, but it is comforting when you can taste something from home every now and then!

2. You become discouraged when trying to speak German.

• Carry a dictionary with you and don't be afraid to use it when you don't know a word or are confused in conversation. This effort shows that you are trying to learn the language and do not want to depend on your English. Another way to overcome the language barrier is to practice! Make a deal with a German friend that you will only speak German to him or her. Let your friend practice English with you and then it's a win-win situation!

3. The smallest differences start to bother you. You overreact and don't understand why.

• Start a journal and write your feelings down every day. Perhaps this will help you understand your frustrations and work through them. It's OK to talk about your feelings with others and remember that differences are not good or bad - they are just different than your norm.

We encourage our students to integrate fully into the German life when they come to high school in Germany. By providing them avenues of support through the DFSR office, coordinators in their region throughout the country, and other students studying abroad, we hope that all students have a positive experience and cultural immersion into the day-to-day life of a German.

Have you had an experience with culture shock? Feel free to share it with us!

Bicycle Rides & German Lessons: High School Orientation Begins!

Our inbound students sporting their new DFSR shirts!

This week we welcomed seven students from Canada, Ecuador and Brazil for our High School Program. They are spending two weeks here at the DFSR headquarters in Heppenheim, Germany before meeting their host families and going to their new homes throughout the country.

So far this week, the students have enjoyed shopping at the local supermarket, riding the new DFSR bikes throughout the Heppenheim countryside and learning German in their intensive course. They stay at the DFSR student residency and are able to get to know one another, the DFSR staff and the town of Heppenheim. By getting to know each another, the students form a bond and support system for their remaining year in Germany. With intensive German courses for two weeks, the students will be able to dive right into their classes at their new high school!

We asked Katia from Canada about her time here so far in Heppenheim and she explained:

"My favorite part so far is that there is a connection between all of the students and we are able to become very close.  I also like that Heppenheim is so small and easy to get around and that we are able to have independence here. The food is different but in a good way- very different than in my home country but it's fun to try all of the new foods! What I am most looking forward to about meeting my host family is to see the connection between us. I have talked to them on the phone and we are both excited to meet each other!" - Katia

Katia from Canada enjoys a bike ride through Heppenheim.

Time for a bike ride with the new DFSR bikes!

Learning about fruits and vegetables before visiting the market

Students in the intensive German course

Students enjoying lunch together in our  kitchen