Archives for August 2012

Whether you are staying in a different country for two years or your stay is just two months you are likely to experience some degree of culture shock. Everyone is different and the way you experience and adapt to culture shock depends on where you are staying, your state of mind and the particular challenges you have to face overseas. But there are common stages of culture shock and certain things you can do to adapt.

The first stage of life in a new country is usually happiness and fascination with the new and interesting things you are experiencing. You are confident and excited and you are eager to experience all that you can in your new country. The second stage is disappointment and frustration, which may occur after around six months away (or even earlier). You feel confused about certain aspects of life, you miss your family and you feel lonely. Some days you feel positive and others highly negative.

The next stage is an adjustment or recovery from negative feelings. You feel more confident with the language and your life, you are steadily becoming more involved in your new life and you feel more positive. The final stage of culture shock is your period of adjustment to your new life where you feel much more comfortable in your new home. You have made some friends and you are more confident about how things work in your new country. You are generally content with your new life.

The first stages are obviously the hardest to deal with. Make sure you have someone to talk to when you are feeling negative and irritated with life – make time to treat yourself and take it easy. Stress can make feelings of culture shock worse. Don’t feel inadequate or odd if you are suffering from culture shock. It happens to almost everyone and it is something you can deal with over time.

When you travel abroad it is always a good idea to take a few first aid essentials with you in a kit that you can easily carry. Accidents and health incidents happen when you travel and there are a few things you can have with you to treat minor ailments. You may not be able to buy first aid items when you are traveling, and if you can the items may be more expensive than you are used to and you probably won’t be able to find your favorite brands. Don’t go overboard – it’s important to be able to carry your bag so don’t overload yourself.

What is essential for a travel first aid kit? Pack some gauze pads and adhesive tape for cuts, as well as band aids in various sizes and an elastic strap for sprains. You can also include antihistamine tablets for allergic reactions and antihistamine cream for bug bites. Take anti-diarrhea medication as well as medication for seasickness if you are going on a cruise. Take pads for treating blisters and some painkilling medication for headaches and the flu.

You should include some insect repellent, and a good quality sun screen, as well as your own personal prescription items. Keep your prescription drugs in your carry on luggage to prevent loss. A small pair of scissors in addition to a pair of tweezers will also be useful. You need to keep your kit in your checked baggage because scissors and liquids and creams will not pass through security in your carry on luggage.

In addition to a first aid kit, the most important thing you can carry when you travel is visitor health insurance. For anything other than a minor ailment or illness you need to visit a hospital or doctor, and for this you need visitor insurance if you don’t want to end up with large medical bills.

Travel can involve some risks, which is why travel insurance is so important. But with a little forward planning, preparation and knowledge about your destination you can help avoid problems and minimize the risk of a stressful vacation. It is useful to pay attention to travel warnings and recommendations so you can take appropriate steps to prevent problems. At this time of the year, hurricane and typhoon season may affect your destination.

Hurricane and typhoon season in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean is current now and continues until the beginning of December. This means hurricanes or strong winds could affect vacation destinations in these areas. Tourists are advised to take heed of warnings and take appropriate action in the event of bad weather.

After storms, visitors are often left in uncomfortable situations and may encounter less than ideal conditions depending on the severity of the storm. You may be delayed waiting to travel out off the country due to damage to the infrastructure. Roads and airports are often affected by hurricane winds meaning limited flights and difficulty reaching the airport. You may encounter problems with flooding and landslides.

If you are in an area that is scheduled to be affected by a hurricane or typhoon you need to keep current with information by watching the local media. You can also get information on the US State Department website. Follow the advice of local authorities when it comes to evacuation. Keep in close contact with friends and relatives and make sure someone knows your whereabouts. You can be protected from many potential problems in hurricane season by making sure you have good quality visitor insurance. Buying visitor insurance before you travel helps limit the chances you will be stuck with a large bill for unexpected delays or medical expenses.