Fully immersing yourself in a different culture and lifestyle can be incredibly fun and interesting. It can also be incredibly awkward and uncomfortable. Have no fear! There are ways to ease the initial transition and not feel like every day is equivalent to a bucket of water being splashed over your head.
Remember that every day in your host country is going to be full of new people, food, sights, sounds, smells, tastes, commutes…everything! Help yourself fully embrace the newness in your host community, by breaking out of your day to day hometown routines.
Have you taken the same route to school the whole year? Mix it up. Throw in some different streets-even if it adds a minute to your usual commute.
Only like to watch dramatic, Victorian era period pieces? Get crazy. Watch some stand-up comedy instead.
Prefer to keep a steady diet of steamed broccoli with hot sauce? Get out of your food rut by adding some raisins.
Get nervous even thinking about talking to someone new? Do it anyway. You might as well use that nervous energy and expand your social circle.
Below are some other ideas, offered by fellow Greenheart Travelers, to inspire you for your something new. I threw a few of my own in there too!
Now get out there and shake up your day!
I am very familiar with bieng out of my comfort zone. Daily I eat new foods.
my mom went to culinary school when I was 5 and made me try new foods constantly.
Trying new food is definitely a way to taste outside of a familiar flavor palette. Thanks for sharing!