What do you mean they don't speak English
in France?!?
You've recognized the signs, you've got the symptoms and you are
100% sure that you are suffering from some serious culture shock.
Everywhere you go, you can't stop thinking (and talking) about how
much better things are in America. Unfortunately, this means you're
missing out on the amazing experiences that your temporary home has
to offer.
Don't worry, there's hope!
The first
step is to acknowledge that when you're in a foreign country, you
have to expect differences, and most importantly,
you have to keep reminding yourself that different doesn't
mean worse. Open yourself up to the differences and try to
see them as opportunities to explore and try something new!
Second, change
your mindset about your experiences. Stop focusing on the
negative, and whatever you do,
don't make generalizations. Say you go out to
dinner in Seville and hate the food you order. If you're letting
culture shock get the best of you, you'll spend the whole night
complaining about your dinner, conclude that Spanish food is
disgusting and possibly waste an evening. If you're making the most
of your time in Spain, you'll mentally congratulate yourself for
being adventurous and trying something new, decide to continue on
the path to finding your favorite Spanish dish and just order
dessert early (because literally every dessert in Spain is
delicious, and if you don't agree then there might not be any hope
for you). In all seriousness though, keep yourself from deciding
that one bad experience is an indicator of what every experience
will be like.
Third, and most
importantly, explore, explore, explore. One great
way to ensure that you won't enjoy your time abroad is to spend all
your time in your dorm room. The more you get out there and try to
experience the culture and everything the country has to offer, the
more great memories you'll make. On an important side note--
remember that during your explorations, it's essential to
stay flexible. Is it raining today in Paris?
Great! Sounds like a perfectly good excuse to spend the day in a
cozy café sipping coffee, wandering through a museum or taking
advantage of one of the city's legendary shopping centers.
You can spend your time abroad any number of ways, but it's
important to remember that the opportunity to travel to or live in
a different country doesn't come around every day. Keep an open
mind, and don't let culture shock ruin what could be a
life-changing experience.