It might seem surreal for international students who study abroad in Australia but culture shock actually happens to a lot of people. Culture shock comes in different forms for different people. It’s usually the anxiety you feel as someone who is adjusting to a new, unfamiliar environment. This is magnified even more as a new student in a different country.

Australian universities and colleges are known for offering a more progressive kind of education environment, such that free thinking is encouraged. This may not always be the case in other countries, as such, that adds up to the adjustment that you need to do on top of adjusting to the new country you’re in.

Common symptoms of culture shock include feeling frustrated, anxious, angry, sad, lonely or irritable. You may feel lost as if you don’t have direction in your life. This even manifests in your health with some people experiencing aches, pains and insomnia. There’s generally a lack of confidence and insecurity. At the peak of culture shock, there’s a tendency to question your decision to study abroad in Australia.

This emotional rollercoaster can be dealt with integrating yourself in the culture and by emotionally preparing for the move. So, before you study abroad in Australia, prepare yourself by:

• Reading about the country and the culture before you leave
• Reading the Australian school’s literature on what to expect
• Familiarising yourself with the local customs
• Learning the language. Take courses if this is necessary.
• Being open-minded to change.
• Keeping in contact with family and friends back home
• Making new friends in Australia
• Exercising patience.
• Maintaining confidence despite challenges that may come along the way.

Sooner or later, everything will be okay again. If the feeling of sadness or loneliness gets to you, you can try planning for something that would excite you. A holiday or a road trip with your new friends, perhaps? Once you get over the first few bumps and hiccups of moving to a new country, you’ll find that the new culture feels as much your own as your old one.

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