Culture shock is caused by the stress of being in a new culture. It is a normal part of adjusting to new foods, customs, language, people and activities. It is important to remember that it is a temporary condition. A person going through culture shock may experience some of the following symptoms:

Although culture shock is uncomfortable, it is a normal part of the adjustment process. There are a number of ways to deal with this experience. Here are some suggestions:

1. 1. Be aware of symptoms. Once you realize you are experiencing culture shock you can take steps to deal with it.
    
2. Ask yourself what are the situations that confuse or irritate you most in the new country? Are you misunderstanding the host people’s treatment of you? Where can you find more information about this aspect of the culture?
   a) Behaviour, which seems rude to you, may not be intended as rude. Polite behaviour is different for each culture. When situations do not seem to make any sense, remember the host may be following social rules unknown to you. Do not be afraid to ask questions about social customs.
   b) If you are still bothered by a situation, find ways to minimize the irritation. Is the situation necessary? If not you may be able to avoid involvement.
3. What do you miss the most from your home country? Look for ways to meet these desires or replace them with something similar. For instance if you miss your favourite sweets ask a relative or friend to mail you some. Be advised that some food items are not permitted in Iceland and may be confiscated by customs. If you miss your favourite T.V. show have someone at home record it and send it to you. You may also wish to explore your new environment and find new favourites.
4. Develop friendships with both Icelandic people and people from your own country. At times friendships with culturally different people will seem hard to maintain. This is why it is important also to have co-nationals to spend time with. This helps you to cope more effectively when interacting cross-culturally. Remember that isolation in either group causes more adjustment problems. Talk to a native with whom you feel at ease, someone you can ask about things when you feel uncomfortable. Ask a friendly co-worker or neighbour if they would be willing to act as a “cultural interpreter”.
5. Talk to co-nationals about your stress and ask them how they have dealt with it. Maybe they have similar feelings and concerns. Explain your worries to them. There may be social clubs and different social activities to get involved in. Ask at the Intercultural Centre if they know of any such clubs.
6. Read up on cross-cultural communication. Do not be afraid to ask questions when you don’t understand something. It is even a good idea to ask questions when you do understand something. Make sure that what you understand is what is really being said. For example, “As I understand it, you are saying.................... Is that correct”? This simple habit can go a long way to avoiding misunderstandings.

7. Continue improving and working on your language skills. Language is the key to feeling like you are a member of a community, and is essential to understanding. The people in your new land will appreciate the efforts you are making.

8. Exercise and a nourishing diet also help to reduce stress. It is important to maintain a proper diet and to maintain a healthy balance between work, leisure and rest.
9. Sometimes it is difficult to understand the local sense of humour. Although it can be difficult, try to keep your sense of humour. Allow yourself to see the humour in misunderstandings and embarrassments. Laughter heals.
10. Remember that culture shock is a normal part of adjusting to a new country and affects many people who travel abroad. However if the symptoms are too severe you may want to look for professional help.