One of the most common challenges au pairs face is dealing with “culture shock.” Culture shock is a feeling of disorientation many people feel when experiencing an entirely new way of life. Many au pairs find it difficult to adjust to the culture of their host country, so we are here to help you deal with culture shock and make the most of your experience abroad.

Symptoms
Before you leave to be an au pair abroad, make sure you’re familiar with the typical symptoms of culture shock so you can recognize and combat it early on. These symptoms generally include:

• Sadness, loneliness, melancholy
• Preoccupation with health
• Aches, pains, allergies
• Insomnia or excessive sleep
• Changes in mood, depression, feeling vulnerable
• Anger, irritability, resentment
• Loss of identity
• Lack of confidence
• Obsessions over cleanliness
• Longing for family
• Feelings of being lost or overlooked

New Challenges
To be an au pair is a new experience for everyone, and with new experiences come new challenges. You may occasionally feel confused, unsure and uncomfortable in a foreign country. People may have different values and new ways of doing things that seem strange to you. You may feel that everything has changed, including your immediate support system of family and friends. To minimize the shock, you will probably want to keep in touch with family and friends back home—but it is important to also identify new sources of support. You could also contact relatives or friends who live in the same country to ask for their advice.

Combatting Culture Shock
If you are an au pair experiencing culture shock, here are some tips that might help ease your transition:

• Remind yourself that everything you're feeling is perfectly normal
• Keep in touch with your friends and family back home via email, text, or telephone
• Surround yourself with familiar items, such as photos or ornaments
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet; try to find familiar food
• Maintain contact with your ethnic group as well as with local students
• Look for activities that will put you in contact with other students who share your interests
• Maintain your confidence in yourself; follow your ambitions and continue your plans for the future