• this world is not my home

You know, when you have had it up to "here" and you just can't take it anymore, when you are starting to freak out and you know it, and you don't want to hurt anyone or embarrass yourself with a public display? What do you do?

I play the guitar or create a new website. I have also been known to hide myself in a dark room and watch a movie from my home culture while eating popcorn.

Generally, an hour or two are all I need, sometimes an evening. At first, this was frequent. Now, after seven years living cross-culturally, it is quite rare.

For me, I sleep.  Actually, the days where everyone is wrong, the way they talk is wrong, the way they drive is wrong, etc. is good for me because I get the best night's sleep.  I'll fall asleep at about 9 or 10 PM, wake up the next day at 8 alive and refreshed. 

Another way I deal with culture shock is to relax like I would in my first culture (American.)  I do this by watching a TV show, or a movie.  This is the way I would relax in America, so why should it be any different overseas?  The location has changed, but I have not changed.

I am not an expert in culture shock by any means, but I have found what has worked for me (through asking different people their perspective.)  If I could recommend something...I would recommend that you ask someone that you are close to how they think you deal with culture shock because an outsiders perspective is very beneficial.  You know yourself the best, which is great, but not always good.  Sometimes we have to be honest with ourselves and be ourselves even though we are in a different area than we are used to.