How To Overcome Culture Shock
5 Helpful Tips for Filipinos Who Work in Another Country
Applying for overseas work for the first time? As a future Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), you might want to prepare yourself when you encounter a whole new set of cultures and bouts of homesickness while working abroad.
Working abroad is not all glitz and glamour. Most OFWs know that when you’re working abroad, you need to make certain sacrifices such as giving up buying expensive things in order to send money back home in the Philippines. The money is usually spent on monthly utility bills at home, the children’s tuition fees or projects at school, or monthly amortization if they have bought a house and lot in the Philippines.
Tip #1: Study Everything About The Host Country
Learning the language is also a sign of respect towards the people that you are going to spend time with. It will also help you socialize, gain friends, and avoid being scammed abroad. On top of learning and embracing new traditions, you should always take time to actually learn these things and not rush it.
Tip #2: Push Yourself To Socialize and Immerse in Their Traditions
Cultural appreciation is a conscious effort to broaden your horizons and establish a deeper connection with the locals.
Tip #3: Stay Connected With Your Family and Friends
Your feelings of homesickness are valid and you shouldn’t pretend otherwise. It’s a healthy habit to have someone to talk to when you are going through the four stages of culture shock.
Tip #4: Maintain A Healthy Lifestyle
It’s natural to adapt to the eating habits of the country you are based in. You might eat more pork than usual or you might completely switch to a vegetarian lifestyle. It’s important to get your daily exercise, eat healthy food, and drink your vitamins to maintain great physical and mental health.
Tip #5: Limit Your Expectations
Not only are you adapting to a new home environment, you are also learning how to cope with a different behavior. Putting a limit to your expectations will reduce anxiety and feeling down when some things don’t align with what you had in mind.
Life as an OFW is not all travel goals and more money. It’s challenging and most of the time it’s an emotional rollercoaster. But with all the hardships in between successes, it’s definitely a journey worth taking. Once you feel at home, you’ll treasure the new found friends and memories you have made.
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