• HOME
  • About
  • Shop
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Shop
  • Destinations
    • North America
      • United States
        • Arizona
        • Florida
        • Hawaii
        • Nevada
        • South Dakota
        • Utah
        • Wisconsin
        • Wyoming
        • National Parks
      • St. Lucia
    • Europe
      • Faroe Islands
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • United Kingdom
    • Oceania
      • French Polynesia
        • Bora Bora
        • Tahiti
        • Hawaii
    • Africa
      • South Africa
    • Hotel Reviews
  • Travel Tips
    • All Travel Tips
    • Cultural Competence
  • Travel Essentials
    • Gift Guides
    • Packing Ideas
    • Travel Outfits
  • Travel Photography
    • Camera Gear
    • Photography Tips
    • Photography Guides
  • Contact
  • Work With Me
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Search

    Let's be friends!

    The crystal clear waters of St. Thomas, US Virgin The crystal clear waters of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. 🌺

📍Sapphire Beach & Magen’s Bay

#stthomasvirginislands #stthomasusvi #usvi #usvirginislands #visitusvi
    Who says you need to stay in hostels to travel on Who says you need to stay in hostels to travel on a budget ☝🏼

Although I have stayed in some nice hostels and tasted some delicious cheap street food throughout my life, this type of travel is for a VERY niche group of people.

So what about the rest of us? Those of us who love luxury travel and meaningful cultural experiences but also love comfort, security and convenience?

Here are a few of my favorite ways to luxury travel on a budget:

✔️Travel hacking flights.
✔️Using Google Flights to track down the cheapest flights.
✔️Booking 4/5-star hotels on Hotwire.
✔️Cruises (the newest addition to my budget travel tips)!

As always, I’m here to answer any budget travel questions you have (hmu in the comments or DMs). If you want to learn my exact strategy for how to travel on a budget, click the link in my bio. ✈️

#budgettravel #luxuryonabudget #travelonabudget #luxurytravel #travelreel
    I hear “indigo” is the brightest color of the I hear “indigo” is the brightest color of the wind. 🌬

Where will the wind take us next? (Hint: it’s one of the biggest cities in the US!! 🌃)

#travelerlife #travelbloggers #travelblogger
    7 days at sea with @royalcaribbean 🌊 We were o 7 days at sea with @royalcaribbean 🌊

We were on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Of The Seas ship, and, let’s just say, there was no shortage of entertainment.

Between the free comedy shows, karaoke bars, Olympic-level figure skating, rock climbing, zip lining, surfing, pools, hot tubs, Broadway musicals and MORE, there’s no way you can be bored while on board.

Would you sail on Oasis? 🚢 

#royalcaribbean #oasisoftheseas #cruisetravel #cruisevacation #travelreel
    My richness is LIFE. 💫 “Travel is the only t My richness is LIFE. 💫

“Travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer.”

#travelquotes #travelquote #lifequotestoliveby #travelinspired #travelreel
Travel Blog

Indigo Sahara

A travel blog: teaching cultural competence through inspirational travel

  • Destinations
    • By Location
      • North America
        • Canada
        • Haiti
        • St. Lucia
        • United States
          • Arizona
          • Florida
          • Hawaii
          • Illinois
          • Nevada
          • South Dakota
          • Utah
          • Wisconsin
          • Wyoming
          • National Parks
      • Europe
        • Faroe Islands
        • Iceland
        • Ireland
        • Italy
        • United Kingdom
      • Oceania
        • French Polynesia
          • Bora Bora
          • Tahiti
        • Hawaii
      • Africa
        • South Africa
    • By Travel Type
      • Dream Vacations
      • Adventure Travel
    • Hotel Reviews
  • Travel Tips
    • All Travel Tips
    • Cultural Competence
  • Travel Essentials
    • Gift Guides
    • Packing Ideas
    • Travel Outfits
  • Travel Photography
    • Camera Gear
    • Photography Tips
    • Photography Guides

Culture Shock During COVID-19: How Culture Shock Affects Us In 2021

May 5, 2021

What if we've all just been experiencing culture shock during COVID-19?

You don’t need a genius to tell you that this past year has thrown us all off emotionally. We’ve been sad, resentful, kind of enjoying extra time at home, anxious and absolutely terrified all at once. But why? What causes all of this rollercoaster-like energy to stuff our chests? Perhaps, we have all been experiencing culture shock during COVID-19.

As an avid traveler who has lived abroad various times and actually studied both cultural competence and culture shock academically, it seems clear to me that we are very much experiencing this cultural phenomenon. Here are the stages of culture shock as they pertain to our year during COVID-19.

SEE ALSO: What Is Cultural Competence? (Definition and Overview)

1. Stage One Of Culture Shock During COVID-19: The Honeymoon Stage

A little over a year ago, we were all thrown out of work, school and play to lockdown inside our homes. While some people skipped this first honeymoon stage and went straight to the second stage, many of us laughed at the chaos around us and enjoyed the extra time with our families.

This is known as the honeymoon phase of culture shock. Because we thought that lockdowns and restrictions were short-term and would maybe only last a maximum of a month or so, the newness of at-home life felt refreshing.

2. Stage Two Of Culture Shock During COVID-19: The Anger And Resentment Stage

The next major phase of culture shock, similar to the grief cycle, is a stage of denial, anger and resentment. We began to resent leadership, blame opposing political parties, question God’s sovereignty and project our confused hostility onto our loved ones. 

(Sadly, some people never quite graduated this phase.)

3. Stage Three: Gradual Adjustment And Adaptation

After spending a period of time in anger, victims of any type of culture shock begin to accept their new host culture, which, in our case, was accepting mask-wearing, social distancing and the work-from-home lifestyle.

Although it was mentally and emotionally vital for us to accept this new COVID-19 culture of ours, the adjustment was soon followed by an accidental cultural adaptation. By definition, cultural adaptation (also known as cultural assimilation) occurs when the new host culture becomes the new normal.

We’ve heard a lot about a “new normal” coming to life this year. “New normal” this. “New normal” that.
However, we failed to understand what exactly “normal” meant. Now, we have to actually abnormalize the culture that COVID-19 has produced. And, unfortunately, this may call for the stages of culture shock to reoccur — a phenomenon known as re-entry culture shock.

4. A Promise Of Encouragement During Re-entry Culture Shock

A couple of nights ago, I was sitting on my bedroom floor, debating on how quickly I’m going to adjust to post-pandemic life. How long am I going to wear a mask? When will I hug everyone again? Will my fall wedding be okay?

As I was sitting there, helplessly leaning against my wooden closet door, I noticed the engraving on the side of my desk that read Joshua 1:9. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

This passage has always been one of my favorites. I recall reciting this verse many times as a kid. “Do not be terrified” rang over and over in my mind during storms, before math tests and in every anxious space between.

What I realized as I reread the verse this time, though, was that there is a second command written. It says, “Do not be discouraged.”

Not only is God telling us not to “be afraid,” but He is also stating that we do not need to feel discouraged. 

There will be many times when we feel discouraged during cultural re-entry. There will be times when we feel joyful. And, there will even be times when we feel angry (at other people, leadership, God and/or ourselves). But, all the time, God promises to walk alongside us (and even go before us), as we re-enter back into “normal” life.

Allow yourself to feel encouraged today and everyday, friends!

(This post was featured on AAC Women’s Blog.)

You May Also Like…

How The True Meaning Of ‘Aloha’ Can Be Used In 2021

What Is Cultural Competence? (Definition And Overview)

5 Benefits Of Cultural Competence In Everyday Life

Would Jesus Wear A Mask? What The Bible Says About Face Coverings

Culture Shock During A Pandemic
Culture Shock During COVID-19

By: Indigo Sahara

About Indigo Sahara

Indigo Sahara is a full-time travel blogger and photographer who has lived abroad twice, journeyed through 10+ countries and learned multiple languages. Since graduating with her master's degree, her goal now is to make travel accessible to all.

you’ll also love

washington island wisconsinThings To Do On Washington Island All Year Round
find freedomHow Do You Find Freedom?
How The True Meaning Of Aloha Can Be Used In 2021

Get exclusive content.

Stay up-to-date & receive the latest travel guides and tips right to your inbox.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

What People Don’t Tell You About Visiting Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats

Primary Sidebar

Meet Indigo

Meet Indigo
hello!

I'm Indigo, a 24-year-old full-time traveler who believes that travel should be accessible to all. Join me in pursuit of boundless exploration, peace, compassion and cultural competence!

Read More

Let's Be Social

get exclusive content

Search The Blog

Pinterest

Facebook

Indigo Sahara

Follow On Instagram

@indigosahara

The crystal clear waters of St. Thomas, US Virgin The crystal clear waters of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. 🌺

📍Sapphire Beach & Magen’s Bay

#stthomasvirginislands #stthomasusvi #usvi #usvirginislands #visitusvi
Who says you need to stay in hostels to travel on Who says you need to stay in hostels to travel on a budget ☝🏼

Although I have stayed in some nice hostels and tasted some delicious cheap street food throughout my life, this type of travel is for a VERY niche group of people.

So what about the rest of us? Those of us who love luxury travel and meaningful cultural experiences but also love comfort, security and convenience?

Here are a few of my favorite ways to luxury travel on a budget:

✔️Travel hacking flights.
✔️Using Google Flights to track down the cheapest flights.
✔️Booking 4/5-star hotels on Hotwire.
✔️Cruises (the newest addition to my budget travel tips)!

As always, I’m here to answer any budget travel questions you have (hmu in the comments or DMs). If you want to learn my exact strategy for how to travel on a budget, click the link in my bio. ✈️

#budgettravel #luxuryonabudget #travelonabudget #luxurytravel #travelreel
I hear “indigo” is the brightest color of the I hear “indigo” is the brightest color of the wind. 🌬

Where will the wind take us next? (Hint: it’s one of the biggest cities in the US!! 🌃)

#travelerlife #travelbloggers #travelblogger
7 days at sea with @royalcaribbean 🌊 We were o 7 days at sea with @royalcaribbean 🌊

We were on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Of The Seas ship, and, let’s just say, there was no shortage of entertainment.

Between the free comedy shows, karaoke bars, Olympic-level figure skating, rock climbing, zip lining, surfing, pools, hot tubs, Broadway musicals and MORE, there’s no way you can be bored while on board.

Would you sail on Oasis? 🚢 

#royalcaribbean #oasisoftheseas #cruisetravel #cruisevacation #travelreel
My richness is LIFE. 💫 “Travel is the only t My richness is LIFE. 💫

“Travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer.”

#travelquotes #travelquote #lifequotestoliveby #travelinspired #travelreel

Footer

Blog

  • Destinations
  • Travel Essentials
  • Travel Tips
  • Travel Photography
  • Camera Gear
  • Cultural Competence

Info

  • Home
  • About
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Work With Me
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refund And Returns Policy

stay in the know

Copyright Indigo Sahara © 2023 · Theme by 17th Avenue