By Marisol Mendoza (UC San Diego) studied abroad in Barcelona

By the time I arrived in Barcelona in August, 2023, I’d already received multiple messages from UCEAP about culture shock. I naively believed that because I spoke Spanish and had briefly visited the city a couple years prior, I would adapt quickly and not experience culture shock.

You can imagine my surprise when a couple of weeks into my study abroad program, all the feelings and experiences started to add up and lo and behold—I was experiencing the very thing I thought I could avoid.

After living in Barcelona for nine months, I’ve realized that experiencing culture shock was likely one of the most beneficial experiences I had while living abroad.

Here’s why you should look forward to culture shock, not fear it.

What do I mean by culture?

Most people have a community with a culture that they think of as their ‘normal,’ whether it be their neighborhood or the parent’s culture, it’s where they spent a lot of time in while growing up. Outside of that, most of us don’t know much about other cultures.

We learn the traditional foods and holidays of Latin America in Spanish classes, and maybe we even learn about European culture in history classes, but we experienced it all through the pages of a book or the curated lens of a documentary, neither of which is an authentic representation.

With that in mind, it’s clear that culture shock is an unavoidable consequence of immersing yourself in a new culture, and it can come with many unexpected benefits!

Normal is relative

When I first arrived in Barcelona, I was shocked that almost all stores were closed on Sundays—including the grocery stores! After living with this cultural shift, I can’t imagine it any other way. I look forward to the quiet and calm of Sundays now.

Having everything closed on Sunday would be unimaginable in the US, and yet it’s the standard for most cities across Catalonia.

Adjusting to this new cultural norm also gave me an understanding of how other people view my home country. From the perspective of most Spaniards, the US work culture is considered unhealthy and undesirable. Yet, for most Americans, the work-all-the-time culture is a source of pride.

Another experience I deemed normal in the US was driving to school every day. This is unheard of in Spain and considered quite unusual from the perspective of locals in Barcelona. Of course, they have a public transportation system to rely on, and we typically don’t in the US.

The experience of learning how people outside the US view our culture is proof that experiencing culture shock might be exactly what you need to realize how strange a 7-lane freeway jammed with cars really is.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself questioning why the grocery stores in the US are so big or why there are 17 different kinds of shampoo for the same type of hair. You may even discover there are teaching styles worldwide that appeal to you and may even result in better grades.

The US isn’t the only place to get a job

Overcoming and adapting to the challenges that come with studying abroad can have an unexpected effect. You might discover that you’re open to a future of possibilities you hadn’t considered before.

When I began studying nanoengineering at UC San Diego, I assumed I would get a job in a nano or biotech company in San Diego after graduating. I never seriously considered the possibility of exploring options beyond the borders of the US.

Now that I’ve studied in Barcelona and traveled all around Spain and Europe, my plans for the future have drastically changed.

I’ve made relationships with successful UC alums in Europe, and I plan to return after graduation to take full advantage of those relationships abroad. Being open to new cultures and opportunities can give you a vastly different perspective than just might changes your plans for the future.

If you’re prepared for it, culture shock can be an incredibly beneficial learning experience. It can help you view what you think of as normal from a different perspective, and it doesn’t have to be scary or isolating. with the right mindset you may just find yourself with a new place to call home.

Learn more about all the feelings on study abroad and how they lead to personal growth:

• Kylee Cochram (UCI) shares her tips and advice for managing those feelings of being homesick while abroad.
• Valerie Cruz (UCI) learned to embrace uncertainty and it led to her greatest adventure.
• Alex Masci (UCB) discovered that journaling every day while on study abroad showed her the way to personal growth.