In the Bellavista sector of Santiago, Chile, there is a very popular hill called Cerro San Cristóbal. At the top there is a statue of the Virgin Mary, watching over the city. It also allows for the best views of Santiago on a clear day, since it is located extremely close to the downtown area. There is also a funicular that goes up this hill and a zoo that is popular with the locals. This photo was taken on a small side street in Bellavista looking toward the road to go up into the cerro.
Photo Spotlight: Cerro La Campana, Chile
In a small Parque Nacional in Limache (northern part of the Valparaíso Region of Chile), there is Cerro La Campana. For you Biology nerds like me, about 1 km from the peak, there is a plaque commemorating the hike that Charles Darwin took on this very mountain during the second voyage of the HMS Beagle to discover new species. The hike itself is very mild until you reach the plaque at between 4.5 and 5 km into the hike, where it then becomes a very difficult 1.5 hours up the rock-face to the peak. Entrance to the park is cheap and the view is completely worth it! The photo was taken on our descent, about 2 km below the peak.
Photo Spotlight: Linville Falls
Located off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Linville, NC, this waterfall is a popular place to get a short hike and a great view. For those with kids or dogs, there is also a much easier hike to the overlook that gives a great view of the falls, but for those looking for a moderately strenuous hike you can take the one down to the falls themselves.
Culturally Shocked
“For the born traveller, traveling is a besetting vice. Like other vices, it is imperious, demanding its victim’s time, money, energy, and sacrifice of comfort.”
– Aldous Huxley
One of the more overlooked aspects of travel is the inevitable “culture shock” that happens to all travelers. You might think that you haven’t been affected, but do you remember that feeling of awe, that “honeymoon phase” when you step off the plane or bus? That’s culture shock.
In reality, every aspect of being abroad, from a psychological standpoint, is affected by culture shock. The curve above diagrams the culture shock curve based on how long you are in one place. There is some debate on how many stages actually exist in culture shock, although the majority of sources still outline the same features present at each stage.
The following phases are considered the “official” stages of culture shock based on the UKCISA website:
- The “honeymoon” stage: When you first arrive in a new culture, differences are intriguing and you may feel excited, stimulated and curious. At this stage you are still protected by the close memory of your home culture.
- The “distress” stage: A little later, differences create an impact and you may feel confused, isolated or inadequate as cultural differences intrude and familiar supports (eg family or friends) are not immediately available.
- “Re-integration” stage: Next you may reject the differences you encounter. You may feel angry or frustrated, or hostile to the new culture. At this stage you may be conscious mainly of how much you dislike it compared to home. Don’t worry, as this is quite a healthy reaction. You are reconnecting with what you value about yourself and your own culture.
- “Autonomy” stage: Differences and similarities are accepted. You may feel relaxed, confident, more like an old hand as you become more familiar with situations and feel well able to cope with new situations based on your growing experience.
- “Independence” stage: Differences and similarities are valued and important. You may feel full of potential and able to trust yourself in all kinds of situations. Most situations become enjoyable and you are able to make choices according to your preferences and values.
**It is important to note that at the end of these stages, there is always a separate categorization for “reverse culture shock” which can be just as surprising.
The first stage of culture shock is the easiest to recognize, since it happens to everybody before and during the first few weeks of travel. You are excited, happy, and ready to explore everything that your new [temporary?] home has to offer. This stage can last for a while, or only just a week, depending on how well you adjust culturally to your surroundings.
If you have been in a city or country longer than a month, you have begun to feel the effects of stage two. For me, this wasn’t as strong as most people, but I still felt the remnants of not being able to go to the local cafe and see my friends. The strangest part was walking around and hearing nothing but spanish everywhere, something that made sense in my head, but I couldn’t quite grasp.
Stage three hit about a month ago. You will find yourself angry or frustrated with local customs and cultural norms. The things done daily by locals will start to really just tick you off. This stage for me, hit while we were traveling in the south of Chile. The most irritating portion of Chilean everyday activities, for me, was 1) huge groups of middle and high school aged children walking in a straight line across the entire sidewalk and not moving to let you pass, and 2) the kissing noises and general verbal “appreciations” of women by any and all men here. The second, especially, is a Latin American thing, and as I am told, it is simply considered polite to show your appreciation to the entire female gender no matter where, when, or who.
Most traditionally, stages four and five are felt together. You find yourself accepting the culture again, but this time with the knowledge that you can fully become a part of the culture. You have a new understanding of how the society functions.
At the end of all this, you will go through all these stages again while re-integrating into your home country, however don’t let that deter you!
I want this understanding of culture shock to be understood by travelers, not feared. You will appreciate your adventures so much more if you understand first why the culture makes you feel a certain way. So go immerse yourself and see how culture shock manifests itself to you!
Happy Travels!
Destination: Mendoza
The patio of Hostel Mora Mendoza
Plaza Independencia is the main plaza in the city of Mendoza
You can’t go to Mendoza without drinking Mendozan wine!
A great night of wine, food, and friends
Fireworks in the Plaza to mark the start of the wine festival
Some scenery on our way to Cerro Arco
There were gorgeous Cacti everywhere
This sign was the South American version of the distance posts all over the US.
You can see about 4 different colored mountain ranges from here
Looking out over the first part of the hike on Cerro Arco
It always amazes me how different the Andes look from one spot to the next
The view really is incredible up here
The three of us pre-hike at Cerro Arco
Almost to the top of Cerro Arco
Looking back over the city
One the way to Chile, this is the road our bus took just after the border crossing
Photo Spotlight: The Road to Nowhere, Bryson City, NC
In the tiny mountain town of Bryson City, NC, there is a highway known to the locals as “The Road to Nowhere”. With construction beginning in 1943, the highway was eventually abandoned because of environmental issues. To this day, you can drive to the end of the road to nowhere (the above pictured tunnel) and from there you can take various hiking paths along the Great Smoky Mountains. To read the full history behind this local legend, click here.
Photo Spotlight: Andes Mountain Pass, Argentina
This beautiful hidden lake can be seen by bus from Mendoza to Santiago. It is on the Argentinian side of the border, and has some of the clearest blue water that can be found at this latitude. However, if you are planning to cross in the fall, be aware that the pass often floods or closes due to snow! **Please excuse the glare in the photo, it was taken from the bus**
Photo Spotlight: Lazy 5 Wildlife Ranch, Charlotte, NC
Just outside the big city of Charlotte on the East Coast of the USA, there is a small wildlife ranch that boasts plenty of species non-native to the area. You can drive or take a hayride through the ranch, giving the whole area the feel of a local “safari” experience. If you are looking for something exotic, but a bit closer to home, this is a great day-trip for all ages!
Go Local: North Carolina
Just before sunset at Carolina Beach
Sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains at Grandfather Mountain
Good day for wine at the Raffaldini Vineyard in Ronda
The pier at low tide at Currituck Beach
The Road to Nowhere in Bryson City
Zebras at the Lazy 5 Ranch in Charlotte
Price Lake on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Boone
Fall at the ASU Campus in Boone
Looking over the sound at Currituck Beach
The Currituck Beach Lighthouse
Photo Spotlight: Valle de Elqui, Coquimbo Region, Chile
This grassy paradise is located in a valley of the Andes Mountains in Valle de Elqui, Chile, located about 45 minutes west of La Serena. It looks like a grassy oasis in the desert-like mountain terrain, giving the Andes an even more unique image.
The Traveling Gringa 
