Food: A New Daily Challenge

For many international students, the first moment of culture shock appears not in the classroom — but in the supermarket. Different products, unfamiliar brands, higher prices, and packaging in another language can turn grocery shopping into a stressful task. Food, habits and lifestyle can be scary.

Some countries offer large portions, while others focus on light meals. Eating schedules also change — in Spain dinner may be at 10 p.m., in Germany at 6 p.m. Students often report that food feels “wrong” at first because it lacks the familiar taste of home.

Tip: choosing 1–2 local dishes you genuinely like helps make meals feel safer and more enjoyable.

Habits: Small Rules Nobody Explains

-greeting strangers with a smile (USA) vs. neutral expression (Nordic countries)

-strict recycling rules (Germany)

-long lunch breaks where everything closes (Italy, parts of France)

-removing shoes before entering homes (Japan)

Lifestyle: Routines and Social Rhythm

Lifestyle abroad depends strongly on culture. Some societies value fast productivity and full schedules, others prioritize rest and social time. Students abroad often experience:

• more walking and public transport
• less family-based activities, more independent routines
• gym or sport culture being stronger or weaker depending on country
• socializing mostly outside, not at home

This rhythm can feel exhausting at first. Many students say they need several months before their body adapts to new sleep, eating, and social patterns.

Food, habits, and lifestyle may seem “practical,” but they affect emotions directly. When everything — even breakfast — feels unfamiliar, it’s easy to feel like you don’t belong. Researchers in student mobility note that daily life differences are one of the strongest predictors of homesickness and stress (open-access, Frontiers in Psychology).

Food, habits and lifestyle differences abroad are not simply “fun facts.” They shape mental health, comfort, and identity. With time, curiosity, and openness, new routines become familiar — and living abroad becomes not just possible, but meaningful.