Of Travelling and Relationships

According to experts, you undergo 5 phases of Culture Shock Adjustment as you travel to another country

Stage 1 - Excitement
You get fascinated that you are in a different country. You appreciate everything there is to offer and while you may see a few glitches here and there, you let go of them

Stage 2 - Crisis Period
You begin to realize that the country you are in isn't all that. The glitches now become obstructions.You get irritated more than ever.

Stage 3 - Adjustment
This is the part where you now accept the negative aspects of the country you are in and adjust accordingly.

Stage 4 - Adaptation
The country you are in now feels like home.

 Stage 5 - Re-entry Stage
You go back to your home country and this could result into a positive or negative feeling. For others, they do not go back.


I believe that you undergo the same phases when you enter into a relationship


Stage 1 - Excitement
"She plays football, oh wow!" As if you love football! But it does not matter, you just appreciate and appreciate. If you get lucky, you enter into a relationship with her.

Stage 2 - Crisis
"How could you not like dogs?" Opinionated now becomes know-it-all, funny now becomes non-serious, and pushy now becomes nagger. Oh, such a tough stage!

Stage 3 - Adjustment
"Fine, let's compromise." This is the part where you now accept the other for who she is and give up a part of yourself. Wow, "give up". Such strong words but true.

Stage 4 - Adaptation
"I love you." Need I say more?

Stage 5 - Re-entry
"Will you marry me?" or "We need to talk..."


I don't want to sound like an expert. After all, I've only been in one serious relationship and a few, well I don't even know what you call it. But I do know about back-packing as I have visited a few countries now.

Back-packers are the best because they do not spend much money when they visit a country. They keep a tight budget by staying in hostels, taking public transpo, and handing out miniscule or zero tips. They dont stay long in one country so they only get the excitement phase. They only take the positives and leave.

A major caveat though is this can be very tiring. Travelling from one country to another and being always on the go wears out your body. Thus, back-packing is only for the strong, smart, and young.

After a tiring travel, you still search for one stable country to always come home to. Only, in relationships, a stable partner may not allow you to back-pack.

Back-packers' BFF