Navigating Culture Shock

Travelling from Melbourne, Australia, to Aspen can seem like a minor shift in location due to the large similarities in culture between Australia and America on a macro scale when compared to other countries around the globe. However, it can bring about unexpected cultural challenges such as adjusting to the mountainous and outdoor lifestyle that dominates Aspen's identity. 


Melbourne is typically regarded as a cosmopolitan city with a coastal, flat landscape. A massive contrast to the high altitude of Aspen gives it a foreign feeling to travellers such as me when we make the trip over. Unlike Melbourne, Aspen is catered towards tourism, focusing on skiing, snowboarding and hiking in contrast to the urban and/or beach activities commonplace at home. 
The image above depicts the mountainous terrain located in Aspen which can be directly compared to the one below, a complete contrast in environment that can be challenging for travellers. 


This difference may not be limited to culture shock as high altitude can even inhibit one's physical activities through increased exhaustion due to thinner air. This coupled with navigating the seemingly alien ski culture with its specialized gear and lingo may make travellers feel overwhelmed as they are forced to adapt to activities that may make them feel inadequate or confused. 

To minimize this cultural shock, preparation is key as learning about altitude acclimatization and familiarizing oneself with mountain sports and typical day-to-day lifestyle can be key to easing this transition. One example of this could be travelling to existing mountains in Australia such as Falls Creek or Mt Buller to better prepare for the expected environment before traversing halfway around the globe. 

By embracing Aspen's outdoor culture, travellers from Melbourne are allowed to overcome this shock change in lifestyle thus presenting them with new perspectives on recreation and nature. 


Image 1: Aspen Snowmass 
https://www.aspensnowmass.com/discover/experiences/guides/but-which-mountain-do-i-ski
Image 2: Wikipedia 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Melbourne

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