I was about to write an entry about how to minimise the effects of culture shock, but found out that Wikipedia already has a pretty competent article about it.
One thing that I can add, however, is to avoid the usage of the word "exotic", even in your thinking, as it assumes that your frame of reference, point of view, or "reality" is the only "true" one, therefore making the establishment of empathy and further understanding more difficult.
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