Culture shock is a genuine phenomenon that can alter one’s outlook, particularly when visiting a foreign country that is vastly dissimilar from their homeland. Evangeline Neo had a personal encounter with this when she attended school in Tokyo for four years (2010-2014), where she detected numerous cultural distinctions. She opted to express her encounters through comics as a way of coping.

More: Evangeline Neo, Instagram, Patreon h/t: boredpanda

Evangeline’s Evacomics series can be found in her two books, “Eva, Kopi and Matcha” and “Eva, Kopi and Matcha 2.0,” available on Amazon and other eBook platforms. The comics discuss topics such as opening a bank account, renting an apartment, and other aspects of daily life in Japan that aren’t always accurately portrayed in anime, manga, or dramas.

Evangeline initially posted her comics online to discover her niche and engage her readers. Her first comic strip went viral, drawing the attention of strangers who enjoyed and shared her work. She produced over 300 comic strips about cultural differences, maintaining consistency and quality by regularly communicating with her readers and brainstorming new topics to illustrate.

Evangeline’s comics remind us that culture shock is a common experience and it’s normal to feel homesick or frustrated while abroad. They also demonstrate that expressing these experiences can aid in dealing with culture shock. If you’re struggling with cultural differences, consider using your experiences creatively. You might even inspire others to do the same.