How can a person prepare for culture shock?

If traveling to a foreign country:

• Read up on local conditions (heat, weather, insects, etc.)
• Talk to people who've been here a liked it
• Talk to people who've been there and disliked it
• Don't expect your favorite foods
• Avoid drugs, local sex, an other questionable activities - local jails are usually a real culture shock
• Get all your shots
• Team up with an "old hand" for at least a few days
• Read up on local cultures. What are safe topics, how to dress, behave, eat.
• Don't expect any one to care about how you did it at home
• Learn a survival bag of local phrases.
• Learn some local history
• Remember coming back will be a culture shock too