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Reverse Culture Shock

state.gov

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Re: Reverse Culture Shock

#11

Post by gloverkcn »

bandrami wrote: post #3

Yup. I'm a "trailing spouse" for an American diplomat, and this is so true. One thing that always, always, always happens to Americans when we repatriate is the "grocery store freakout". At some point, you will go to a grocery store, and freeze. "Man..." you'll keep saying, "Americans really love breakfast cereal..."

Coming back from India and going to Walmart.

so much space with nobody in it. Everything you need to live under one giant roof. There's 4 people at 4 registers and no line for any of them.

Re: Reverse Culture Shock

#12

Post by lokedhs »

I have lived overseas for over a decade, and while I have no current plans to move back to my country of origin, I think I know what moving back would feel like, and it matches what other people have told me.

The article talks about things having changed when you get back. I'm not so sure that's the big issue. I think the biggest problem is that you yourself have changed so much, and your views are greatly expanded. While when you come back, nothing had really changed. That local grocery store is still there, and things are pretty much exactly where they were all those years ago.

I feel some of this every time I go back to visit my family, and at the end of the trip it feels very relieving to go back.

I think if my home country looked very different, as they suggest would be a problem in the article, going back would be a much more exciting experience.

Re: Reverse Culture Shock

#14

Post by wavefunction »

gloverkcn wrote: post #11
bandrami wrote: post #3

Yup. I'm a "trailing spouse" for an American diplomat, and this is so true. One thing that always, always, always happens to Americans when we repatriate is the "grocery store freakout". At some point, you will go to a grocery store, and freeze. "Man..." you'll keep saying, "Americans really love breakfast cereal..."

Coming back from India and going to Walmart. so much space with nobody in it. Everything you need to live under one giant roof. There's 4 people at 4 registers and no line for any of them.

I enjoy visiting India (I'm an anglo American) but I always know I'm back in the US when I arrive into Houston and there's a fifteen-foot-tall banner advertising donut ice cream in the food court inside the airport.

Re: Reverse Culture Shock

#15

Post by ethbro »

gloverkcn wrote: post #11
bandrami wrote: post #3

Yup. I'm a "trailing spouse" for an American diplomat, and this is so true. One thing that always, always, always happens to Americans when we repatriate is the "grocery store freakout". At some point, you will go to a grocery store, and freeze. "Man..." you'll keep saying, "Americans really love breakfast cereal..."

Coming back from India and going to Walmart. so much space with nobody in it. Everything you need to live under one giant roof. There's 4 people at 4 registers and no line for any of them.

> There's 4 people at 4 registers and no line for any of them.

We are definitely not going to the same Walmart.

EDIT: To clarify, I know this is one of Walmart's strengths, but it doesn't improve my experience.

Re: Reverse Culture Shock

#16

Post by noonespecial »

I left the US when I was 11 and lived in Europe until I was 18, returning to the US for University. So to mine was added the fuzzy memories of childhood.

Wal-Mart absolutely blew my mind. Also, America is huge.

Re: Reverse Culture Shock

#17

Post by renegadesensei »

lokedhs wrote: post #12

I have lived overseas for over a decade, and while I have no current plans to move back to my country of origin, I think I know what moving back would feel like, and it matches what other people have told me. The article talks about things having changed when you get back. I'm not so sure that's the big issue. I think the biggest problem is that you yourself have changed so much, and your views are greatly expanded.…

Completely agree with this. I too have lived abroad for a while and it amazes me how much things remain the same back in the United States. The culture shock is always more about how much I have changed, not America.

Re: Reverse Culture Shock

#19

Post by unsignedint »

Even just visiting Japan (I'm originally from Japan) causes this for me. Short stay is fine, but I feel really foreign, maybe more so than "foreigners" as people in there can detect disconnect of my appearance and mindset by my subtle deviation from expectations of how I act in there.

Re: Reverse Culture Shock

#20

Post by bandrami »

wavefunction wrote: post #14
gloverkcn wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Coming back from India and going to Walmart. so much space with nobody in it. Everything you need to live under one giant roof. There's 4 people at 4 registers and no line for any of them.

I enjoy visiting India (I'm an anglo American) but I always know I'm back in the US when I arrive into Houston and there's a fifteen-foot-tall banner advertising donut ice cream in the food court inside the airport.

I dunno... India is no slouch when it comes to absurdly sweet desserts. I used to get fresh custard apple covered in condensed milk as a "snack" in Mumbai.
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