Reverse Culture Shock
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Reverse Culture Shock
1–10 of 187 posts
Re: Reverse Culture Shock
#2Just to comment on minor reverse culture shock I had... A few years ago I spent a fair amount of time in some Slavic countries, and I couldn't believe how clean the streets of NYC were when I got back.
Re: Reverse Culture Shock
#3Yup. 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..."
Re: Reverse Culture Shock
#4Perhaps not culture shock per se, but when I fly back to LA, I am always shocked at how gray and brown everything is from the air.
Re: Reverse Culture Shock
#5Yup. 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..."
I experienced a bit of this when I moved from SF to a less populated place.
I imagine it would be more shocking moving from another country.
Re: Reverse Culture Shock
#6Yup. 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..."
"Man..." you'll keep saying, "Americans really love breakfast cereal..."
Though it's true to some degree, I wouldn't go that far. My sense is that the higher the margin on a product or product-line, the more money the manufacturer and distributors have to purchase shelf space. Cereal, Chips, Crackers, Ice Cream, Mayonnaise.
The last time I was at the store I counted 21 separate varieties of Triscuit, 10-12 flavors over three sizes.
Don't freak out, it actually is weird.
Re: Reverse Culture Shock
#7Yup. 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..."
Sometimes it's a big smile, "Man, there are so many options!"
Well, that's how it is when I'm just wandering around the store for fun. If I want to pick a toothpaste, it's frustrating that I need to make a tough choice for something so trivial.
Re: Reverse Culture Shock
#8This is absolutely a thing. I've spent months in another country before, and took a ~4 month round-the-world trip a couple years ago. It takes some adjustment to re-enter your home country. I can't imagine what it must be like for people who've lived abroad for years.
But what's nice about it, if you can engage with it this way, is the fresh perspective on your (formerly) habituated world this state can offer.
Re: Reverse Culture Shock
#9Just to comment on minor reverse culture shock I had... A few years ago I spent a fair amount of time in some Slavic countries, and I couldn't believe how clean the streets of NYC were when I got back.
That's how I felt coming back to NYC from San Francisco.
Re: Reverse Culture Shock
#10Yup. 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..."
Sometimes it's a big smile, "Man, there are so many options!" Well, that's how it is when I'm just wandering around the store for fun. If I want to pick a toothpaste, it's frustrating that I need to make a tough choice for something so trivial.
Reminds me of when Boris Yeltsin visited a Texan grocery store: http://blog.chron.com/thetexican/2014/04/when-boris-yeltsin-...