Culture Shock.
Many of us who come home after travelling aboard, especially after an extended trip, tend to suffer Culture Shock when arriving back in your home country. It’s an uneasy feeling that can hound one for days or even weeks.
I call this phenomenon ‘I’m Home, But Not At Home’ Syndrome. You just don’t feel quite right!
I have suffered this syndrome as well numerous times, but I have been able to identify the symptoms of Culture Shock and try to flush the travel bug out of my system – unsuccessfully.
Anyway, here are the Top 10 Signs That You’re Suffering Culture Shock After Coming Home From Travelling:
- You’re amazed that cars actually stop at pedestrian crossings, and such crossings are not there solely for decoration. You are doubly amazed that no one tries to run you down when you actually do cross the pedestrian crossing.
- You can’t quite stop haggling with shop assistants for a ‘special price’.
- Sit down toilets are a real novelty. Throwing used toilet paper into the toilet bowl is an even bigger novelty.
- Automatic teller machines seem magnitudes more efficient at dishing out your money, every time you request it.
- Not having a backpack on feels un-natural.
- Everyone looks like a millionaire compared to where you just arrived from.
- Drinking water out of a tap without contracting a malicious stomach bug seems foreign.
- Restaurants specialising in another country’s cuisine produce food that’s nowhere near as good as that from a street van in the country you have just visited.
- You start talking in your native accent again because no one understands you when you talk without one. And finally:
- You want to hop on the next plane out of here.
How about you – what other symptoms of Culture Shock have you experienced when you have returned home from abroad?
Place your suggestions by leaving a comment!
Other dodgy Travel Tips you can take no notice of – The 10 Commandments of Tight Arse and Luxury Travel, the reality of Travel Brochures, and learn about Travel Personalities.
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August 14th, 2009 at 5:17 am
SO funny and so true, too! Especially #2 – the salespeople always look at me like I have three eyeballs when I try to talk them down in price……paying what it says on the price tag just seems so wrong somehow….
Thanks for making my day AGAIN!
Trisha´s last blog ..Road Trip Tips to Avoid a Bumpy Journey — Part II
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August 14th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Haha! I definitely relate with #10. As for #1, I think it’s the opposite for me, living in the Philippines. I am constantly amazed by how people DON’T obey traffic rules and regulations in this country, compared to other countries.
And as far as #5 goes, I always have a backpack with me, whether I’m traveling or not… I guess I’m just a dork that way. 
(That, and I need to carry lots of extra clothes for theater.)
My personal “travel hangover” sign is being instantly more aware of random Caucasians in my own country…. haha… maybe it’s because I saw so many of them abroad, that I always stop and wonder how many there are in my own country.
Ren´s last blog ..TravelTuesday Picture of the Week: NBA Hoop Dreams in Vigan
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August 14th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Fantastic piece. It\\\’s one of the hardest thing about the end of a long trip for me is knowing that adjusting back to \\\’reality\\\’ will be harder than anything that trip has thrown at me.
Pete
htt://pete-blakemore.com
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August 22nd, 2009 at 7:07 am
too true – and that cars actually STAY on the roads! i also think, when i head back home, how BIG everything (and everyone) is in the US.
jessiev´s last blog ..Sleeping with the Dogs
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August 22nd, 2009 at 7:29 am
ha! great list! i like #3
Nomadic Matt´s last blog ..The Joy of Coming Home
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October 13th, 2009 at 12:16 am
Very funny list. Thanks for sharing. I love number three as well.
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January 4th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Its so surreal trying to reintegrate back into “normal life” after a prolonged exodus. Although you know your home, your neighbourhood, friends and family, you may not be aware of how much everything changed since you left. At the same time, in adjusting to the new culture your habits, perceptions and values might have transformed, even if you hadn’t noticed. It is sometimes difficult for your family and friends to understand the changes you have been through. They might expect you to be the same person that left a year ago, and it can be difficult for them to understand your whole experience and for you to explain some of your ventures.
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