Howdy, pardners.
We are back in our homeland of the USA, and man does it feel weird.
Not only that, but it feels weird that it feels weird.
There is a curious blend of two things in these shocks:
- Stark familiarity, as we connect with those things we had nostalgia pangs about
- Alienation from some norms, as we reflect on things we accepted as standard and now say “huh?”
While they are fresh, here are some things that are really standing out as we recover from our flight back from Vietnam and almost a year living in SE Asia…
Curtiss’s Shocks!
- Grass. The simple phenomenon of nature’s shag carpeting is something I totally took for granted. It looks lush and inviting, it feels glorious, and it grows everywhere in the Northeast of America.
- Suburbia. Yards? Neighbors without walls between? Wild.
- “Normal” bathrooms. You start to appreciate the fact that people grow up with different bathroom configurations and a variety of approaches. You laugh the first time you see a “no standing on the toilet seat” sign, and then you appreciate why it needs to be said when some people have been taking a different approach their whole lives. We’ve gotten use to a rich diversity of restroom experiences, and it’s weird to have no more surprises (or need to carry back-up TP, just in case).
- Intersections. Good gazoongas, do I have a bit of PTSD from the free-for-all drivin’ in Vietnam. Now I’m lookin’ back and forth four times at every intersection. Even while we have a green light. Even when I’m just the passenger. Heh!
Ashley’s Shocks!
- Flushing Toilet Paper. The pipes and sewage system in Thailand and Vietnam are not able to accommodate all the TP being flushed by Westerners; so you toss it in the rubbish.
- Grocery Stores. It’s so easy to have everything in one place; in Vietnam we got used to going to the local market for fresh veggies and meat and corner stores for non-perishables.
More Soon
I’m keeping an eye out and an ear out for more reflections as I get caught up on errands. Each shock kinda feels like when you’re hangin’ out in a crowd that’s speaking foreign languages, and then the voice of someone nearby stands out starkly because they are speaking your own familiar language. As I notice more of these things, I’ll collect ’em and add ’em.
Have You Had Moments Of Reverse Culture Shock?
Curious to hear some observations from other people, too!
Curtiss is a lover of delicious atmosphere, experiments in location independence (and digital nomadism), and that magical place where wifi and paradise overlap.
I also noticed:
– Parking was a lot more creative (and convenient) in Vietnam than in the US
– There’s no cultural equivalent to the little damp refreshment towels served before/after meals — you’re on your own to wash your hands (and not everyone seems to)
– In Vietnam it was commonplace for (stray?) chickens to romp around wherever, and you start to grow fond of it
– There was a little frog that would be hiding under my scooter seat every morning, like an insistent stowaway, and I had to shoo him away before driving off — I miss that lil’ guy :-)
-Large coffee mugs! I really missed wrapping my hands around a steaming cup o’ joe. Since being back in the US, I have overdone it on coffee and it’s great!