ESL Teaching - Jobs, lesson plans - View Single Post

Hypiereon · Thu 07-Sep-06, 02:53 AM

I experienced reverse culture shock going back to the USA. Life in ChengDu is actually very peaceful for a city of 13 million people. (Just not around 6 o'clock) When I went back to my hometown for a visit, I had the feeling that even though you don't see very many people around, BOY ARE THEY REALLY BUSY!!

Getting back into the groove in the USA once - several years ago, it was then I suddenly remembered my real first taste of culture shock outside the norms of everyone else's story. I was invited out to dinner by a Chinese friend, and food was something I was expecting by way of culture shock. Then my friend invited me to a tea house. I thought, "Cool. Okay, we're going to a tea house. What are we going to do at a tea house?" I thought we were going to some kind of meeting, or parlor where there was something to do other than JUST drink tea.

I was wrong.

I sat down, my friend ordered the tea, the tea came, I drank mine within the first 5 minutes, and then I started to squirm. I had never had to just sit still for more than 10 or 15 minutes without some kind of business meeting to get to, person to see, place to go, a show to be at, T.V. program to watch, book to read, newspaper to peruse, or computer to surf, or SOMETHING to do!! My friend just laid back in his chair and started to close his eyes. He was over in his chair falling asleep!! IN PUBLIC!!!

I was wanting to know what time we'd be leaving after ten minutes.

Today, I just join right in, but try that in America . . . maybe you start to understand. The habits of the people you live with do eventually become your own, and when social expectations suddenly change again when you're back home - you're in for that funny feeling of reverse culure shock.

Just try to be as aware of culture shock going back home as you were of it when you first arrived and you should be fine. It was those very feelings though that eventually drove me back to China where life was a little less hectic and hurried, and people had time to sit down and drink a single cup of tea for an hour - and would happily let me do the same.

Thu 07-Sep-06, 02:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
Hypiereon ESL Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Nationality: American Occupation: General Manager www.MilestoneGC.com Location: Posts: 140	Reverse Culture Shock is FACT I experienced reverse culture shock going back to the USA. Life in ChengDu is actually very peaceful for a city of 13 million people. (Just not around 6 o'clock) When I went back to my hometown for a visit, I had the feeling that even though you don't see very many people around, BOY ARE THEY REALLY BUSY!! Getting back into the groove in the USA once - several years ago, it was then I suddenly remembered my real first taste of culture shock outside the norms of everyone else's story. I was invited out to dinner by a Chinese friend, and food was something I was expecting by way of culture shock. Then my friend invited me to a tea house. I thought, "Cool. Okay, we're going to a tea house. What are we going to do at a tea house?" I thought we were going to some kind of meeting, or parlor where there was something to do other than JUST drink tea. I was wrong. I sat down, my friend ordered the tea, the tea came, I drank mine within the first 5 minutes, and then I started to squirm. I had never had to just sit still for more than 10 or 15 minutes without some kind of business meeting to get to, person to see, place to go, a show to be at, T.V. program to watch, book to read, newspaper to peruse, or computer to surf, or SOMETHING to do!! My friend just laid back in his chair and started to close his eyes. He was over in his chair falling asleep!! IN PUBLIC!!! I was wanting to know what time we'd be leaving after ten minutes. Today, I just join right in, but try that in America . . . maybe you start to understand. The habits of the people you live with do eventually become your own, and when social expectations suddenly change again when you're back home - you're in for that funny feeling of reverse culure shock. Just try to be as aware of culture shock going back home as you were of it when you first arrived and you should be fine. It was those very feelings though that eventually drove me back to China where life was a little less hectic and hurried, and people had time to sit down and drink a single cup of tea for an hour - and would happily let me do the same. __________________ Hypiereon's Maxim: "The best teacher cannot help a student who absolutely refuses to learn; the worst teacher cannot refuse the one who will not be denied."