Reverse Culture Shock
Well I am back home in the good old US of A. Couldn't be happier. Couple quick thoughts:
-My first thought as I got off the plane in Houston, Texas was simply pride. Being an American citizen is a priviledge and a ridiculous surge of patriotism coursed through my body when I got to walk through customs in the US citizen line.
-I definitely have changed. One major thing is the way I observe people. When I got on BART here in the Bay Area to head home I was on a train filled with people whom I might have previously judged to be "shady": large baggy clothes, etc. However after spending my time in Ecuador I first observed these people with much less prejudice. I basically saw them as people, as I am so used now to seeing people who dress differently from what some might call the norm. Very interesting and very cool.
-I took a great amount of pleasure in doing very basic things: throwing toilet paper in the toilet, showering, drinking water out of the tap, running next to the pacific ocean, and demolshing some home cooked Beef Burgoneau.
-I was able to talk to people about my experience more easily than I originally thought. Many people tell you that your friends back home dont really care what you are doing, and it feels weird to explain your travels. However, maybe because of the blog, I have found that talking to people about Ecuador is fun and exciting. However, I am weary of starting sentences with, Oh in Ecuador, but haven't had to that much.
-Cabs are way more expensive in the US, but they took the fastest way to my destinations every time I have taken them. It's feels strange to not trust cab drivers to take you the best way, but that's the way it goes.
-I am finally able to fully relax. Between living with a host family, constantly hearing a foreign language, and being a guest in someone's house, it is hard to just sit and relax without stress. I just feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
-Everyone in Ecuador says that Americans dont value family, but that's pretty much the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Being back with my family has been absolutely outstanding.
-My mind has become very accustomed to thinking in Spanish. It's strange to not be speaking Spanish at all, and definitely miss it at times. Turns out speaking a foreign language is a pretty fun activity for me.
-The customs officers in the US are surly and mean, or at least the one I had was. My Ecuador customs officer smiled at me and urged me to hurry back. The US person chastized me for writing the date incorrectly on my Passport Form (which I did out of Ecuadorian habit-pretty funny). However the customs officer explained to me that "this is how we do it in America." Shut up jerk. Clearly I know how to write the date.
-I love playing guitar. In fact I got to go practice my christmas carols.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!
-My first thought as I got off the plane in Houston, Texas was simply pride. Being an American citizen is a priviledge and a ridiculous surge of patriotism coursed through my body when I got to walk through customs in the US citizen line.
-I definitely have changed. One major thing is the way I observe people. When I got on BART here in the Bay Area to head home I was on a train filled with people whom I might have previously judged to be "shady": large baggy clothes, etc. However after spending my time in Ecuador I first observed these people with much less prejudice. I basically saw them as people, as I am so used now to seeing people who dress differently from what some might call the norm. Very interesting and very cool.
-I took a great amount of pleasure in doing very basic things: throwing toilet paper in the toilet, showering, drinking water out of the tap, running next to the pacific ocean, and demolshing some home cooked Beef Burgoneau.
-I was able to talk to people about my experience more easily than I originally thought. Many people tell you that your friends back home dont really care what you are doing, and it feels weird to explain your travels. However, maybe because of the blog, I have found that talking to people about Ecuador is fun and exciting. However, I am weary of starting sentences with, Oh in Ecuador, but haven't had to that much.
-Cabs are way more expensive in the US, but they took the fastest way to my destinations every time I have taken them. It's feels strange to not trust cab drivers to take you the best way, but that's the way it goes.
-I am finally able to fully relax. Between living with a host family, constantly hearing a foreign language, and being a guest in someone's house, it is hard to just sit and relax without stress. I just feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
-Everyone in Ecuador says that Americans dont value family, but that's pretty much the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Being back with my family has been absolutely outstanding.
-My mind has become very accustomed to thinking in Spanish. It's strange to not be speaking Spanish at all, and definitely miss it at times. Turns out speaking a foreign language is a pretty fun activity for me.
-The customs officers in the US are surly and mean, or at least the one I had was. My Ecuador customs officer smiled at me and urged me to hurry back. The US person chastized me for writing the date incorrectly on my Passport Form (which I did out of Ecuadorian habit-pretty funny). However the customs officer explained to me that "this is how we do it in America." Shut up jerk. Clearly I know how to write the date.
-I love playing guitar. In fact I got to go practice my christmas carols.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!
posted by ecuadortraveler at 10:22 AM
5 Comments:
What a world.
Nice. You just forgot the part about how playing basketball with B, C and D made you realize how much better the quality of the game is in the US.
Looking forward to your entry about the Reverse-Reverse Culture Shock. . .
dude, I saw an Ironhead Hawyard jersey today. Early leader as top moment of 2007
Carseats: n.
1. Old friends.
2. People from the same neighborhood.
3. People who have known each other since 9th grade or earlier.
4. People who have known each other so long that it is difficult for them to succintly explain "how" they know each other.
Origin/Usage: "How do we know each other? That's a long story. We go way back, like carseats."
Hey chanj. Hopefully I have related the reverse reverse succesfully.
Mom. Sorry I dont know how to spell French Words. Would you like a croissant?
Romes. Should have jumped him for it. In fact I think it´s time we brought back the random shirt trading with real people rather than lax campers.
Donny. From henceforth Donny and Kane will be known as Carseats. However, I can tell you that we met each other in 4B (Room 26) at Town School for Boys and promptly decided that basketball was the most important thing in the world.
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