A series of Culture Shock and Culture Exchange Stories

I am enjoying blogging again. It’s been fun to look back over our blog stats after not blogging for over a year. And apparently we left our readers, but……… you didn’t leave us!

We have noticed that the majority of our readers are interested in culture shock and the transitions and challenges when you move or visit another country. We thought it might be helpful to back track and share about some of our experiences with a little hindsight.

Since returning to the States after living in China for two years, I have probably traveled more in the last year than my entire life put together. It began with a first-time three-week road trip with my dad and daughter across the United States, from California all the way to Maryland and back with MANY stops along the way.

This was followed up by other first times: Kenya, Switzerland and Germany. Then a return trip to China and Thailand for a buying trip to start our business. Surprisingly I found that one of the biggest culture shocks was the South of the United States! Now, I grew up visiting Missouri and even lived for a year in New York when I was 19, but I had not spent much time in the South. Kentucky was the kicker for me. It truly was a different culture to me.

Aside from the two years we lived in China I have lived in California for the past 25 years. From rural living on the edge of Yosemite National Park where it was 30 minutes to buy milk and there was not a single stop light in the whole county, to city life in the Bay Area. Yet, rural Kentucky was the most “country” I have ever experienced. And, I grew up on a ranch in Arizona! Of course I am NOT knocking Kentucky. I have family there and I grew up wanting to live there in the horse capitol of the world. It just was not what I expected. I really had no idea America had such a unique culture until I moved to China. Then I discovered on this road trip how different our country is across the states.

It has made me think, how do we effectively prepare foreigners for culture shock in the U.S.? Since our country is so diverse, it would seriously depend on where you were going! And of course the typical American would never think that people would struggle in this easy, beautiful, English speaking country. Ha! I spent 5 minutes saying, “Excuse Me? What? I’m sorry can you repeat that?” to the same sweet woman in small town in Kentucky and she spoke English! I was humiliated.  Language is often a huge barrier in a relationship even if you speak the same language. In fact, I think some of my relationships with Chinese friends, using my limited Chinese, were less complicated. I couldn’t get in too much trouble with my thoughts and words. They always say, “The more you learn of a new language the more trouble you get into.”

We will take time to write about our experiences with culture shock and cultural exchange over the next several blogs. We would love to hear from our readers! Feel free to ask questions…. Even if you have limited English. We would love to practice with you.

Fall in Missouri on our Three Week Road Trip 2012