All articles tagged with #culture shock
Arabella Carey Adolfsson, born in California, moved with her Swedish husband to Torpön Island in Sweden in 2022; she loves the beauty and slower pace but struggles with isolation and finding community, planning to stay while continuing to adapt and travel in Europe.
A Canadian man visiting London documented his first-ever visit to a popular chicken shop, Morley's, on TikTok. He expressed his excitement, feeling like he was in the hit Netflix series Top Boy. Despite some confusion over the menu and ordering just one piece of chicken and chips for £2, he enjoyed the meal and praised its taste. His TikTok video garnered attention and comments from viewers, with some amused by his use of the word "fry" instead of "chips" and his adoption of the South London "roadman" aesthetic.
An American expat living in New Zealand was amazed by the existence of electric kettles, a common kitchen essential in Australia and New Zealand but not in the US. In a TikTok video, he demonstrated how the electric kettle works and expressed his love for its convenience compared to stovetop kettles. The video went viral, with many viewers expressing disbelief that Americans don't have electric kettles. The expat also shared other culture shocks he experienced in New Zealand, including driving on the left side of the road and the use of certain words.
Former prisoners are sharing the biggest culture shocks they experienced after being released, including advancements in cell phone technology, touch screen soda fountains, complicated LEGO sets, and the rise of streaming services. Many were amazed by the capabilities of smartphones and apps, struggled with touch screens and online job applications, and were surprised by changes in the appearance of money. These stories highlight the rapid pace of technological change and how it can be difficult to keep up after being removed from society for an extended period of time.
BuzzFeed Community members shared their experiences of culture shock after moving between the East and West Coasts. Some of the differences mentioned include the weather, driving, food quality, and social norms. For example, some people found it difficult to adjust to the constant sunshine and need to drive everywhere in the West Coast, while others were surprised by the quality of Mexican food in California compared to the East Coast.
Europeans share their biggest culture shock moments while visiting the USA, including the size of everything, air conditioning in homes, the variety of food in supermarkets, the "work 'til you drop" culture, guns being sold in Walmart, and the friendliness of Americans. Other surprises include dessert for breakfast, root beer, and the lack of privacy in public restrooms.
BuzzFeed Community members shared their experiences of culture shock after moving from major US cities to small towns in the Midwest. Some of the biggest differences included the prevalence of mayo as a condiment, lack of diversity, unique uses of Jello, different language and words for things, and the friendliness of people. Other notable changes included the prevalence of religion, the lack of urgency, and the focus on children's activities. Despite the challenges, many people found a sense of community and enjoyed the beautiful summers and affordable housing.