Being in a place where things are done differently than you are used to can cause confusion, anxiety and a feeling of uncertainty, even if the environment you are in is actually better than the one you feel more comfortable in. All those feelings can be described as a culture shock as a person is cut off from the cultural patterns that are familiar and has to adapt to something new.
Most often the term is used when talking about moving to another country or traveling. There are ways to soften the culture shock and one of them is asking people to share their own experiences on Reddit so you can prepare for it. We’re not sure what was the motivation of Kampfhamster248 to ask “What was something that shocked you when you visited a foreign country?” but it sure does help to know what people in the thread had to say before going somewhere for the first time.
Which one of these surprised you the most? Maybe you are from the aforementioned countries and can deny or confirm these claims? What would you personally answer if asked the question? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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#1 France
Falling snow. I'm Australian so while we have snow the chances of experiencing falling snow when you're on holidays is slim.The first time I experienced falling snow was when I was in Paris at the age of 20. I LOST MY S**T. Squealing and had a ball. Everyone probably thought I was crazy but for me it was magical and amazing.
Image credits: Lozzif
#2 Japan
When I went to Japan I went to a bathhouse and my leg started spasming violently when I got in a tub. I thought I was having a stroke, but it turns out they have pools with electrical currents to promote longevity. That was literally my most shocking experience overseas
Image credits: CumingLinguist
#3 The Netherlands
When I moved to the Netherlands a few years ago from the USA I deliberately wrote down the things that struck me as strange a few weeks into it because I knew I wouldn't remember later, and here are a few.Bicycles are everywhere and are a far more common mode of transport than cars... yet no one wears helmets.
A Dutch person telling you "I speak a little English" is like Stephen Hawking saying "I know a little physics." I really had no idea it could be so easy to move to another country where you don't speak the language, and that's because the Dutch are so amazing at English (unlike other countries, for example, TV here isn't dubbed but instead in original language and just subtitled).
Big Bird is blue in Holland! I mean, they claim he's Pino, Big Bird's cousin, but I'm not fooled. You know he really just moved here to explore an alternative lifestyle.
Image credits: Andromeda321
#4 Sweden
Swedish babies are hardcore. And people are awesomely chill and friendly. In mid-January, it was knee-deep snow everywhere, yet in Stockholm is was pretty common to see parents enjoying a drink at a cafe, with a queue of prams outside in the snow.The babies are wrapped up heavily yes, but they are fully comfortable leaving them outside like that. No fears over child-thievery, or worries about the cold. These kids are brought up to be metal right from the word go. It's awesome.
I imagine if you tried that in the UK (or especially US) there'd be hysteria and child services would relieve you of your parenting.
Image credits: Lyra_Belacqua
#5 United States Of America
How price tags in America do not include Taxes!
Image credits: afruizc
#6 Germany
Living in Germany I have recently talked to an exchange student from Bangladesh. He was seriously shocked that people would stop at red traffic lights although there were no other cars/pedestrians around. Gave me a good laugh.
Image credits: [deleted]
#7 Japan
How truly polite the Japanese are. And how unbelievably clean the cities of Japan are.
Image credits: Lady_Blue_Dream
#8 India
Trains in India. Furious fighting, shoving, scratching, and clawing to get on, then for the rest of the eight hour journey scrupulous "I'm so sorry I brushed your foot with mine" politeness.
Image credits: tumblingnebulas
#9 New Zealand
How empty and untouched New Zealand is.
Image credits: LindenZin
#10 United States Of America
How many homeless people there are in the USA. I've been to 30+ countries and I've seen more homeless in the US than anywhere else. I'd say even more than homeless dogs in Mexico. It's was extremely shocking.
Image credits: Doct_orb
#11 Japan
How f**king clean Japan is. You can walk around Tokyo for a day and struggle to find as much as a gum wrapper on the ground. It is truly incredible.
Image credits: Winzip115
#12 Mexico
How corrupt the police force is in Mexico.
Image credits: ImNotYourGuyPal
#13 Midwest United States
How fat the majority of the people were in the midwest United States
Image credits: Noooooooooobody
#14 United States Of America
When I went to New York I couldn't get over how familiar everything looked on my first day there. I must have seen way more films and TV shows filmed in Manhattan than I realized, but pretty much everywhere looked exactly as I expected it to.
Image credits: Zacchaeusbastardo
#15 Japan
I lived in Japan for a year. The satellite radio at my school had a channel called "Rokki" that played the Rocky theme song on a loop 24:7.
Image credits: Thompson_S_Sweetback
#16 Vietnam
How many Vietnamese can fit on one moped in Hanoi.
Image credits: Bitter_Bert
#17 Italy
The traffic in Rome.I live in Finland and it's unusual if my trip to university is delayed by a single second by other people, so people wasting over one hour stuck in traffic every day would be the most frustrating thing I can imagine.
Image credits: Lampaanlapapalapata
#18 China
Originally from Canada, spent a few weeks in China. I was shocked when I regularly saw kids squat down on the sidewalk and take a dump.
Image credits: BabyFark93
#19 France
French people (or Parisians, at least) are INTENSE about escalators. Your options are to either stand to one side (the right side, I think?) or sprint up the other side like an angry baboon is chasing you. If any part of you sticks out into the passing lane - you'll hear all about it.
Image credits: beepbeep_meow
#20 Germany
This is silly, but in 2003 I visited Germany and was absolutely blown away that the escalators didn't start moving until you approached them (like automatic sliding doors). In America they're always just going. I thought it was genius.
Image credits: RhythmsaDancer
#21 Austria
The tap water in Vienna. Holy s**t it was delicious.
Image credits: Kolipe
#22 United Kingdom
How much Indian food there was in London.
Image credits: thehonestyfish
#23 United Kingdom
How small all of the fruit was in England. One apple in the US is like two UK apples. I went through a lot of apples.
Image credits: Bmoreisapunkrocktown
#24 Some European Countries
I don't carry coins with me usually, which makes it tough to pee in a lot of Europe.
Image credits: FlatSixer
#25 Afghanistan
Spotted a Ferris Wheel & Resort surrounding a reservoir in Afghanistan. Wasn't prepared for that at all.Also, the social aggressiveness of Females in Iceland! They will court a male in a heartbeat.
Image credits: arrogantt
#26 Austria
Slovakia -> Austria. how clean can a country be. lack of dirt, roads and sidewalks in good condition, flowers everywhere. no old torn posters, no billboards on every lamp post.I like to think that their state or police make them clean up against their own will but most probably they just like it that way and we got used to our dirt during communism.
Image credits: bajaja
#27 United States Of America
When I visited Hollywood, I couldn't believe how disgustingly dirty it was, and how unsafe I felt! It may just have been that I was unlucky enough to experience a couple of crazy incidents in my first two nights, but it definitely wasn't all the glitz andALSO: people seem to be assuming that Hollywood Boulevard was the only place I saw in the whole of LA, and that I've condemned the city because of this one area. This isn't true. I was just stating that it was shocking to me that it was so different to my expectations, but I had an awesome time in LA, ventured around to multiple different area, and even had a great night out in Hollywood at an insane nightclub. Hell, even though it was shocking at first, I even like that I now have some crazy stories to tell from my time there!
Image credits: Zeeaaa
#28 Portugal
The parking in Portugal is shocking the whole country seems to park their cars like they have stolen them.
Image credits: Rothead
#29 France
Shops are closed on Sunday in France except Subway and McDonalds
Image credits: toomuchpodracing
#30 Morocco
Sheep being transported on motorbikes in Morocco.
Image credits: [deleted]
#31 South Korea
In South Korea there is no seperate shower in the bathroom. The showerhead sprays directly on the floor and there is a drain in the corner of the room.
Image credits: poopy_wizard132
#32 United States Of America
When I went to America McDonalds had refillable Dr Pepper. I was in heaven.
Image credits: Ben_Douglass
#33 Australia
How expensive the alcohol is in Australia. I had to sit down after I saw the 40 dollar crate of beer.
Image credits: churrascopalta
#34 Turkey
How Atatürk is worshipped like a God in Turkey.
Image credits: [deleted]
#35 Germany
Germany, how dare you charge for ketchup?
Image credits: jillybrews
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