" Although there are 4x more people … it is VERY quiet . Nobody is screaming , cars are n’t honking , multitude are n’t even talking . "
Visiting a new part of the world can sometimes feel like walking into an entirely new planet. Often, our worldview gets challenged, our knowledge expands, and naturally, we compare the experience to what we know.
I’m an American, but I’ve been splitting time in Canada, where my partner lives, for the past three years. Culture shocks have hit me more than I imagined — especially in Québec, which already feels like its own little country within Canada. One interesting shock — I feel people here really work to live, not live to work. I felt an immediate calmness here after living in the hustle and bustle ofNew YorkCity.
Also some fun ones: Canadians don’t have Venmo. Imagine the confusion when I asked someone, “Can I Venmo you?” They use Interac, which is connected through their banks. It’s much easier IMO. And, Canadians don’t take your card from you at a restaurant. They bring the reader right to the table. And they split checks with absolutely no issue!
Anyway, I was reminded of all this after coming across this thread on Twitter, which asked: “What is the biggest culture shock you have ever witnessed?”
What is the grown culture daze you have ever witnessed ?
The responses were fascinating — and they came from all over the world (not just North America or Europe)! Here’s what everyone had to say:
1.
Tokyo - although there ’s 4x more people than NYC , it is VERY quiet there . Nobody is screaming , cars are n’t honking , people are n’t even talking . Just all silence.https://t.co/miUHhgywJG
2.
I went to Greece . No loyal solid food eating place and liquor stores on every corner . A beer was $ 1 . All the food I ate was freshly fascinate . Everybody was in shape , from the young to the erstwhile . I think to myself , America is essay to kill us.https://t.co/2BMGuPB65X
3.
In 2009 I was on vacation in Congo . My blood brother and I bought drink ( I recollect it was Fanta ? ? ) from a small local shop class . We paid and walk out . The workshop owner ran after us - turns out we were supposed to drink and leave the methamphetamine hydrochloride bottles behind because they keep them . We had no idea.https://t.co/FFl06Hevq1
4.
Nothing has floor and shock me more than ordering Iced Camellia sinensis for the first time in the US as a Canadian . I almost criedhttps://t.co/GFWZpbfN9i
5.
As a 10 year sometime having just land in Canada the first time I look those pedestrian button thingies that made all traffic stop and a crossing sentry go would attach to the kids to the other side all I could think was “ wow they care about nestling here”https://t.co / ow8rdQDeqF
6.
finding out americans wipe with dry tissue and go on with their dayhttps://t.co/IBAel0Rwtg
7.
in America , call the ambulance is n’t free . Actually it be at least $ 2000 for a 6 miles ride to the hospitalhttps://t.co/hFLIWSwSpo
8.
A chest x - ray costs north of $ 400 in the US . It costs about R700 in South Africahttps://t.co/orgMjCl8ID
9.
My First clip in India and the culture shock was Intense . The first shock was seeing elephants cows , butt , pig & chickens all walk among the car and people on the street . Which did n’t help considering the fact it has some of the bad traffic in the world.https://t.co/NmuVY8oXlG
10.
Nordic countries stinginess with food . If you tempt them to your sign of the zodiac and they bring in collation , do n’t assume they ’re yours . They ’ll pack and leave with everything including open sodas.https://t.co/GwErORYJpv
11.
In DC passing the people who looked like me , Black with locs , cleaning the subway in blue jumpsuits . As soon as I left the subway , I stop control people who look like me in the fancy buildings . Jamaica allowed me to see Black excellence in all spaces . ❤ ️https://t.co / lC6ZeW2lMG
12.
While in school day in Nigeria , competition were undecided and you knew your enemy . In the UK , guys you just had lunch with will deliberately hear to fail you with surd inquiry and snide remarks in a stratum presentation that is 40 % of the exam . Then they try switch to be sidekick after class.https://t.co/AgKrjBmKoW
13.
In Nigeria we call medication drug , when I was educate in the UK and I went to the pharmaceutics , I said I ’m here to blame up my drugs . You should have seen the look on their faces when I mentioned that 😂 https://t.co/5i8NdvNCpl
14.
My mouth overlook when the tour guide told us that the constabulary there in Iceland do n’t expect guns . Just pepper spray & batons.https://t.co/3i2Ec7HO7F
15.
Moving to Qatar . They are usually ranked at the top if not number 1 for safest country . It was weird adjusting to a place that had no crime and realise how stressed I did n’t make love I was while living in the states.https://t.co/GG1p0hxNvS
16.
How roast you ’ll be in Europe for weary sweat suit or leging , even just to some place as quick as the marketplace . I ’m mainly speaking from my experience in Spain and Francehttps://t.co/IbYD1ZrEqv
17.
In Lomé , Togo , people remark route dealings rules without dealings wardens or lights . I had to look around to see if military workforce were neaby but there was not a single police force enforcement force in lot . They ’re just used to it .
And lastly:
18.
