Culture Shock

I just found out what culture shock is.

It turns out I didn’t know before.

Culture shock is your new acquaintance saying something innocent and polite in intent, but it leaves you feeling that tightness in your chest you get when something unpleasant is forced on you.

Culture shock is crying over chocolate cake.

Culture shock is fighting back a headache at the thought of your host taking you shopping at the end of a day that was slightly stressful, not because of the day itself, but because only a week ago you moved away from your home country and you have been in airports and planes and cars and trains and strangers’ homes and unfamiliar beds this whole time, and you have left everything you knew save a few pairs of socks which are not warm enough here.

Culture shock is having nothing to wear because you just washed your clothes and they have been drying for two days on the balcony.

Culture shock is everyone talking another language and you know it’s about you and no one translates. Culture shock is everyone talking another language and probably it has nothing to do with you so you sit there quietly and look around at your unfamiliar surroundings until someone has a use for you.

Culture shock is being alternately stifled and abandoned.

Culture shock is living on snacks because you don’t know how to make this food or where to buy it or what to buy.

Culture shock is writing a script in preparation for an encounter with your neighbour.

These are the things I have learned. I promise to be more lighthearted next time.