Three instances come immediately to mind: <BR>A lengthy layover in Amsterdam allowed me to take a bus from the airport to the city. Found it disconcerting to see highway overpasses on which boats passed by. <BR> <BR>Truly shocked and discomforted by the intimidation of East German border guards as I passed through East Germany by auto to Berlin the year following the erection of the wall. Had no knowledge of the Germany language at the time. <BR> <BR>Truly shocked upon moving to Georgia, specifically suburban Atlanta. Shocked to find a neighboring suburban town with a law on its books requiring every head of household within the town to own a gun and ammunition to go with it; felons excepted. Found it a shock that Georgia did not ratify the Bill of Rights until 1939. Found it shocking that Atlanta, "the city too busy to hate" is also too busy to address problems in its infrastructure ranging from potholes, air pollution, traffic congestion to the $100,000 a day fines for polluting the Chattahoochee river. <BR>

My biggest "culture shock" occured right here in the US during the first class I taught [back in the 80s] at Marshall University, Huntington, WV. I asked a question [to get the students talking] -- and I didn't understand a WORD of what the young man who answered said! After 3 years there I learned to distinguish [and understand] 5 accents from the area. I could also do a "good old girl" when it was useful. But little old me from Central New York was stopped dead in her tracks -- I knew there was an accent -- but wooooof -- it was beyond me that first day:)

My biggest culture shock was (many many many many) years ago when I truly learned that there is always another point of view. Two days into my first overseas job (age 24) I was listening to a story of the crusades on Radio Bahrain. Having been brought up on Ivanhoe and Richard the Lionheart tales it was a real eye opener to hear the story of the crusdades told from the exact opposite angle. I'm glad it happened as since then I've always been more interested in the differences than shocked by them. <BR> <BR>However, my unshockablility was taken to the nth degree in Sumatra when a group of kids I met in a small village wanted to take me home to visit someone. As the houses were boat shaped and I really wanted to see inside, I went along with them, only to find the "someone" was dead. In Sumatra the belief is - you're not dead until you're buried, and corpses can stay in the home for 6 months before a funeral is organized. It was a sureal experience finding myself sitting on a stool and chatting to a corpse about life in London and how polluted Trafalgar Square was becoming. Later was invited to the funeral of a very wealthy man. It involved a whole week of celebrations after which the village which had been built for the occasion was fired and destoyed. Fantastically interesting place and experience (and OK the corpse did shock me a little bit!)

Culture shock in my own country. From CA and was shocked at the open racism of the south. Open use of stereotypes of the worst kind and talking to me as though I'd agree. At least it helped rid me of the "everybody thinks just like me attitude" I had naively developed in my youth.

My greatest experience of culture shock was when I left home for the first time, moving from the small town I grew up in to the big city. <BR> <BR>Since then, I try to get a very clear picture of where I'm travelling to and the culture(s) I'll encounter. A series of books I rely on to avoid culture shock is called just that -- Culture Shock! Read in conjunction with other background reading for travel -- anthropology, history, travel guidebook, language materials, etc. -- I've never "suffered" since. <BR> <BR>From many people's experiences posted here, the common thread seems to be when people expect a place to be the same or similar, they experience culture shock. This is particularly true for countries, like the US, that have regional differences. <BR> <BR>Someone said when you go somewhere else, if you expect it to be different, you won't be surprised and simply need to adjust accordingly. I think that is a good outlook -- also, keep an open mind and avoid being prejudiced or judgemental. <BR> <BR>Reverse culture shock has also been mentioned here. This is probably even more overlooked than culture shock itself. I managed to largely avoid it, however, like another previous poster, I do feel like home is no longer home; the world is my home and where I am just happens to be the place I live. <BR> <BR>I'd like to sign off with a favourite quote of mine from Mark Twain that I hope you'll enjoy: <BR> <BR>"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad,wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime." <BR> <BR>~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~- <BR>Rick Green <BR>Fresh Tracks Adventure Travel Centres <BR>"Adventures for the Untourist" @ http//www.freshtracks.com <BR> <BR>1847 West 4th Ave. <BR>Vancouver, B.C. <BR>Canada V6J 1M4 <BR>Toll Free 1-800-627-7492 <BR>Phone (604) 737-7880 <BR>Hours M-F, 9.00am-5.30pm; Sa, 10.00am-5.00pm PST

Sheeesh -- this has to be one of the most explicit ads that has appeared here in a long time. Rick -- GO READ THE FORUM POLICIES.

I think everywhere I've been there have been some aspects that have taken me by surprise. <BR> <BR>NIGERIA--children soldiers holding machine guns, expediters to get through customs, getting swarmed by people including one taxi driver who grabbed my suitcase handle as I was holding it saying "need taxi?", the fear of driving at night due to false government roadblocks set up by thieves <BR> <BR>BALTIMORE--moved here 2 years ago. Couldn't believe that such a large city could be so DEAD-seeming on weekends and holidays even on a nice day. I thought I was in the South with the seemingly bipolar black-white segregation...and over time discovering that race relations actually far more positive then I had thought. Then later discovering that the city that I had considered synonymous with urban blight, actually had many redeemable qualities..such as Lexington Market, Federal Hill, Fell's Point, Mount Vernon, etc... <BR> <BR>QUEBEC PROVINCE--That French is alive and well in the seeming monolith of North America. A place with such European feel on this continent...Montreal and Quebec City. <BR> <BR>BOSTON--That a place in the United States could feel so different from my perception of the country. Far more European than I had expected. <BR> <BR>NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS--Only 150 miles from Florida, that someplace could have such a different pace of life. <BR> <BR>NEW YORK CITY--Always surprises me. Sometimes I think I love it, other times that I hate it. As a kid, I always thought it grimy and people rude, self-centered and scary. As an adult, I was shocked to discover that I would really enjoy myself there, after my childhood preconceived notions. <BR> <BR>PHILADELPHIA--First time I went, I thought why would anyone live here. Now, I love its vibrancy, walkability, sophistication, history and overall charm...who would have thought? <BR> <BR>RICHMOND--I lived in Virginia as a child and always liked the South because I thought people were nicer. As an adult returning, the racial tension I found palpable and disturbing. <BR> <BR>Just to name a few.

I have lived in the US, Europe, and Far East, and traveled to many other locations. Easily the most "shocking" place I have ever experienced is Saudi Arabia.

Re: Tom <BR> <BR>WHY was Saudi Arabia the most shocking place you have ever experienced?

I'm from Austria - and went to Boston to work for a family as an aupair - everybody told me before I went - I'll have a culture shock when I get there. But funny enough I actually had it when I went back home to Austria - after a year in the US... I really love my year in Boston.. and got used to sooo many thinks - like "diet coke" (in Austria we call it "cola light") or nosmoking areas in restaurants.. just recently we have some places we you are not allowed to smoke.. at these seats are most of the time close to the toilets or the kitchen.. but we are improving..

Re: Marty's trip to Russia <BR> <BR>Am headed to Moscow and St. Petersburg in early Sept. Would appreciate anything you can share about your experiences. We are staying with American expats living just outside Moscow so will have personal guides for the trip. But I would enjoy your insights as to what to do and avoid. <BR> <BR>Thanks! <BR> <BR>Regard Culture Shock: We lived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates for 6 years and traveled many, many places. The most foreign was Xian, China. The most familiar was Cape Town, South Africa. The world is terrific and every place is wonderful if you know how to look at it!

This forum is so scathing in its condemnation of people who criticize other cultures overseas. But evidently parts of the US is exempt from this. People feel free to say anything they want about the South. <BR> <BR>Elvira, I live in Tennessee. We have some jerks and a lot of good people, just like Massachusetts.

Mary&gt; you know why its SO easy to "pick" on the south??? Oh, I know there are LOTS of fine folk down there,,but its those "other" morons who give the south a bad name,,you know the ones.. white hoods..burning crosses.. <BR> Sure, you have racism in other areas, but it doesn't even come close to the south.

I have been to London several times and really loved it. For a major city it is outstanding compared to many of the other world capitals I have been to. People were very courteous and I thought it easy to find my way around the city. Of course, the English countryside is absolutely gorgeous! <BR> <BR>Culture shock for me is how Florida has disintegrated over the years. I have lived in Florida my entire life and am very disappointed that our state tends to attract the "dregs" from the northern states to move down here. <BR> <BR>

smaller then usual hotel rooms <BR>mniscule bathrooms <BR>his and hers toilets with no bowl to sit on just a mark on the floor where to place your feet remember to fact the door lol

A rebuke to nomad and those who target the US South for racism. I grew up in Mass. and lived in Ill., Va., and NC. Racism is everywhere although it isn't always the same. <BR> <BR>Personal relations and interactions between the races in the South seems to me much pleasanter and more friendly, at least in public, even though institutional racism (hiring, etc.) hasn't improved much, and with an influx of Hispanics, Southern whites are now confronted with dealing with other aspects of their own attitudes about "not like us" people. <BR> <BR>In the North, there may be more concerted efforts to break down institutional racism, but there is much more overt interpersonal and social hostility. <BR> <BR>Moreover, the northern cities have had more diversity over the years so prejudices have sometimes fallen across different lines than just black-white -- was stunned to hear the poisonous talk by Germans against Lithuanians or Latinos against Koreans, etc. etc. in Chicago. <BR> <BR>And I don't think Europeans necessarily get off free on this one, either. American blacks may find it more congenial in Europe where the black-white legacy-of-slavery opposition has never been as deep, but they might not be so comfortable if they were Algerians in France or Turks in Germany, etc. etc. I ask anyone who thinks the US South is the only place where racism abides to think about how they would feel if their daughter were to marry a .......... (fill in the blank with whatever "other" your culture least tolerates -- might even be a New Yorker!). <BR> <BR>

Sorry, meant to say: rebuke to Stan and others.....

In the US, the cult of the car. Most cities don't seem to have a centre so you have to drive long distances to get anywhere, e.g. the central post office might be a long drive away from the bank. We lived just across a busy road from a supermarket but there were no pedestrian crossings. We had to take the car to cross the road.

I know I’m off subject but I love all types of fine cuisine, I’m a pretty picky eater, and I absolutely LOVE EASY CHEESE (aerosol)!!! Don’t knock it till you try it. Great on crackers.

i haven't and i grew up in 2 different countries going back and forth. the US and Indonesia. traveled to japan, singapore, france and germany, mexico and canada, and it felt normal. i've found things that intrigued me, since i've never seen them before, but i don't think they're culture shock. i easily adjust, i don't get jet lag, can eat anything as long as brocoli's not involved. i don't get sick from the water or food, though i eat anywhere. you think that's odd? maybe i'm not getting the culture shock definition that well. maybe i always think that everything is different and i love changes since i get bored alot. i love all the places i've been too and will want to visit more places. maybe if i go to india or china i'll get the feel of culture shock.