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So after a 5 hour flight from Kathmandu to Hong Kong, an 11 hour layover, an 11 hour flight to Los Angeles, a 24 hour layover, a 3-4 hour flight to Atlanta, a 1 hour layover, and a 1.5 hour flight to XNA, I made it home a few weeks ago. Reverse culture shock (and winter) kicked in, and I haven't updated since. This will be my final post on this blog.
Returning to the wealthiest nation on the planet from one of the poorest was quite an eye-opener for (hopefully) obvious reasons. On top of that, I came back at the height of the Christmas season, when people spend money they don't have on things they don't need for reasons they usually don't even fully understand.
A few things I've noticed/done since I've been home:
--One of the first things I did was go and stick my face under the sink and drink water. Because I could.
--People in America are extremely over concerned with time--being late, checking their watches, scheduling like crazy, etc. I've been on "India time" for the semester. Weird.
--The majority of people here are able to eat for enjoyment. There is a luxury of variety in American diets that is unheard of in developing countries. Don't like olives? You don't have to eat them. Craving Italian food tonight? Fine.
--That said, there are not enough meals in the day for me to be able to eat all of the foods/at all of the places I want to before I leave again.
--We should value, if nothing else, the relative stability of our political system.
--Although Americans have a surplus of pretty much everything, they are some of the most selfish people ever. Their houses are so large, with so much empty space, and they have so much junk they don't need--but they rarely donate their extra stuff. A trip to the Salvation Army once a month is too much for most to handle.
--Most people can't handle not getting their way. Life in exile would not flow well with 99% of Americans.
--The cars here are HUGE. Also, American drivers are horrible compared to Indian/Nepali ones. They may have shitty roads and shitty cars, but they know how to drive. There isn't the cell phone texting or bad music blaring or generally not paying attention that happens in America. (I wasn't in a car the entire time that wasn't a manual. Take that, soccer moms.)
I'm tired of doing bullet points. Anyway...the point is, we have it good yet most people don't realize it.
It's also been difficult because it's so odd to be home and to see familiar things and people. Everyone else has continued their lives just like I did over the past few months, and the inside jokes are uncomfortable from both sides. I don't know what movies are out (or were out), new books or music, concerts, etc. It's weird to be out of your own "loop," but I guess it was bound to happen. Most of the time I just feel like not really seeing anyone or doing much of anything. Yet I haven't even finished going through my ~6000 pictures.
I've said this to a few people, but I can't stress it enough to those who are thinking of going/studying abroad in the future. I have not been to Europe or any other Western nation, but I am confident in my choice to study abroad in Asia for this semester. Seeing (literally) the other side of the world and how it thinks and operates has more value than my not-yet-fully-matured mind can comprehend. If you go to Spain or France or Germany or Italy, for example, you are basically going to an America where everything is older, the people are smarter and more cosmopolitan. The food is great--nothing too different than what you're used to. You might go to stereotypical tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Piza, or one gothic cathedral too many. You'll stay in fancy hotels and eat at nice restaurants and go shopping. This is exactly what I did not want to do. I wanted to stay in a homestay and learn what life in a foreign (eastern) family life is all about. I wanted to go somewhere where there was visible poverty and I wouldn't see flashy Gucci bags or ridiculously large sunglasses or iPhones or people going to/from the mall. I wanted to experience a culture that has been relatively static in comparison to Western ones for hundreds of years. It was a risk, in a way, to throw myself into direct contact with people 360 degrees different from the American norm I've grown up with having never left the country before.
And I'm glad I did it.
So my advice: if given the chance, choose Asia over Europe in case you don't have the chance to travel again.
I'm also so glad I kept up with this blog, and that other people did as well. It has made it so much easier--I've gotten so many less "So how was it?" and "Did you have fun?" questions than I would have had I not kept up with this. It was amazing, and yes I had fun. If you have any real questions, let me know. I'd be happy to answer.
Finally, I leave for another semester abroad on January 26. I've started another blog, so keep up with it!
Returning to the wealthiest nation on the planet from one of the poorest was quite an eye-opener for (hopefully) obvious reasons. On top of that, I came back at the height of the Christmas season, when people spend money they don't have on things they don't need for reasons they usually don't even fully understand.
A few things I've noticed/done since I've been home:
--One of the first things I did was go and stick my face under the sink and drink water. Because I could.
--People in America are extremely over concerned with time--being late, checking their watches, scheduling like crazy, etc. I've been on "India time" for the semester. Weird.
--The majority of people here are able to eat for enjoyment. There is a luxury of variety in American diets that is unheard of in developing countries. Don't like olives? You don't have to eat them. Craving Italian food tonight? Fine.
--That said, there are not enough meals in the day for me to be able to eat all of the foods/at all of the places I want to before I leave again.
--We should value, if nothing else, the relative stability of our political system.
--Although Americans have a surplus of pretty much everything, they are some of the most selfish people ever. Their houses are so large, with so much empty space, and they have so much junk they don't need--but they rarely donate their extra stuff. A trip to the Salvation Army once a month is too much for most to handle.
--Most people can't handle not getting their way. Life in exile would not flow well with 99% of Americans.
--The cars here are HUGE. Also, American drivers are horrible compared to Indian/Nepali ones. They may have shitty roads and shitty cars, but they know how to drive. There isn't the cell phone texting or bad music blaring or generally not paying attention that happens in America. (I wasn't in a car the entire time that wasn't a manual. Take that, soccer moms.)
I'm tired of doing bullet points. Anyway...the point is, we have it good yet most people don't realize it.
It's also been difficult because it's so odd to be home and to see familiar things and people. Everyone else has continued their lives just like I did over the past few months, and the inside jokes are uncomfortable from both sides. I don't know what movies are out (or were out), new books or music, concerts, etc. It's weird to be out of your own "loop," but I guess it was bound to happen. Most of the time I just feel like not really seeing anyone or doing much of anything. Yet I haven't even finished going through my ~6000 pictures.
I've said this to a few people, but I can't stress it enough to those who are thinking of going/studying abroad in the future. I have not been to Europe or any other Western nation, but I am confident in my choice to study abroad in Asia for this semester. Seeing (literally) the other side of the world and how it thinks and operates has more value than my not-yet-fully-matured mind can comprehend. If you go to Spain or France or Germany or Italy, for example, you are basically going to an America where everything is older, the people are smarter and more cosmopolitan. The food is great--nothing too different than what you're used to. You might go to stereotypical tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Piza, or one gothic cathedral too many. You'll stay in fancy hotels and eat at nice restaurants and go shopping. This is exactly what I did not want to do. I wanted to stay in a homestay and learn what life in a foreign (eastern) family life is all about. I wanted to go somewhere where there was visible poverty and I wouldn't see flashy Gucci bags or ridiculously large sunglasses or iPhones or people going to/from the mall. I wanted to experience a culture that has been relatively static in comparison to Western ones for hundreds of years. It was a risk, in a way, to throw myself into direct contact with people 360 degrees different from the American norm I've grown up with having never left the country before.
And I'm glad I did it.
So my advice: if given the chance, choose Asia over Europe in case you don't have the chance to travel again.
I'm also so glad I kept up with this blog, and that other people did as well. It has made it so much easier--I've gotten so many less "So how was it?" and "Did you have fun?" questions than I would have had I not kept up with this. It was amazing, and yes I had fun. If you have any real questions, let me know. I'd be happy to answer.
Finally, I leave for another semester abroad on January 26. I've started another blog, so keep up with it!
posted by Stephen_I at
1:12 AM
3 Comments:
I think of India every time I go to the bathroom. The toilet paper, the flushing, the 30 unnecessary hair products I get to have, knowing I don't expect to vomit up dinner from something in the water I accidentally drank... yup, the crapper is definitely where I remember my blessings. Odd, but there ya are.
I think you'll be surprised how much culture shock you can have immersing yourself in Europe, if you make it out that way. Rich yes, but America it is not. But I would agree to go to India if only to really see extreme poverty for yourself. You're never prepared for it.
Can't wait for the updates from your next trip!
Extremely difficult moment when you left...Optimistic,proud,confident in you, and excited (but worried) while you were away on a life's unique adventure on the other side of the planet...Anxiously checking modern communication technologies for information and connection with you from around the world...Ecstatic upon your safe return! One more trip to go...Oh, and Be Careful there , too!
Love,
Dad
I agree with it all, Stephen la, and I feel a lot of the same things...
Leaving so soon as we are, there is a certain pressure to spend time with this person and that person before I can't, before I go to Argentina for eight months. The blessed burden of the traveler is to have new experiences and friends yet miss--for a while--the old ones.
Thank you for keeping up with Mere Perception. Your writing style is honest, thoughtful, funny. Your reflection.
Poh Rangzen.
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