What's the biggest culture shock you've experienced?

[Sacredhandbag]

Good or bad?

For me it was definitely the bike culture in Amsterdam - and I loved it.

But also, the over enthusiasm of shop workers in America, the silence in the streets in Japan, and the way Australians are so outdoorsy but can't handle the rain 😅

There was a book a few years ago called "Why French Children Don't Throw Food" or something similar, written by an American who had spent like a year as a trailing spouse in a smart area of Paris and come across some very well behaved and well looked after kids. I think about that book every time I go over the border here to the French supermarket. It's like open season on slapping weans. It's ridiculous. And despite what the Didn't Do Me Any Harm brigade might think, the kids' behaviour is really bad, so whatever it's doing to thr kids, it's not much of a deterrent.

Oh and being told “ You’re so big and fat” in Hong Kong! By someone trying to sell me clothes!

Sri Lanka or Egypt. Non stop hassle. Exhausting.

I'm glad you're enjoying it. I had a panic attack the first night I was there and I left early. I travelled around Morocco no problem, but would never go back to Marrakech.

Speaking to an Egyptian waiter and they have to have chaperones on every date until they get engaged.He also couldnt get his head around that women were allowed to swear in the uk.Its a different world.

In NYC? Were you on the subway? Did you not cover your mouth and nose while sneezing? As a New Yorker, I agree that would be very rude.

I knew someone was going to say this.

No I was in the street and of course I covered up my mouth and nose! Why is it rude?

Leaving the Army "bubble" when we bought our own house a few years ago. The family life (,for the partners) was geared towards it being likely that it would one adult with 2+ children. Siblings at parties? No problem. Swaps so you can get multiple to different places? Easy. Popping around to a mates with a bottle of wine instead of going out. Babysitting swaps.

Its one of the things I miss.

Teaching in Cambodia ten years ago. Having my first set of parent evenings and the parents being extremely concerned (to the point of being frantic) about how much milk their child drinks during the day and how much food they eat.

The children were 7 years old, but the primary concern was their eating and milk intake.

The affects of the Khmer Rouge were everywhere.

So much Jesus in small town America! You go to a diner and there's a little store in the back just like any tat shop here but with extra Jesus on everything. Where in England it's like, a little dog? In the US it's Jesus. Sparkly Jesus on a cushion, on a calendar, on a fridge magnet, tea towel (they don't call them tea towels though).

They're not even bothered about Mary it's just 100% Jesus all the time.

Being grabbed by an Egyptian who tried selling me for 6 camels.
My ex thought it was funny and said “all yours mate” with a thumbs up.
The Egyptian thought it was a done deal.
I’m blonde and blue-eyed and was 23 at the time.
Another Egyptian at a coffee shop licked his lips at me in the airport when I asked for a latte.

Cairo was a huge assault. Did 10 days of temple tours over various cities and Nile river cruise at 15 and felt absolutely every single feeling. It was life changing for me.

We go to the bathroom to blow our nose.

I'm British born and bred and id never blow my nose in public. It's rank. I'd go to a toilet or do it when noone else was around

Children’s birthday parties in Dubai.

@TickingAlongNicely it's interesting you say that - I come originally from a mining town and the sense of community at that time was huge. People swapped their fuel allowance ( we all got free coal/ anthracite if you or partner worked at the mines) - lots of activities for family's related to the pits etc -I think that was one of the sad things- when the pits went it was more than just 'jobs lost' - I can imagine the same in other industry's too -

@@CatsndtheBear that must have been a really interesting experience. And sad - it will take Cambodia a long time to regain full literacy won't it.

For me, the Dutch bluntness. Breathtaking to the point of leaving me literally speechless at times.

What are they like?

It’s when I moved back to Engjand after 17 years. I move to a village in the countryside in the SE. Everyone is just really unpleasant.

Ireland gets me every time. I've travelled loads and absolutely love experiencing different cultures but it always blows me away how different it is to the UK. Granted not as different as India or Brazil but you expect that so it doesn't feel as strange.

She didn't though. She told me thought it was disgusting just in general and wouldn't do it at all, so she sniffed and snorted loudly for a few days instead. Drove me up the wall!

I visited Egypt aged 19, and I'm a redhead. The men would not leave me alone. I hated it.

Living in Eastern Europe in the early 2000s. People working in shops were just so brusque, to me it seemed rude. They still had the attitude leftover from the Communist era that customers were lucky to be allowed to buy things from them. (That's not just my perspective, local colleagues explained it to me 😁).

Then living in SE Asia. I'm 5 foot 2 and was taller than all the women and most of the men. I really wasn't used to that! Plus I couldn't buy shoes big or wide enough for my sized 4.5 feet.

Nothing resembling a "village pub" culture in Canada. It is one of the things I miss most about the UK.

Saudi Arabia. The “business women” floor of the Four Seasons in Riyadh. Needing a male chaperone to take me to the “women only” mall. Being informed that I need not wear my abaya or headscarf while I was sitting at my desk in my professional services office.

The expectation of my overwhelming gratitude for the ability to do any of the above.