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What is the biggest culture shock you have ever faced?
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100+ Answers
Best

Joon Lee

, ESL Linguistics Instructor (2019-present)

Updated Jan 22 · Upvoted by 

Aditya Modanwal

, Student of B.A Soc. Sci. Psychology & History, Banaras Hindu University and 

Jonas Gladnikoff

, Bachelor's degree Psychology, Stockholm University (2010)

Being from Los Angeles and having lived there for 43 years, I assumed nothing. When I moved t
o Korea, going from a vast “melting pot” to a 99.9% homogenous country was pleasantly shocki
ng!

I moved to Paju and it took me over a few months before I saw a foreigner here.
My earliest encounter was at a nice restaurant with western dishes. Some white gentleman was
serving us and as soon as I spoke English he got all excited and shared a beer. He was a
Canadian who was married to a Korean and he was telling me how he missed speaking English.
His first sentence was, “Holy shit, man I’ve felt like a dumb
… (more)
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Bosley Plourde
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Human Psychology Facts

Brian Whitaker

, B.A. Philosophy & Psychology, Mercer University (1995)

Answered Sun
I've lived overseas a few times, but there's one experience that makes me laugh at myself, so here 
it is.

I grew up in a small town in the Deep South, where people smiled and nodded at each other as
they passed on the sidewalk, where you'd have chats with shopkeepers for no reason at all, where
somebody you hardly knew would stop you to ask after your mamma. Then I went to a small
private university in the South, same story, smile and nod, chats with relative strangers, endless
friendliness.
Then I moved to England.

And let's just say that the English were, at least in the mid-90s, at least in ma
… (more)
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5 comments from 
Catherine McColl
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Anar Suleymanov

, travelled to over 30 countries in Europe, Asia and MENA

Updated Jan 10 · Upvoted by 

Matthew Tabor

, BA Psychology & Zoology, State University of New York at Oswego (2009) and 

Mike Johnson

, Ph.d Psychology & Philosophy, University of New South Wales

Japan.

I rarely feel surprised or shocked about the cultures of different countries, but Japan is another
world. Been to Tokyo for 3 weeks and felt like I have travelled to 50 years forward.

Flashy streets

I felt very mentally fatigued after two hours of night walk in Tokyo. The city is very flashy with
many ads. It made my brain busy and hard to focus.
Meals

Japanese look younger than their actual age at least by 10 years. I knew Japanese who looked
25–27 years old at age of 42. Maybe seafood keeps them healthy and younger. But I had a hard
time adapting to seafood. Most of the time I felt hungry 
… (more)
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Related Questions
More Answers Below

What culture shocks do international students face in the US?

What was the biggest shock when you visited the Netherlands for the first time?
What is your biggest cultural shock from visiting America?

Sean Kernan

, Son of Quora
Answered Sep 13 · Upvoted by 

Cathy Hooper

, M.S.,M.Ed Psychology & Special Education, University of North Florida (1987)

Originally Answered: What are your personal experiences in culture shock?
It was definitely the Philippines. I moved there in the 80s and was still a kid.

We would travel off base and I saw how humble their lives could be. Many people worked very

long hours, in the field in the crazy heat.

It makes you appreciate how good you have it.

I went to a traditional birthday party where they slaughter a pig. On the table is this dead pig with
an apple in its mouth. I’d never truly considered that an animal actually dies in order for us to
eat. I had trouble eating pork for a ...
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Dino Dionne

, President & CEO of Genesis Capital Group

Updated Feb 3 · Upvoted by 

Matthew Tabor

, BA Psychology & Zoology, State University of New York at Oswego (2009)
The first time I went to China on business, I casually strolled down Nanjing Road in Shanghai su
rrounded by sophistication and passerbys wearing Chanel and Prada.
Suddenly, a woman carrying a baby, dressed top-to-bottom in brand clothing stopped, lifted the b
aby up in the air allowing him/her to defecate. I was so shocked that had to stop and looked at
the scene in horror. The baby didn’t wear a diaper under the onesie but rather had a deliberately
made opening.

Surely, I thought this to be the exception vs. the rule until I saw it everywhere across China —
moms allowing their children to go on 
… (more)
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6 comments from 
Iván Navarro
 and more

Martenz Vandreva

, studied at Trisakti Institute of Tourism

Updated Jan 17 · Upvoted by 

Kathryn Roux Dickerson

, B.A. Psychology, Hope International University (1993) and 

Mike Johnson

, Ph.d Psychology & Philosophy, University of New South Wales

1. Soft Drinks
When the first time I was stepping my feet in Germany, I was shocked when I saw how people
drink soft drinks almost all the time..In the morning before work, my colleagues will drink a can
of Coca-Cola, and every time we have a short break , again always Coca-Cola or other kind of
soft drink.
And not forget to mention, Red Bull..this kind of energy drink it's seem becoming everybody's
favorite drinks to pump their spirit..

One package of can soft drink contains 24 pieces..and its common when I saw some of my
colleagues have it in their room.

2. Sparkling Water

When the first time I boug

… (more)
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203
203 comments from 
Swati Sharma
 and more

Misha Firer

, Writer
Updated Jul 18, 2020 · Upvoted by 

Anusuya Datta

, M.Phil Clinical Psychology & Psychology (2015) and 

Mike Johnson

, Ph.d Psychology & Philosophy, University of New South Wales

Depending on where you from, it’s almost a guarantee that either ones will give you the biggest
culture shock.

Russia
Public toilet in Voronezh

Public toilet at the Officers’ Park in Chita

Public toilet at the Officers’ Park in Chita

Japan

A multi-function public toilet at a bus station

Public toilet in the subway station in Osaka
… (more)
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280
280 comments from 
Neil Highnam
 and more

Anna Kesselman

, HR Manager at Sensi Seeds

Answered Feb 5, 2020 · Upvoted by 

Sarang Raut

, Business Analyst at Extentia – Mobile, Cloud and Design (2017-present) and 

Anusuya Datta

, M.Phil Clinical Psychology & Psychology (2015)

I lived in the Netherlands for a couple of years then and my Dutch boss invited me to her
wedding. There was a beautiful ceremony in a romantic castle and after that we were served
some tiny snacks and petit fours.

After that we took a group picture and then the wedding manager announced that those who have
a fork and a knife pictogram in their wedding invitation could proceed to the dinner hall and the
rest can go home and thanks for coming.

So there we were, hungry and stuck in the middle of nowhere. Until one of our colleagues called
her husband to pick us up by car and bring to the nearest t
… (more)
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Francis Jacquerye
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Related Questions

What culture shocks do international students face in the US?

What was the biggest shock when you visited the Netherlands for the first time?

What is your biggest cultural shock from visiting America?

What are the biggest culture shocks people face when coming to Germany?

What are the biggest cultural shocks you had when you moved to Canada?

As a Japanese person, what cultural shocks did you have when you visited the USA?

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