Avoiding Reverse Culture Shock
Our friends Kathy and Sharon have finally reached home in the UK after 420 days, 60 weeks and 60,000 miles and 50 countries. In a recent post they were concerned about "reverse culture shock" from coming home and suggest these treatments (edited for length):
... brushing teeth out of a cup; drinking warm water out of large bottles; mixing up tuna mayonnaise in the tin and continue to use plastic plates and share cutlery; hide money upon our persons; wear clothing with lots of pockets; take photos of random images and people in the street; dry ourselves using our travel towels; not use a hair dryer; hand wash underwear each night; wash up any cooking utensils before eating a hot meal; buy a bus ticket & see where it takes you; talk to strangers and ask them how long they have been travelling for; sleep in a bunk bed with ear plugs in; etc.
These totally identify with us and we have a few additions:
We may continue to...
- Shower with flip-flops or sandals
- Share deodorant
- Never plan for more than a week into the future
- Wash laundry in the sink
- Communicate using the metric system
- Wear a shirt too many times before a wash
- Randomly give shopkeepers incorrect change
- Communicate in only "hello", "yes" and "thank you"
- Blog and video everything
And finally... continue to use only three pairs of underwear.



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