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For people who left a country for another, how do you deal with reverse culture shock? (discuss.tchncs.de)

submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

17 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Hello everyone,

I left a western European country (think sunset at 16:30 in December) for a southern European country. I'm visiting my family for the holidays, and it just feels very strange to be back here.

I now live in a city, and the contrast with the urban sprawl in my previous country is almost jarring. Car dependency is also quite high, while I mostly walk around where I live now.

For people who experienced similar situations, did you find any way to deal with it? I'm only here for a few weeks, so it's fine, but I guess I just wanted to see if someone has any tip.

It also probably means I made a good decision to move where I live now.

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Mostly this is a survivor ship bias. I moved 23 years ago to the US and have had the reverse culture which every time I visit back.

My explanation is that my mind is still stuck in the country I left at the time and the changes haven't been organic to witness. It's like being a time traveler visiting the same space at different times. It's unavoidable, I think.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Always, when i'm visiting the country i left 30 years ago ( i use to visit every 3 to 4 years ), i keep looking if i recognize someone from the time i lived there, only to catch myself looking for people that are around the same age, as when i left.

You end up having a unique perspective on that reality, that no one there shares with you.

They are there, just living their lives, without interruption.