Reversed culture shock when going home 🏡
Is it really possible to experience culture shock when going back to that home sweet home?
Yup.
Having gone back to Sweden after being abroad for almost a year I notice things that used to be totally normal to me but nowadays seems a bit strange and could sometimes be disturbing to me even.
So here are 7 reversed culture shocks (ok not really shocking shocks but you know.. ^^) I acknowledge while in Sweden.
1. Too much of too little
I feel like while many are shy and reserved about showing to much of their bodies and skin in Korea the situation is kind of opposite in Sweden. While it might be nothing but natural to be a bit naked when out in nature it could sometimes be a bit too much for me.
There are very few bikinis to be spotted on the beaches here in Jeju and for a while, I wondered why.
Why don't people take off those T-shirts and shorts and take a bath in a normal bikini or swimsuit/trunks instead?
But I got affected and now I don't only appreciate being able to cover up a bit more on the beach (without weird looks or stares) and not having to deal with "beach-bod-anxiety", but thinking more about it, it's also a bit disturbing having to see grown up peoples privates get flashed before my eyes while just chilling by the ocean. XD
2. Salty rice? No, thank you.
This and the next one is very closely related to each other as you can see.
Why would anyone put salt in their rice? Why?! :O It seemed normal to me up until just a few years ago but now I don't understand at all. The rice tastes fine without any salt so why??
3. Easy on the salt
Since the first time I went to Korea, I've been enjoying the Korean food. However, during that first trip, I wasn't totally satisfied with the flavours. It needed salt.
A few times I even asked for salt (since it usually never just sit there in the table with pepper as it would do in so many other restaurants around the globe.) and it seemed to puzzle them a bit since Korean food actually is seen as quite salty already.
And when TY came to visit me in Sweden he was also complaining about food being too salty there and I couldn't see why. But now every time we go back to Sweden it hits me - the saltiness. It's just too much. Some of my favourite things are not as yummy anymore, they're suddenly just salty. My favourite crisps or pizza or even just a random bought sandwich is too salty.
4. 'Mi snack es su snack'
Since I'm already talking about food let's talk a bit about snacking.
In Korea, it's normal to treat your friends with what you have, no matter how small. If you have two sweets then give one to your friend. And while we do do that in Sweden as well it's still a bit different IMO. When you have something tasty you can keep most of it yourself as long as you invite your friends to try some. I Korea one would feel bad for munching on something yummy on their own even if there is not enough for everyone so for this I just simply eat my goodies later when I'm home or I just give it to someone else (or munching on it in a super discreet manner ^^).
A good thing is to remember this and buy extra for sharing when buying snacks. ^^
There has been a few awkward moments when some friends were happily eating on their own without treating so...
5. Mt Snack 🗻
One more thing about snacks is the quantity.
We eat quite a lot of snacks here as well but the package size is so different, and the amount of snacks taken in at the same time is also different.
While Sweden has this heavy culture of everyone eating candy (kids and grownups) and snacks and candy is only for weekends and so on, I feel like the amounts people indulge in sweets is way bigger than that what we would eat in Korea.
Maybe we have one snack a day but that one bag is only 40 grams of crisps and comparing that to that 200 gr bag of crisps we would buy together with other snacks (since everyone doesn't like everything) on a normal Friday back home in Sweden.
I just realised exactly how much snacks I could eat before and how it doesn't appeal to me anymore.
6. Night owling guests
And maybe you invited some friends over? I love having guests and love being invited over to a friend's home. But guests tend to stay soooo loooooong. Sometimes even after midnight during weekends. And the next day everyone is tired and lethargic and walks around at home dressed in pyjamas like sluggish zombies. Or is it just me?
And since it got so late the night before one didn't have time to clean up so now there is still that huge washing-up to do. xO
Maybe I simply got older, but having some time to clean up and have for myself before it's time to hit the sack is so nice and I don't really get those super slooooow days after either 👍.
7. Tempo tempo!
We all know the bballi bballi of Korea. And sometimes it can get on our nerves and other times we love it. Same with the very opposite that I find in Sweden.
Oh, it's so nice to have time to unwind(!) but after a while, it starts to drive me just a little bit crazy. Can't things happen just a little bit faster here? Can't we make a decision just a little bit quicker?
I feel a bit stuck in between two tempos where life here is almost too hectic and people change plans like thy change socks, and life back at home is a bit too slow and languorous (<--haha I just now learned that word 😂)
That was some thoughts and reversed shocks I get when I go back home, there are probably some more hidden away inside my head.
I hoped I didn't step on any tender toes but remember that this is just for fun ^. ~
Anyway, thanks for reading all the way to the end~ 🐨
Comments