Saturday, May 23, 2009

Culture Shock Already Beginning

Husband and I were in USA this past week and Husband will be there another 2 weeks. Husband has not been back to USA since last July. So how is it going for Husband … well what has become intuitive to Husband is Mexico …

- Husband remarked “I feel like I am in the car all day.” In large USA city, you are. In Mexico, we have 1 main road and everything is right off it and we can walk to our coastal village and we do not go out and about too much.

- Say where is that and where did you say and which exit is it?

- Pants. Ties. Real shoes. Where are my flip flops?

- When did the mall get so big?

- Sinus headache anyone?

- USA money is all the same size and same color and it is paper – takes a little longer to count things out.

- Husband went to McDonalds drive through and started ordering in Spanish. The young woman kindly informs Husband she does NOT speak Spanish.

Meanwhile, I am back in Mexico. Muy Bien.

14 comments:

Leslie Harris said...

Readjusting, it's always difficult. I don't think I'd be able to do it! (I haven't been back in almost 7 years!)

Steve Cotton said...

Happy transitioning.

Frankly Ronda said...

LL - Definitely a different culture and way of life. We have adapted well here.

SC- Happy ... Sad. Scared. Anxious. Relieved. Disappointed. Nervous. Pick an emotion. Pick a minute.

zannie said...

Even though I haven't been in Mexico for more than two weeks at a time, I find myself speaking Spanish to people. It's particularly embarrassing if the person appears to be of Mexican descent. I worry that they will think I assume they don't know English.

Frankly Ronda said...

Z - Yep that is what happened to Husband -ahhh!

ElleCancun said...

Jajaja - that is funny!!!

I just find out what I like more, and what I like less... LOL!!!

bordersaside said...

That's to funny about McDonnalds, In June Iv been here a year and I was thinking what it will be like when I visit the states. I wondered if I would try to talk in Spanish....
And now I know.

Frankly Ronda said...

OMT and A - We got a quite a laugh out of the McDonalds episode or at least I did. Good news is that Spanish is so comfortable for Husband.

Theresa in Mèrida said...

AMiM, I am planning on going to California in November, I haven't been for two years. I remember thinking how healthy and large the people were nob, and how orderly everything was.
I find myself peppering my English with Spanish without realizing it, and not remembering English words right away and I don't speak Spanish that often!
regards,
Theresa

Rosas Clan in Tulum said...

I totally know what you mean. I had a real shock when i got to California this last time. I am glad that you got a little trip in.

It is funny I think- before I moved here people thought that I was crazy. And while there is so much that I miss about the USA- I was really missing Mexico so much more. Interesting!

Frankly Ronda said...

T - It is so great when the 2nd language becomes so automatic - I envy you guys.

RCT - Our life forever has a new comparison point - Our Year In Mexico ...

Mexico Joe said...

I had similar experiences when I went back after only 3 months, although my super limited Spanish only had me saying gracias instead of thank you at checkouts.

Everything just feels so different after you have been in Mexico for a while, the next time I go back will probably be even worse (6 months this time).

VisitLaManzanilla said...

In the car all day! It's aweful and true, you spend most of your day in the car.

Babs said...

The thing I notice when I go back is the structure of everything - rules, rules and more rules - even when they are unnecessary. It's as though they think their citizens do not have enough sense to make a rational decision.
That and the traffic and speed of everything drives me........right back to Mexico!