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Traveling and seeing the world may cause a bit of culture shock. If you’re used to the bustling streets of New York City, it may take some time for you to adapt to the laid-back life on a remote island in the Philippines

Sometimes, these experiences may not be too pleasant, either. These Mumsnet readers would know, as they share the biggest culture shock they’ve gone through in a recent thread. Some were brought to tears while witnessing India’s poverty firsthand, while others weren’t big fans of the cattle on the roads of Nepal. 

But, of course, there are some good ones on this list, too, like how easygoing Brazil’s locals are. Enjoy scrolling through these responses, and feel free to share your own culture shock moments in the comments!

#1

Person in casual attire walking along a sunlit road, symbolizing culture shocks in travel. I was pulled over by the cops in a Texan city for walking.

Everyone drives everywhere in Texas, so someone reported me to the cops for walking, not Jaywalking I might add, from one huge mall to another huge shop. They thought I had a mental illness. When I told them I was British and used to walking everywhere the cops eventually let me go.

12FreeRangeEggs , Lukas Rychvalsky Report

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Leigh
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1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I experienced culture shock in Canada! I had to go to a liquor store and show 3 forms of ID just to buy a beer! I go to buy a joint and I don't even get asked how old I am! In the US it's the complete opposite!

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    #2

    Billboard in a rural area reading "Go to church or the devil will get you," showcasing culture shock in the countryside. The constant presence of Christian evangelism in the Bible Belt states of the USA.

    ItGhoul , The Pug Father Report

    #3

    Red iPhone next to a silver laptop and potted plant, representing culture shocks in technology usage globally. In Japan. Left my phone on my desk at uni, sleepless night, rushed there the next morning to find it sitting exactly where I left it. Left my purse in the student canteen and someone returned it to my desk. My Japanese flatmate rode her bicycle in a pouring rain to meet me on campus and give me an umbrella because she was worried about me getting home (I did not know she was doing it, we bumped into each other on the way). Three year old kids on their little bikes unsupervised on the street and being able to cross the road safely and independently.
    Best year of my life. Unfortunately, I became quite scatty with my possessions for a while after returning to the UK. I just got used to the fact that valuables will remain exactly where you left them or will magically make their way back to you.

    Catza , Dayne Topkin Report

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    SCamp
    Community Member
    1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In Japan, left my motorbike parked outside my busy local train station with the key left in the ignition- got back 8 hours later (I hadn’t realised) - key and bike right there waiting. In Australia that would have been gone in 10 minutes. Hey, stuff does happen in Japan, it’s not always 100% safe but it’s the safest place I’ve lived

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    #4

    Person in shorts and bikini top walks past red flowers, highlighting culture shocks in different countries. Realising that it was totally fine for me to go to the shop in a bikini and flip flops in Brazil. Everyone else was wandering around in various degrees of clothing, including wearing pretty much nothing at all. It was completely normal and no one had the slightest interest in anyone else's wobbly bits.

    It was a shock, but a really nice one. SO relaxing.

    PeopleLikeColdplay , Biinho Ribeiro Report

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    R Ferreira
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Must be a coastal city like Rio de Janeiro. In the countryside or more 'business' cities, like São Paulo, it's not so common.

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    #5

    30 Culture Shocks That Left People Reevaluating Their Perception Of Life I lived in Dubai for a while and used cabs a lot. Without fail i'd be asked if i was going somewhere or "working", just because I was blonde so automatically assumed to be a p*****tute and grabbed/groped accordingly.
    Total s**thole of a place beyond the glitter.

    Verv , Ahmed Report

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    nm (he/him)
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    1 week ago

    This comment has been deleted.

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    #6

    30 Culture Shocks That Left People Reevaluating Their Perception Of Life The first time I landed in London on my own, (14) and made my way out of the airport and onto the underground, no one stared at me and I wasn’t groped or touched once. It was amazing.
    I remember looking out the window of the train and goggling at how green and lush the countryside was, how fat the animals were in the fields, at the abundance of fruit and berries in the hedges and nobody taking any notice. I fell in love then and there and have loved it ever since.

    Yougetmoreofwhatyoufocuson , Getty Images Report

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    Auntriarch
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not where I live, those blackberries are going to end up in my kitchen 😂

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    #7

    30 Culture Shocks That Left People Reevaluating Their Perception Of Life Probably, in Egypt, seeing women sitting by swimming pools at very expensive hotels , completely covered in black clothing, with total face coverings and gloves. Their husbands openly letched at our 14 year old daughters in the pool

    Mere1 , أخٌ‌في‌الله Report

    #8

    Market stall with ornate lanterns in a bustling street, capturing the essence of culture shocks abroad. Marrakesh. I've travelled a lot and never experienced anything like it. I was followed and harassed incessantly. I had to punch some bloke as he wouldn't let go off my arm.

    username299 , Toa Heftiba Report

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    #9

    Busy city highway at sunset, illustrating culture shocks of urban life in other countries. The sheer number of cars in America. Mind blowing, and the lack of public transport outside of the big city areas. Seeing people drive 100 yards to drop the kids off at the school bus stop. There's no such thing as walking to the shop or the park, as exercise is otherwise planned and timed.

    VonHally , Pixabay Report

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    SCamp
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Visited friends about an hour from San Francisco and we were going to venture in to the city and asked what public transport we could use and he genuinely looked perplexed, like ‘oh … ahhhh… ok… mmmm … why would you?’

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    #10

    30 Culture Shocks That Left People Reevaluating Their Perception Of Life In Florida. I could see a supermarket across the road from the hotel, but there was no way to actually walk to said supermarket, no where to cross the road, no pavements, i had a buggy aged child, it just wasnt possible to safely get there unless we drove across a street. Insane.

    LolaLouise , Kaique Rocha Report

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    indotav
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's pretty much most of the United States outside of older, pre-automobile cities like Boston or NYC.

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    #11

    Bicycles lined up by a canal in a busy European city, highlighting a unique culture shock in transportation and lifestyle. For me it was definitely the bike culture in Amsterdam - and I loved it.

    But also, the over enthusiasm of shop workers in America, the silence in the streets in Japan, and the way Australians are so outdoorsy but can't handle the rain

    Sacredhandbag , Helena Jankovičová Kováčová Report

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    SCamp
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Can’t handle the rain?! What?? Are you serious? What part of Australia did this person go to??

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    #12

    A street view of tall buildings under a clear sky, illustrating potential culture shocks in urban environments. The rule following in Munich. An empty road on a Sunday morning, but people were still waiting for the pedestrian lights to change.

    turkeyboots , Josh Hild Report

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    SCamp
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Japan same. My Japanese wife HATES jaywalking even if there are no and I mean no cars coming.

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    #13

    Smiling man wearing a black beanie and white shirt experiencing culture shock abroad. Ireland, the swearing, in a nice country pub or a restaurant and other couples. They get the F word into every sentence. There is no escape!

    Mabelmable , cottonbro studio Report

    #14

    Man on a camel in front of a pyramid, experiencing culture shock. Being grabbed by an Egyptian who tried selling me for 6 camels.
    My ex thought it was funny and said “all yours mate” with a thumbs up.
    The Egyptian thought it was a done deal.
    I’m blonde and blue-eyed and was 23 at the time.
    Another Egyptian at a coffee shop licked his lips at me in the airport when I asked for a latte.

    xRobin , J R Report

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    Pernille
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My parents got offered 42 camels for me when I was two years old, I'm sure they have, at times, regretted not taking that deal:)

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    #15

    Cozy café decorated for Christmas, showcasing cultural experiences through festive ornaments and warm lighting. When we first moved to Copenhagen back in 2020 ( we are back in uk now) - and for virtually all winter the Xmas lights were left out along with braziers and furry throws and outdoor seating - and everywhere inside was toasty warm - to the point of sometimes being too warm!

    It seemed incredibly cheery compared to most of UK in winter

    Crikeyalmighty , Bich Tran Report

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    Enuya
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It should be this way everywhere. Winter's terrible enough, the least we can do is to put some lights on and try to stay warm

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    #16

    Market stall with colorful jewelry, illustrating culture shocks experienced in other countries. Oh and being told “ You’re so big and fat” in Hong Kong! By someone trying to sell me clothes!

    Sidebeforeself , TonyNojmanSK Report

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    Sue Denham
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Imagine my embarrassment when visiting Hong Kong from NZ (where I'm not overweight) "Oh no! Nothing here fit you!".

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    #17

    Christmas ornament depicting Nativity scene, illustrating cultural shock experiences in festive traditions abroad. So much Jesus in small town America! You go to a diner and there's a little store in the back just like any tat shop here but with extra Jesus on everything. Where in England it's like, a little dog? In the US it's Jesus. Sparkly Jesus on a cushion, on a calendar, on a fridge magnet, tea towel (they don't call them tea towels though).

    They're not even bothered about Mary it's just 100% Jesus all the time.

    Miq , Nam Phong Bùi Report

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    Rafael
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why would they bother wirh Mary if they're not catholics? But yeah, the Jesus obsession of those guys would make even the man himself cringe.

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    #18

    30 Culture Shocks That Left People Reevaluating Their Perception Of Life The poverty in America. I was at a petrol station and a man was going through the bins for cans to recycle for a few cents. People were giving him cans from their very large fancy cars like it was a great act of charity.

    turkeyboots , MART PRODUCTION Report

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    Susie Elle
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They do that where I live as well, especially since they included cans for cashback. Just average folks going dumpsterdiving these days.

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    #19

    Person experiencing culture shock, looking confused while sitting indoors. Shanghai, China. People spitting EVERYWHERE. People would just hock and spit massive phlegm balls out, even inside shops and hotels. It was GRIM.

    AnnaL94 , Polina Zimmerman Report

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    Rose the Cook
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Absolutely the worst thing about China. I once had a nasty fall slipping where someone had spat on the stairs indoors. An eight year old student suggested a solution; "Everyone should carry a stick and just smack anyone spitting."

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    #20

    Cobblestone street between rustic stone buildings, illustrating culture shocks experienced abroad. I moved from a busy city in Ukraine to a small UK village 20 years ago.
    The day after the night of arrival, I went for walk to find the high street and not seen a single person on the street until I got to the high street. I thought the world has ended and I didn’t get the memo.

    SparklyNewMe , Adrien Olichon Report

    #21

    Woman in red dress standing in snowy landscape, experiencing culture shock in winter attire. Newcastle - it was snowing and all the gals only had a slip dress on and no coats at all

    Maighnuad , Dovydas Pranka Report

    #22

    People experiencing culture shocks, sharing drinks and toasting in a lively bar setting. Not necessarily the biggest one, but the most surprising one for me was the drinking culture in the UK. Not just how alcohol forms such a huge and destructive part of so many people's lives, but the casual acceptance of the prevalence of alcohol and the frequent excuses for drunk people - "Well, he was drunk, you know..." I always want to say, "Well, he chose to get drunk, so it's still his responsibility!"

    Zimunya , Getty Images Report

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    SCamp
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yep, agreed. I’m from Australia and we have a drinking rep, but geez, the Brits and their local pub culture is full on. And it’s always pints! And the lasses match the lads pint for pint, that was an eye opener for me! 🫨

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    #23

    A woman in a light blue top and denim shorts stands by a wooden railing in a sunny area, highlighting culture shocks. Being grabbed and stared at in turkey, even when not wearing particularly revealing clothes

    Newsenmum , Dimitrije Djekanovic Report

    #24

    30 Culture Shocks That Left People Reevaluating Their Perception Of Life In China - being stared at openly at length with obvious curiosity as I was not Chinese. Those we met who could speak a smattering of English called us "Big Nose". Not meant as an insult I don't think, just their way of noticing our facial features were not in any way like those of the Chinese people.

    VonHally , Mohammed Alim Report

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    Alexia
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Haha, I went through smth. similar with a group of Chinese tourists. They stared at my bluish-green eyes and even asked me (very politely) if they were natural. I found it funny 😄

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    #25

    Man in green shirt and hat with sunglasses experiences culture shock abroad. Texas was a huge culture shock to me - mainly because of the guns. We went to church with my family there, and every man in there was carrying a gun. My 5-year-old was wide-eyed at the notion of someone shooting someone at Mass!

    KvotheTheBloodless , Fatih Güney Report

    #26

    Grocery aisle with a variety of Japanese curry packages, highlighting culture shocks in international supermarkets. Japan had a lot. Going into supermarkets and genuinely having no idea what something was. Children wearing school uniform even on weekends to advertise their school. The quietness and uniformity. People just obeying the rules. Things like the inability to understand how someone could lose a bus ticket and instead of just saying “no you have to buy a new one” being sent through ten different people all expressing surprise I could lose it. They couldn’t just say no!

    Oh and the shop workers having incredibly high pitched voices, acting like children and following you around.

    Newsenmum , Yuya Tamai Report

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    El Cucuy
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The quietness was something that really struck me in Japan. Subways, trains, the department stores, restaurants, etc. Everyone is quiet. People are aware of everyone around them and are mindful. It was amazing.

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    #27

    Bulls walking on a rural dirt road with houses, illustrating culture shocks experienced in different countries. I guess seeing the poverty in Cambodia. And the fact nobody was over the age of about 40. Lots of people with no limbs. Lots of very young kids living on the streets. This was about 20 years ago.

    BobbyBiscuits , allPhoto Bangkok Report

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    Simon Chen
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Come back today, it is much different. Thanks to a lot of chinese money, poverty is now much lower. I do not know where OP was, but elderly people were allways there, they maybe just dont go to pub street. Begging children is very much the exeption now, sadly those are usually begging gangs of street kids or selling some crappy souveniers. Best thing is to just ignore it, you are not really doing them a favour by giving them money.

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    #28

    30 Culture Shocks That Left People Reevaluating Their Perception Of Life TV viewing in the US. It seemed so haphazard to me. Ad breaks mid-sentence of mainstream tv shows. The multiple religious channels. The whole set up lacked coherence to me.

    BunnyLake , Kaboompics.com Report

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    Weasel Wise
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's, unfortunately, no haphazard but very well organized capitalism designed for companies to announce themselves as much as possible and for consumers to get as little as possible. Also why I haven't once paid for cable tv as an adult.

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    #29

    Children walking down a vibrant, busy alleyway, experiencing a cultural setting in another country. Two spring immediately to mind that really threw me off kilter.

    Arriving in India, first time I’d been out of Europe, and seeing the poverty and dirt and destitution everywhere. Cried my eyes out as it was all so raw.

    Bangkok after a few months bumming around beaches, standing on a bridge looking down at several lanes of frankly mental traffic in the city centre, then waking down the steps and being hit with an array of sounds, smells, colour and chaos. Cried my eyes out as all my senses were so overwhelmed (but grew to love it!)

    MoonKiss , Charu Chaturvedi Report

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    meh
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, it's a paradox in India. If you happen to be in Mumbai you'll see tall skyscrapers sandwiched between chawls. If you are landing at Mumbai during the day time you can see the airport you can't miss the endless roofs of shanties and slums. Rehabilitation efforts and plans have in the past got buried under corruption and politics.

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    #30

    Underground walkway filled with people, illustrating culture shocks experienced in a bustling city environment. I remember starting work in London. I was raised in the Midlands just outside of Birmingham in an ethnically Indian family who had come from Malaysia. In those days the Midlands was industrial and I had seen men running out of work at the end of a shift. The bit that surprised me in London was that men and women in suits were running up the escalators in the tube to get to work- not to bet out of work, but running to get there. Then one day there am I doing the same thing without really realising it! Also the way people would cram themselves into an already crowded tube.

    Cyclebabble , Leon Warnking Report

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    SCamp
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What surprised me about the tube in London was the size of the train - it’s tiny!

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    #31

    30 Culture Shocks That Left People Reevaluating Their Perception Of Life My first time in San Diego. I couldn’t believe the amount of homeless people. There were hundreds of little tents on the banks of the railway line.

    Nigellasrockyroad , Chris John Report

    #32

    30 Culture Shocks That Left People Reevaluating Their Perception Of Life The expectation of politeness in France. If you walk into any establishment and start to order or buy something without a big "Bonjour" you are considered rude

    VonHally , Andrea Piacquadio Report

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    Multa Nocte
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You WILL get better service in France if you treat the clerk as a human being instead of an automaton who is only there to serve your every need.

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    #33

    30 Culture Shocks That Left People Reevaluating Their Perception Of Life Nothing resembling a "village pub" culture in Canada. It is one of the things I miss most about the UK.

    RafaFan , Mike Yak Report

    #34

    In typical yokel style I was in the red light district in Amsterdam and didn’t know 🙄
    I just said they need to shut their curtains cos you can see them in their underwear 🙈
    I got laughed at unsurprisingly 😂

    TinklySnail Report

    #35

    Cows walking on a busy street in India, illustrating culture shock with mixed traffic of animals and vehicles. Visiting Nepal and India 25 years ago. Cows on the road that the taxi drivers would dodge. Vibrant colours everywhere. People sleeping on the pavement at night, hundreds of them with nowhere else to go. Disabled people with no limbs begging lying on the floor. The kindness of strangers and simplicity of the lives people led. It brought me up short and made me appreciate my life back in the U.K. so much more. Not that I preferred it, but the contrast was strong.

    PlopSofa , Martijn Vonk Report

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    Sapna Sarfare
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Indian here.. this is probably a nice thing said.. We have issues and the govt is doing a lot but our population is an issue. Good news is we have brought many out of poverty, But still a long way to go

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    #36

    Vending machine filled with various drink cans and bottles, illustrating a common culture shock in different countries. As a 20 year old, being able to buy beer in McDonald's or from a street vending machine in Belgium. Blew my mind

    Knickerbockergrolia , anders pearson Report

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    Pferdchen
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Back in 1974 or so, on a bus tour of Europe with my parents, I too was surprised by beer in a vending machine in Germany - at a highway rest stop! Being only 14 or 15, I was also amazed that a shopkeeper let me purchase little 1 oz. bottles of Goldschlager and Scotch; I kept those unopened for ages like some kind of trophies.

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    #37

    Speaking to an Egyptian waiter and they have to have chaperones on every date until they get engaged.He also couldnt get his head around that women were allowed to swear in the uk.Its a different world.

    PrincessHoneysuckle Report

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    zims
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wonder if the women swear when they're alone together.

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    #38

    Two women with a laptop sitting on the floor, experiencing culture shocks and discussing something outside the window. South Korea 25 years ago. I was 20, my brother 18. Both tall and blonde. My Dad was tall, fat and ginger. We got pointed and laughed at everywhere we went!

    mnahmnah , Mimi Thian Report

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    Scott Rackley
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Went to Japan when I was younger, got similar treatment. I didn't think I was tall but over there I sure was, also, blonde with grey eyes. Wasn't pointed at but sure did get quite a few odd looks.

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    #39

    The way men treat women in other countries.
    Not saying it's great here btw.
    Argentina - you literally get followed down the road like a dog in heat. It's absolutely feral. And they talk to you and expect you to actually go to one of those hotels where they rent by the hour. I absolutely don't look the type (whatever that is).
    Also the way you are treated in places like Egypt.
    I was offered a job in the Middle East on about an eighth of my UK salary "because you are married and your husband will look after you". No thanks.

    Applesonthelawn Report

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    #40

    30 Culture Shocks That Left People Reevaluating Their Perception Of Life In Beijing, the men carrying their wives handbags and people dancing In parks and in squares. It was so joyful!

    TopshopCropTop , Mizuno K Report

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    Weasel Wise
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The communal dancing and exercising in public spaces (especially parks) is seen a lot in Asian cultures.

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    #41

    Restroom sign in foreign country, symbolizing culture shock experience. Public toilets in the UAE being a hole in the floor. It was well built with a plastic seat style spaces for your feet. But nowhere to sit.

    OneRingToRuleThemAll , Levi Meir Clancy Report

    #42

    Sri Lanka or Egypt. Non stop hassle. Exhausting.

    Hyperion100 Report

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    #43

    Went to Norway last year and I couldn't understand why whenever we got on public transport everyone around us stood up and walked to a different seat.

    I think culturally it's the thing to sit in silence but as excited tourists we just chatted away.

    SailingOnAWave Report

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    #44

    In South Korea I went for a walk with a black man. I hadn't realised that would make us attraction no.1, an African and a European together!

    Gwenhwyfar Report

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    Dar Mal
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    yeah....a bit racist there and in Japan...just ask UBISOFT about their latest Assassin's Creed game....

    #45

    Miami - people mostly men, on huge motorbikes on 8 lane freeways without crash helmets. It terrified me.

    Namechangefordaughterevasion Report

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    Owen
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well. They have the 'freedom' to risk their own lives at all times if they wish. And the medical bills alone could destroy their lives if they were lucky enough to survive a crash.

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    #46

    Cigarette vending machines in isolated spots in Germany.

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    #47

    Person reading on a park bench, experiencing culture shocks abroad. In France, not being able to go for a walk on my own, sit on a park bench and read a book, without some bloke following me/sitting next to me and chatting me up. Never happened in the UK!

    EVHead , Min An Report

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    Barbara Wilcock
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm sorry this happened. But as a solo traveller I have never had this anywhere in France. City,or rural

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    #48

    India. Coming from rural / small town Scotland, it was an absolute mind blower.

    More recently, public smacking of children in France. It’s really commonplace, unlike in the UK. There’s no stigma that I can see.

    rickyrickygrimes Report

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    Ace
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've been living in France (and Switzerland) for 25 years and have only seen this perhaps once or twice in that entire time. So no, it absolutely is not commonplace, no more so than any other civilised country.

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    #49

    I’m from Ireland but lived in the UK for a long time. When we moved back I was struck by 2 things, which I’d never noticed to a huge extent before:

    Smoking in the street - you literally couldn’t avoid it. I used to hate walking up the Main Street in our city because it was everywhere.
    Swearing loudly in the street - again, it was everywhere and you couldn’t avoid it.

    HOTTOGOisastupidsong Report

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    Leigh
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    1 week ago

    This comment has been deleted.

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    #50

    I remember in the middle east my husband and I wanted to get on a bus, but women had to get on the bus first and sit at the front, then the men who sat at the back!

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    #51

    Switzerland- so clean! Puts the UK to shame!

    hookiewookie29 Report

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    Owen
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The UK has always been a bit dirty. It's a part of the culture that's not really mentioned. But seeing Bangladesh, Indonesia, China... It could be much worse.

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    #52

    Rural town in Kenya, piles off rubbish along the street that were just set on fire as there was no bin/rubbish service. Really strange looking down the street and just seeing multiple fires alight all day

    Oldgalgames Report

    #53

    People experiencing a funeral ceremony in a different culture, with a wooden casket, candles, and floral arrangements. Brought up in England. Big shock to go to Ireland for a funeral, with an open coffin wake, which is the norm in Ireland. Also that funerals are happening a day or too after death, not weeks

    Mumsgirls , Pavel Danilyuk Report

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    TribbleThinking
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's a bit soon. The whole point of the wake (which a lot of people forget) is that it's three days of watching the body just in case it actually wakes.

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    #54

    New Orleans and walking into bars with signs that said "All guns should be holstered". So bizarre that people can just walk about freely with guns. Blew my mind.

    Scully01 Report

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    WindySwede
    Community Member
    1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And in a bar as well! And "should" and not "must"..?

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    #55

    Traveler with a blue backpack and casual outfit, possibly experiencing culture shock in a foreign country. I felt really out of place in Kiev as a female solo tourist. The younger generations were good but the older people were really rude and dismissive.
    Of course I've had people being rude to me in my life but this was pretty much full on once they realised I was English. I had learned a few words and phrases to get by but some people just shooed me away with their hand and turned their back on me, even the police did this.

    notacooldad , Ketut Subiyanto Report

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    Trillian
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That sounds like she was trying to talk to random people (and police) on the street? That is not really a thing in Ukraine (and not in Germany either, so I never wondered about it).

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    #56

    Mine would have to be the first time I went to the Algarve. The cleanliness of the streets. Not one piece of litter, street cleaners around all the time, picking up the tiniest bit of anything. It showed their pride. And if a piece of block paving was uneven, it was sorted within an hour!
    The worst; the French people in St.Malo, rude as hell, all of them. And the same in Caernarvon.

    MoonWoman69 Report

    #57

    Leeds, adult men drinking pints of milk as a take away drink.

    TheLurpackYears Report

    #58

    Person experiencing culture shock, wearing a red sweater, using a tissue in a green, outdoor setting. In NY one December. Had a stinking cold. Apparently it’s not the done thing to sneeze or blow your nose in public. Twice I was told I was disgusting!

    Sidebeforeself , Andy Quezada Report

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    Pittsburgh rare
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It all depends on how you sneeze. Some people sneeze like dragons, open mouth and all

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    #59

    This is going to sound awful - but mine was when I was 17 and I was invited to stay overnight with a friend from college. She was the only female in a house with her father and several brothers and she was expected to come home from college and make the evening meal (tea) for everyone. That was the first shock. The second was that they drank tea with the meal. I hadn't come across that before.
    My mum did everything at home (with help from us when she asked) and we only ever had water to drink with our meals. And our evening meal was called supper not tea. I had quite a sheltered upbringing.

    Now I know, of course, that we all do things in different ways and although I like things done my way in my house I really don't care much what other people choose to do in theirs. But it was a shock to me that although my friend was technically still a child she was expected to do all the cooking, laundry and housework just because she was female. This was 1978.

    DilemmaDelilah Report

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    Ace
    Community Member
    1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Doesn't say where this was or where they were from, but you could find such differences between different parts of the UK, so I don't think it's a country-specific thing. The names used for the midday and evening meals in particular vary a lot, but have changed over time. When I was a kid we had tea in the evening, then it was dinner, then supper seemed to be used a lot, now it's OK to say tea again (which used to be thought of more as a working-class thing). I can't keep up.

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    #60

    Oh some of the southern US states. Obesity was absolutely shocking,
    majority of people can’t walk. Sadly it’s becoming more common all over now.

    Newsenmum Report

    #61

    in Tokyo, in department stores, being addressed and bowed at by every single assistant.

    Mere1 Report

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    #62

    Rural China - toddlers not wearing nappies just bottomless trousers and doing their business.
    This was about 15 years ago so it has probably changed.

    Loub1987 Report

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    Rose the Cook
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It hasn't changed, babies are toilet trained early this way still. Only the wealthy upper class city folks use disposable nappies.

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    #63

    Woman in leather jacket holding shopping bags and a phone, looking surprised, illustrating culture shock shopping experience. New York. The woman next to me in a clothes shop did a very loud fart, she casually said 'excuse me' and carried on shopping.

    No attempt to pretend it wasn't her. Now that's a real culture shock.

    stampin , Max Fischer Report

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    #64

    New York. The lack of facilities for disabled people was awful. The attitudes towards disabled people was also terrible. I always thought the U.K. was poor at that until we went to New York.

    BoredZelda Report

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    David
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I live in NYC, we are a very disabled friendly city, almost all public restrooms are disabled capable, all busses, and a nice chunk of the subway stations are (many stations were built over 100 years ago, and it take years to modify one for a elevator. Reason why most dont even have escaltors but just stairs.)

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    #65

    Americans don't really use knives.

    We do use knives to eat, but not in the same way as in the UK

    CarolinaInTheMorning Report

    #66

    Italy - The hole in the ground toilets. The fab food and the amazing wine for next to nothing

    Maighnuad Report

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    #69

    Moving from a workplace in a very very famous institution to a local authority office.

    Everything felt tinny and unsubstantial.

    Words Report

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    #70

    How it's "classy" for women to have a glass of wine. In France, outside a meal, only alcoholics do that.

    Caddycat Report