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Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

...and they could be once more. Only by returning to those things that we did that were wrong do we have a chance to live again.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Don McChesney · Joined: 25 Jun 2005 Posts: 656

"When we go back, we find out why we left."

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

lady z · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Posts: 39 Location: India

This thread caught my attention because i am experiencing extreme culture/reverse culture shock right now. I just got back 10 days ago after being gone for a year from the U.S. The initial excitment of seeing friends and family has faded. Now I am just left with unhappiness about being back and wonder how i am going to survive the next 9 months.
There are lots of good things about where i am, including family and lifelong friends, a good city surrounded by great natural beauty in all directions....but, it just doesn't fit for me.
It was a good point that someone raised--something to the effect that one can be happy or unhappy anywhere, but right now i am happiest when thinking about and working towards leaving again--this time for good.
Shocked

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Hi Guy,

I believe those were the words of Oscar Wilde, not my own of course.

Enjoy,
s

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Hi Guy,

I believe those were the words of Oscar Wilde. Something to that effect, at any rate.

Enjoy,
s

spidey · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 6:22 am Post subject:

lady z · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Posts: 39 Location: India

Sure spidey,
well, first of all, I am in the beginning of this adjustment. It has only been 12 days back, and so my post might have sounded a bit dramatic...but great questions! I will try to be brief:

I didn't say i wanted to leave friends and family for good--they are what have kept me here the past decade! I said when i leave again i would like it to be for good--meaning an indefinite period (rather than a finite period of a year, as this last time). Looking back i see that it was poorly worded.

What doesn't fit for me is living in the U.S. and my profession ....Also, the last presidential reelection didn't help.

What I seek is to live and work ouside of the U.S. while contributing something valuable and practical such as teaching english. There are many places I would like to go, not as a tourist, but as a contributing member of society.

I am still adjusting from being back after over a year. There are good days and bad days like anywhere else.

cheers!
Z

ronin · Joined: 22 Feb 2003 Posts: 50 Location: canada

After a year in Japan I returned to Toronto and went straight to the Japanese reference library for hours reading magazines on Tokyo and watching documentaries on Japan. I made tons of Japanese friends in Toronto and hung out with them so the reverse culture shock quickly evaporated. I also quickly got out of the reverse culture shock by experiencing my great city and its different cultures and what it had to offer but I still have the Japan bug. Now that the winter is coming I suffer from Thailand reverse culture shock. I vacationed in Thailand for 5 months a few years ago in the winter and had the time of my life! Every cold winter in Canada I think about Bangkok it's fresh fruit, palm trees, the girls and Phuket. I even think about the plane trip there on Thai airways oooooh those sweet stewardesses! I love you! But in FEB 06 I will be in Thailand for a month and Japan for 3months! wahooo!!!!!