Job Discussion Forums

[greent]

i think part of reverse culture shock is constantly wondering if you did the right thing... i've determined the only place i can live in the states now would be nyc cause it's the only place i might not get bored after a month. and have chaos and a lifestyle most similar to asia, even if vastly different... on the plus side, it is nice being a white female again in the states ...

[Gregor]

I'm actually more than a little anxious about going back to the U.S. now.
A few years ago, I could have said that my home was in Oaxaca. I had always expected and intended to go back there. But when you get married, you have to re�valuate some things. Like home, for one.
My wife is Chinese. Her English isn't good enough for her to do anything professionally with it, and she doesn't speak a WORD of Spanish.
Now, she has her Immigrant Visa to the U.S. so we're going there. I'm just going to approach it as though we're going to a new country and see how it goes.

Objectively speaking, I wish I had either married a Mexican or not got married at all. But what can you do? I certainly have no regrets about marrying my wife.
Some posters on this thread have mentioned stuff about getting married - different goals, different destinations, loss of adventure, and so on. The thing is, when you get married, your home is no longer the U.S. or Phuket or Oaxaca or Ciudad M�xico. You home is now your spouse. So I guess I'll be fine wherever we are.

[shenyanggerry]

Gregor, just be sure to teach her about the western custom of standing in line and taking your turn.

[moot point]

Hey Folks. I think it is time for you to read "Global Soul" by Pico Iyer.

Yes, this is a plug for his book but is a great reflection of all our common opinions written in superb prose.

My feelings about his book, however, I think would apply more to our children (or mixed lineage or not) born in the global world we live in.

It is definitely worth the read and if anyone in Japan wants it I'd be happy to send my book to them. Just PM me.

Any Pico, if you're out there, drop me a line as I'd love to hand out with you and Will Ferguson for a weekend!

[moot point]

Anyway, my thoughts on the whole reverse culture shock;

After the first five or six years abroad while experiencing several countries with a job based in Japan, I returned home and often laughed at the absurdities of the Canadian thinking. Although I also got a kick out of the colloquial English used in O'Hare's airport. Signs like "No Hanging Out Here" and such. How can this be an international airport!

I also scringed at the poor folks standing in front of 40-storey office towers in Tornto smoking their butts in minus forty degree weather. Painful, that is.

Anyway, my more recent trips home (again after being married) I've become a bit jealous of the lifestyle of my friends from home. They have hte house, two cars, a great yard, etc. Sometimes I think I'd like to have the same.

The only comfort, even though my friends have a nice home and new cars and a speedboat in the harbour is that they have a net worth of MINUS $200,000.

Meanwhile, I have nothing except the wife, two kids, and two backpacks filled with $200,000.

[Gordon]

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

^ Don't feel too bad, Gordon.


I have a lousy T-shirt, an IOU from a dead Moonie

and a half-full piggybank of one Baht coins.


I'm such a planner.

[nomadder]

Hey Moot point, I got to meet Pico at a discussion group he led earlier this year in India. We spoke briefly after the discussion until someone interrupted but I'd like to chat with him again too. Maybe next time I'm in Japan unless we cross paths elsewhere.
I can relate to his not really belonging anywhere though he said he always felt drawn to Japan. He has a Japanese wife now-also very nice.

Here's a link to interesting but long interviews-this one is with Pico.

www.scottlondon.com/insight/scripts/iyer.html

[Gregor]

[moot point]

nomadder, thanks a lot for the link. I'm looking forward to reading the interview while at work this morning. Cheers.

[crashartist1]

I am going back to L.A. after living in a smallish town in Turkey. I haven't been home in 18 months, nor spoken to any family in that time. Now I have to go back and tell them I am married and I am moving to Saudi Arabia. I think the whole family will suffer shock, not just my reverse culture shock.

poorESLteacher

[Mark Loyd]

Eskisehir is a small town now?

[Mchristophermsw]

Nomadder,

Great Article!

Thanks, I don't feel so strange now for feeling the way I do now LOL!