Culture Shock 101

A couple of days ago I came down with my first cold since our big move.  Our family has been so healthy since arriving which has been a pleasant change.  The kids have not been sick once (well Ezra had an unexplained fever for a day, but he quickly got over it) and I have no idea where my bug came from.

Being under the weather in a foreign country while my husband is out of town sent me into a downward spiral of frustration with our new country of residence.  How I longed to have the ability to run to Walgreens and pick up a few medicines to relieve my symptoms!  Instead, I had to make the trek to the dreaded mall.  My first attempt to buy items was a failure because the pharmacist was only on duty until 5pm.  Most items are behind the counter except for the tylenol equivalent and a couple of cough expectorants. (The selection is worse than what you'd find in your typical gas station in the U.S.)  Thus, I had to walk with our three children to the next pharmacy.  I told the pharmacist what I needed medicine for and was given something that didn't seem to work a bit. (Mental note: stock up on medicine the next time we're back in the U.S.)

I'm not sure how well the medicine in the U.S. works for colds.  I've always taken psuedaphedrine when I'm sick .. maybe the effects are somewhat mental?  I'm not sure .. but, it would have been nice to have the comfort of what I'm used to.  Some other friends that lived in Asia talk about how they stock up on their medications before returning to the U.S.  We get used to what we've taken all of our lives, and it's hard to switch.

So this brings me to the topic of Culture Shock.  I once heard it described as the emotional rollercoaster one rides when living in a foreign country.  Initially, most people experience a 'honeymoon' stage - where everything is new and exciting.  Next comes the 'crisis' or 'hostility stage'.  This is when a person finds faults with the new surroundings and longs for something familiar.  Finally comes the stage of feeling at home in the new culture.

Initially I was able to look upon the differences with some grace and humor.  This week, however, I have longed to be back in the U.S.  Suddenly three years feels like such a long time.  I'm tired!

I'm tired of not being understood when I'm communicating.

I'm tired of not knowing what vegetable I'm buying because I don't understand Bahasa Malay.  (I bought cucumbers that I thought were zuchinnis this week.)

I'm tired of not understanding other's broken English.

I'm tired of driving on the other side of the road.

I'm tired of the traffic.

I'm tired of people parking illegally.

I'm tired of cones that are put on walkways so that people don't park there illegally .. it makes pushing my stroller (pram) next to impossible.

I'm tired of random strangers asking if I'm pregnant (nope - just leftovers from my many other pregnancies).  In the U.S., you may wonder, but you dare not ask.

I'm tired of the heat.

I'm tired of the metric system. (kg in the grocery stores, liters of gas, degrees Celcius .. ) Why does the U.S. have to be different?

I'm tired of the ants (the one that is crawling across my computer screen is about to see its demise.  Never mind, I can't find it .. must have crawled on my leg somewhere).

I'm tired of ant bites.

I'm tired of not knowing who to call when that dog outside my window won't stop barking.

I'm tired of living in fear of the day when I see my first big bug or other rodent in our kitchen.  (You may actually hear my scream when it does happen.)

I'm ready for the new phase (the phase of feeling at home) to begin.  I've heard people throw around time periods of 6-9 months before they felt at home here.  We've been here for 3.  Pray that my transition would be faster than average.

On a side note, here's a photo of Ezzie and I at a recent birthday party.  And, no, I'm not pregnant :)

Congrats to the Nugents who won the contest in my previous post.  I was charged a boot fee because I put my stroller in the trunk of the taxi.  Your souvenir will be on its way shortly.