[dean-dzai]

The first time I traveled back to Australia I could barely stand being there. Food was too expensive, petrol, too expensive, public transport not efficient, can understand most of what people on the street talk about - and it is rubbish. Also areas I thought were large I found very small (comparable to parts of Thailand in comparison to Hong Kong). I never had a strong Australian accent, I found being surrounded by the accent "so rude" as well.

Of course now when I go back to visit this December I will try very hard to re-adjust to Australia as much as my conscience will let me.

This is not a dig at my home Country, but a look at what is called, "reverse culture shock". Many people I have spoken to have experienced this in their respective Country of origin. Many say that the reverse culture shock is more extreme then the first adjusting to the new culture different from your home.

Anyone care to share their reverse culture shock stories?

[Skyhook]

I can't say I can relate to your experience, as there is no place like home.. Melbournes amazing restaurants, stage & theatre, performing arts in general, live bands that play original material, Lygon & Chapel street cafe's.... Nothing but cool cat style council "culture shock" for me.

Depends where you are from I suppose, if you are from the back of beyond, or Redfern, I am sure there would have been some in your face "bogan" shock, compared to Hong Kong.

[Alexander Crowe]

Shock is too right!
I just returned to the UK after flying out to Beijing in 2001. It is impossible to say how much Britain has changed in these few years. The only thing people are talking about is the immigration crisis, property prices, moving abroad to get away from the place. I had been following the news via the net, but nothing prepared me for the reality of the UK today - it is barely recognisable!

[tinybear]

Originally Posted by Alexander Crowe

Shock is too right!
I just returned to the UK after flying out to Beijing in 2001. It is impossible to say how much Britain has changed in these few years. The only thing people are talking about is the immigration crisis, property prices, moving abroad to get away from the place. I had been following the news via the net, but nothing prepared me for the reality of the UK today - it is barely recognisable!

I think that is called the Tony Blair legacy.

[dean-dzai]

What I really mean by reverse culture shock isn't so much that the place has changed, but that "I" have changed, and "my values" are different. But I can imagine you would feel it just as much if the place has changed.

[Skyhook]

The beauty of being fortunate enough to be able to travel extensively, certainly will change a person, no doubt about that.

But I do honestly believe that racism is entrenched into certain socio economic demographics, more pronounced the lower the income/education level drops. less so as it increases in Australia.. Hong Kong is the complete opposite, the higher the income and education, the more likely they will have preconcieved idea's about brown people being working class etc.

Anyway, in many ways Paris and Melbourne, ( our Aunt is over from Paris for the last week), we all agreed, that there were many social similarities in their make ups, maybe Paris is a bit more advanced in its more vocal expressionism, but you know where you stand there, everybody has their own opinion about something there. Its what makes both locations so vibrant and interesting, and you can see the train coming around the bend, unlike here.

No place is perfect though, and like I said before, we all have our opinions regarding this topic, but it will heavilly depend on where you sit on the pecking order of the socio economic frame...

[shilo507]

I am absolutely concur with dean-dzai's reverse culture shock theory. I feel it every time I go back to the UK and it gets worse every time. I don't think I could ever go back to live there. I spend most of my time there wanting to get back to HK and Asia.

However, this experience is not just limited to the UK - I feel the same about any European country and have had similar experiences in other parts of the EU when travelling on business. Yet if I travel to other parts of Asia I feel more at home (apart from Singapore which I detest) although HK is definitely home.

But dean-dzai is right again to suggest that it is probably because the individual has changed. Friends and family in the UK tell me I have changed in my 16 months here and I am sure they are right.

I think the 'problem' is I 'like' being a western guy in Asia. The quality of life I enjoy here is far better than that I enjoyed in the UK. As a Londoner you won't hear me complaining about pollution when I can enjoy sunshine in November and temperatures of 25 degrees, pay less tax, eat great food and at 43 with one failed marriage behind me enjoy the company of thousands of pretty girls up to 10-15 years younger and basically take my pick. What is there for me to 'complain' about and certainly why would I want to go back to the UK?

Reverse culture shock exists but I agree with Skyhook's comment that it depends heavily on your personal circumstances.

[texasaxel]

Originally Posted by dean-dzai

What I really mean by reverse culture shock isn't so much that the place has changed, but that "I" have changed, and "my values" are different. But I can imagine you would feel it just as much if the place has changed.

I have lived away from the country of my birth and passport since 1993 and only go back once or twice a year to visit family. Over the years I noticed that everything there seemed smaller and in many ways, more backwards. I could not relate to the conversations and problems of the locals anymore and on occasion found myself rather embarrassed by their narrow-mindedness and 'views on the world'. A town of 70,000 people that to me as a high school student offered abundant entertainment, shopping, nightlife seemed increasingly small and boring. The town hasn't changed much over the years but I have and the experience of living abroad for so long shaped my views and opinions to the extent that it is now unimaginable to me to ever move back to the place where I grew up.

When I first moved abroad I often compared things like wages, health care, schooling etc. to the country of my birth and I thought of the way things were done there as 'the standard' everything else had to compare to. Nowadays, I don't do that anymore and tend to have a more differentiated view ... like a 'best of' list of collected memory/experiences from the countries I have lived in.

I also long ago stopped comparing prices because it became increasingly irrelevant and ridiculous. This is particularly so if one looks at things in isolation without keeping in mind that some things are cheaper and some more expensive and overall it all balances out. Plus, one also needs to take into account cost of living standards and available income. So if the beer in LKF costs more than in other countries, it's okay, I also get to keep a higher % of my paycheck in HK than I most other countries I lived in.

[dean-dzai]

My mother in law (local non-English speaking Chinese) I found out from my wife makes conclusions from me about white people *ha ha*. I do something, so she says "white people do ......." because of my actions.

I had another Australian friend here in Hong Kong who made similar statements from isolated events some local person did - it is all very entertaining.

But it is funny how I found it almost cute that my Mother in law stereotypes white people from my actions, yet annoying when my Australian friend stereotypes Chinese from isolated actions. Why is this? Both are exactly the same, but my Mother-in-law I think is cute, and a young Australian to my mind then, 'borderline racist'. Why?

[Alexander Crowe]

Originally Posted by dean-dzai

My mother in law (local non-English speaking Chinese) I found out from my wife makes conclusions from me about white people *ha ha*. I do something, so she says "white people do ......." because of my actions.

I had another Australian friend here in Hong Kong who made similar statements from isolated events some local person did - it is all very entertaining.

But it is funny how I found it almost cute that my Mother in law stereotypes white people from my actions, yet annoying when my Australian friend stereotypes Chinese from isolated actions. Why is this? Both are exactly the same, but my Mother-in-law I think is cute, and a young Australian to my mind then, 'borderline racist'. Why?

well ... what specifically were they referring to?
cultural differences?
behaviour?