For those of you who don't know, I am originally from the Philippines although I only lived there for 2 years. My family then moved to Hong Kong for 10 years and then we moved to Canada. My first taste of culture shock was when we visited Canada before moving here. I was stunned. Where was everybody? I was used to the streets of Hong Kong which was packed at almost every hour of the day. People would walk shoulder to shoulder and you'd often get elbowed! And what do you mean the mall closes at 6PM? What do you mean the bus arrives every 30 minutes instead of every 5 minutes!? What do you mean people don't wipe boogers on bus and train poles? :P
Where did you experience the biggest culture shock?
Speaking of cultures, travel, and far away places. Check out what arrived in the mail today all the way from INDONESIA! I ordered two prints from my lovely friend Tiara, one for me and one for my four year old cousin. Tiara's imagination, creativity, and skill radiates through her artwork. Seriously amazing! Check out the rest of her prints HERE! The quality is great, her prices are reasonable and my prints arrived quickly. Thank you Tiara!
26 comments:
Wow, 10 years in Hong Kong.. That must have been a wonderful experience! :) I haven't been back to the Philippines for a little over 2 years now, but I'm hoping to visit after I graduate from university in 2 years. Can't wait until you visit and share pictures!
That is so cool! I'm excited for you! I havn't been to the Philippines since 97' so I know what you mean... Post lots of pictures, I wish I was going with you, I'm so due for a trip <3
hurnrningbird.blogspot.com/
That artwork is gorgeous!! So cute and whimsical, thanks for sharing.
The biggest culture shock happened when I moved from a farm town to the city. ^^ So many people yelled at me on the buses and streets for no reason LOL.
biggest culture shock was visiting china. such a different world but i learned to love it. cute prints! xx
Biggest culture shock for me was probably when i went to Vietnam...where everyone seemed to be vegetarian and nobody obeys traffic lights. LOL.
I've only been to a few Asian countries, but I didn't really experience any real SHOCK. I just loved seeing how different they were from here, the Philippines! Wow I'm excited for you! :) By the way, I tagged you on a post! http://www.whiteskyproject.com/2011/04/10-things-i-love.html
excited for you, Kym! :) hope to meet you when you get here :) mag-tagalog ka dito ha! :)
the last time i was also back in the home land was after 11 years!! hope you have fun and have a safe trip <3
ewww boogers on the bus poles?! that's gross! that probably happened in the Philippines too but i was too naive to notice it .
oh em gee... my culture shock was when i came here in the US when i was 9 O_O i went to school in the middle of the semester in elemtary and ughhh... the kids were HORRIBLE! first day, the girl next to me, stole my new awesome school supplies and money. i had to go to the principal on my first day. AND i was a freaking loner!
and then this girl offended me one day and she ws very apologitic... when all of a sudden she goes "i honestly love your accent. i wish i can have that" and i was like what the heck is an accent!? LOL
youre gonna love it here!
would you believe me if i say i dont get culture shock?
the only thing that annoys me is that the shops close so early in europe.... i mean, what do people do beyond 6pm???
well, let's not answer that :p
adorable purchases!
myblissisthisway.blogspot.com
:O it's there??? Already??? :O wow I didn't expect it to be THIS fast, lol... how long did it take to get there? around... two weeks? Thank goodness it's not lost somewhere up in the sky! :D
anyway, my biggest culture shock? I've never been abroad, but Indonesia is wide enough with many different cultures, even moving from one province to another can give me culture shock, really.. lol... one of it should be when I came from West Java to East Java and found all the differences, mostly the language @_@
Wow, you've moved quite a bit in your years thus far!!! Me, i've been stuck in my homeland for centuries and the only place i've been thus far is singapore, and that was just for a night. No culture shock there either.
How ironic is it that for a girl who loves the notion of traveling and experiencing culture, has not been able to travel yet :-(
Anyway, I hope you'll be having loads of fun in Philippines!
Wow talk about moving.. Wow hong kong after philippines then canada? yea that definitely sounds like a culture shock. sounds like it was scary but also an amazing experience moving from country to country. :)
That adam's apple wasn't even noticable at all--anyone would have mistaken that dude for a girl!!! ;P
Tiara has a gift.
LoLoL. I had my culture shock when I went to Korea and all I saw were Asians. I know this sounds really weird but I'm so used to seeing different kinds of people.
And I know exactly what you're talking about. It's called the La Jolla Cove :D
Omg, so adorable!
Hi Kym,
Why are you visiting Philippines? Your relatives are there?!
I used to live in Jordan for about 6 years and I remember going to an elementary school in Japan after 6 years was kind of culture shock... Japanese are too organized (as you know) and I had to be very careful with whatever I do. Now I am doing okay but still feel comfortable living overseas. haha
oh the biggest culture shock for me was actually hong kong haha! my first time there was in grade 2 and i thought omg, why is there so many people??? why don't the cars stop when pedestrians are walking so close by? why why whyyyyyy?
now? i can't wait to go back to shop!
That's so exciting! I live in Europe, and I have only visited European countries so I have never really visited a country with a totally different culture. But I would love to do that one time.
PS - During our last trip to Canada, my wife got really annoyed at some elderly Japanese tourists--one old lady in particular. She was in our hotel lobby waiting for an elevator. The space was huge and she was the only one there. Then the tourists joined her and the elderly lady stodd right next to her, practically pushing against her--even thoug there was LOTS of open space. I explained to her that the woman was used to being in crowds, but K didn't care. She felt the lady should have enjoyed the space while she had the chance instaead of crowding together.
For me, the shock came in Panama. A fellow I was visiting for work offered to let me wash up in his bathroom. When I raised the toilet lid I was looking down at the Atlantic ocean.
How exiting!! Such a fun change. Xoxox
b
how exciting that you'll be going to the Philippines!! it's definitely on my places to visit list and i can't wait to see your pictures!
cute & little
come check out the color brigade!
wow your family moves alot eh? and wow after 11 looong years! you'd definitely be culture shocked here in your homeland!! alot has changed since! but i hope you'll still love the philippines despite the uhh bad changes :)
when you get here, these are just few of the stuff you'll encounter:
1. the weather is hot.
2. traffic in most streets in manila. 3. a lot of street vendors.
4. its a 3rd world... but! people will be very happy to have you around :)
best wishes! advance happy wedding! and have safe trip to the Philippine Islands! Mabuhay!
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