What was your biggest culture shock when you started living in us

I can relate to the so many instances that have been mentioned.Saying thank you for every little thing ...e.g.holding the door open , I know its good manners but that time it felt like over action.
I used to feel why would a stranger say hi to me ...and why do I need to answer how do I do.
Came here after marriage , knowing no one (except DH) or nothing about this country and the culture was little nervous, but I must say friends here are like family...made good friends.

 

The revealing cloths worn by women and girls. And still they were safe, no groping, no eve teasing..
I was relieved that I could walk wherever and even though men might look at me, but no eve teasing- whistle etc
One shock was one day in lab, I saw wind ..meaning the swaying branches of trees but heard nothing because of sound proof windows, that was eerie!
I loved that there was no "pani ka time" meaning in hostel and houses we lived we had a time where we got water.
I miss the street noise now, sometimes just listen to it on you tube. Liked it that people were professional, even though some of them were not found of grad students.
One thing is still shocking is how people are not in rush, they will give time and have time, wait their turn.
There were only one line for both men and women
Write the month first in date, light switch, long day, speed on highways

 

First Shock I got was giving right way to walkers at places, stopping for school busses, smiling and greeting(i used to have confused look when I first saw),calling teachers by their name esp by students...

 

I thought whole of USA will look like Manhattan like tall buildings and life will be like how you see in movies..partying,clubbing,wearing whatever you want,rafting,trekking,hiking etc etc etc lol.

Well the above all Sure was there but other than that...

Biggest and best shock is when I learnt "life is best when you are yourself and people are more important than anything else"..

There should be another thread about what you learnt as an NRI in India...

 

School teachers are very very friendly with the kids....
So friendly that when one of my son's classmate said his classteacher..
"Are you crazy Ms.B( that is how they call her), daily HW!!"
The teacher just laughs!!
And yes as many Ilites said wearing whatever they want to.
They are very adventurous...

 

School teachers are very very friendly with the kids....
So friendly that when one of my son's classmate said his classteacher..
"Are you crazy Ms.B( that is how they call her), daily HW!!"
The teacher just laughs!!
And yes as many Ilites said wearing whatever they want to.
They are very adventurous...

 

for me, it was solitary confinement in the apartment and dealing with just 1 life in a day ( my H), not opening apartment door whole day, not picking phones coming because i did not know what they ask about, at a point start sitting in balcony to find a life on roads or trees or atleast see cars making some noise but no.

 

for me, it was solitary confinement in the apartment and dealing with just 1 life in a day ( my H), not opening apartment door whole day, not picking phones coming because i did not know what they ask about, at a point start sitting in balcony to find a life on roads or trees or atleast see cars making some noise but no.

then how people/mostly guys/wave would smile and I used to think they are flirting/thinking I am single.
Silence was what I hated. So close to nature that I have started hating it and wanted real humans.
that 1 yr transition was one year of hell that I would not go through again ;-) Now it is other way for me.

 

2 things for me.

1st thing, was shocked to see Americans women crying. They were very emotional, never thought so, after watching some reality shows like Oprah back then. They cry when they first come to know they are pregnant (out of excitement). They cry when their 18 year leaves home for college, etc very emotional, they cry when a guy proposes them.

2nd thing, how fellow Indians become so selfish after coming here. They only talk to you if they want something. Most not all.

 

Hello