#21
“Now let’s talk about Germany,” he smiles. “People were shocked that everything runs on the dot. Trains leave exactly on time, even if you're waving and yelling from the platform. No one’s waiting. Also, don’t expect small talk with strangers. Germans are friendly but not chatty. It’s a different kind of warmth, efficient but polite.” A culture where being late is the real crime.
“Korea was another favorite,” he recalls fondly. “The tech there is next level, self-cleaning toilets, robot servers, and vending machines for things you didn’t even know existed. And people are so respectful. Bowing is second nature, and our guests were surprised by how much emphasis is placed on hierarchy and manners. Plus, Korean skincare? That was a whole cultural shock of its own.”
#22
I couldn't shake the feeling that I was going to get in trouble for it :)
#23
Oh, and also: people greeting the bus driver when getting on and off in Scotland. In Italy we have signs that say “don’t speak to the driver” and they mostly ignore you so they wouldn’t even answer. Sometimes they pretend you don’t exist if someone dares to ask for directions (like: “excuse me does this bus go x and y” kind of questions)
#24
“Japan? Oh, don’t even get me started,” he chuckles. “People were stunned by the silence on public transport. You could hear a pin drop on a train even if it’s packed. Also, the honesty! You leave your phone at a café, come back an hour later, and it’s still sitting there with a note on top. That kind of respect really stayed with our guests long after the trip ended.”
“Of course, people today are way more aware before they travel,” Shikhar adds. “Thanks to reels, blogs, and memes, they know what to expect, or at least they think they do. But I always tell them: being there in person is a different experience. And the best part of any trip is when something surprises you in the best way possible. That’s when memories are made.”
#25
Also how in Istanbul you will see photos of Atatürk everywhere.
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Japan and how clean everything is. The roads, streets, subways, public bathrooms, restaurants, etc were always so immaculate.
So tell us, have you ever had a hilarious or jaw-dropping culture shock moment while traveling? Which of these experiences surprised you the most? And did any of them sound like something that would catch you off guard, too? Share your stories and laughs with someone who loves to travel just as much as you do. After all, culture shock might just be your favorite part of the trip.
#29
How people approach eating in Italy was by far the biggest culture shock for me. Premade meals and sandwiches in supermarkets? Non-existent. Woke up late and want to have lunch at 15:00? Everything is closed until 19, sorry boo. EVEN IN ROME.
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I was 19 and on a short exchange in France. The mother asked if we wanted milk, in the morning. I expected a glass of cold milk, but got warm milk in a bowl. I was so confused.
#35
It was only around €2 per person, but this was on top of our meal and tip. I even heard through another family member that when they had gone to Italy to another restaurant, they had the service charge, but extra, depending on where you sat (the closer to the water, the more it costs).
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#38
1) Safety. I don't have to worry about going out on the street at night, robbery (well, not worry too much), I can safely walk around with my phone in hand, not be paranoid about taking my computer on a coffee shop;
2) Dating scene. Americans are soo slow when compared to South Americans and I always get mixed feeling. Also it feels like I am being interviewed on the first date.
4) Rain drainage. Non existent in the US. A drizzle leaves the place in shambles - you got mudslides, river overflowing, highways closed. We also got that in Brazil, but it takes waaaaaay more rain.
5) Friendliness. I find Americans super cold compared to Brazilians, and they don't seem to be very interested in anybody's life beside a their own.
6) News. In Brazil our news cover the entire world (what is happening in Brazil, US, Europe, Middle East, Asia, Africa). In the US? The US - sometimes there's nothing to show so they put some rescue or something of the like.
With all that said: I feel much safer here than in Brazil, but it is certainly different.
#39
Being obligated to carry firearms in and around Longyearbyen, Svalbard (Norway).
And in hotels and bars in the area, there are signs telling you that "unfortunately" you can't bring your guns inside to places where they serve alcohol, and that you're reminded to leave your gun(s) in the designated locker by the entrance.
Nowhere else have I ever experienced it to be presumed that people in general could be carrying guns in the first place.
Definitely gave the whole town a certain "wild west" vibe.
#40
