Culture Shock! Bizarre Cultural Experiences From People All Across The World

[soybean]

Trending | March 10, 2022​

​

When you travel to a new location and open yourself up to new experiences, you should also expect to encounter a slew of new feelings. Chief among them is the “culture shock.” With culture shock, the world as you know it shifts, tips on its axis, and gives way to a whole new conception of the world—even redefining what it means to live as a human being.

Travel not only offers new and exciting sights but new perspectives as well. Whether you’re trying out exotic food in a different country or experiencing different modes of living, culture shock takes most people completely by surprise each and every time. Here are some examples of unexpected culture shock that people have shared via social media.

 

[soybean]

Elephant Crossing​

Traveling this world of ours can leave you feeling like you were born yesterday. People are often culture-shocked by traffic in Southeast Asian countries as there are few laws and restrictions for driving. For example, people are often seen riding without helmets, and you might see a family of five all sharing the same scooter on their way home.
ADVERTISEMENT

This 15-year-old saw something unusual while in Thailand. While on their way to Bangkok, an elephant appeared next to the car on the same crowded road they were traveling on. It must have been quite a sight, seeing an elephant just crossing the street like that.
ADVERTISEMENT

​

 

[soybean]

Love Is In The Air​

Everyone's tolerance and expectations of affection are different. Depending on your upbringing and culture, receiving affection from others may or may not be a regular day-to-day occurrence. Regardless of where you come from, you may feel culture-shocked when you travel to a place where affection is openly displayed.
ADVERTISEMENT

France is sometimes referred to as "the country of love," so it's no wonder that public displays of affection are common there! Expect lots of kissing, embracing, and loving in public, especially if you come from a conservative country or family.
ADVERTISEMENT

​

 

[soybean]

Head, Shoulders, And The Rest​

Advertising is used to instill the desire for a product or service in the mind of consumers. Advertisers have and always will use any method available to them to persuade you to buy their product. Advertising content varies by country, just as their customs and norms do.
ADVERTISEMENT

France is well-known for its appreciation of art, love, and free expression. When a commercial interrupted a show, this Californian tourist was culture-shocked. The commercial featured a topless woman advertising hair products! It makes sense since most people tend to shower in the nude. It seems that some countries are less afraid of women’s bodies than others.
ADVERTISEMENT

​

 

[soybean]

Lunch on the Go​

Fast food might be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of dining on the go—driving through a drive-thru or grabbing a microwavable meal from a convenience store. Vending machines occasionally stock packaged snacks or drinks. Takeaway food looks different in each country.
ADVERTISEMENT

In Japan, one visitor was culture-shocked by a popular fast-food chain. Various meal alternatives were available in the vending machines—not boxed nibbles, but actually cooked meals. They even found fried Udon in a vending machine! What a great option for a quick lunch.
ADVERTISEMENT

​

 

[soybean]

Unnecessary Waste​

Storing and distributing food properly without making waste has become a hot topic over the last couple of years. Oftentimes supermarkets and other food sellers will throw out perfectly good food because the sell-by-date is coming up, often leaving it to rot needlessly right behind the store.
ADVERTISEMENT

Visiting a grocery shop in the United States for the first time might be a culture shock for visitors from other countries. They sometimes comment that American stores house way too much food and lament that a lot of it simply goes to waste.
ADVERTISEMENT

​

 

[soybean]

Water Conservation​

In many ways, the USA is unlike most other countries. It was shaped differently than other cultures of the world. Most notably, the US was able to utilize technology to get around scarcity problems, such as traversing long distances and water sourcing. In other countries, at least in the past, sustainable techniques and waste reduction were baked into their cultures.
ADVERTISEMENT

Because of their limited water availability, many nations have developed water conservation policies. The United States wastes a lot of water and food, but perhaps they can learn from more efficient and sustainable countries; otherwise, we’ll have to look forward to water rationing in the near future.
ADVERTISEMENT

​

 

[soybean]

Language Barrier​

Depending on where you are in the world, even the same words can mean different things—and that goes for acronyms, too. "lol," and "kk" are examples of common acronyms. You'd most likely use "kk" in a message to imply "okay" or "agreed" in the US.
ADVERTISEMENT

Apparently, the "kk" abbreviation has a completely different meaning in some countries. In Africa, when responding to something hilarious or a joke, the acronym "kk" expresses the same emotion as "lol." If you say it out loud, it sounds like you’re cracking up. Kk!
ADVERTISEMENT

​

 

[soybean]

With Open Arms​

When traveling abroad, it's usually the small things that surprise you. Depending on the country, locals can welcome foreigners with warmth and embrace their arrival with open arms, showing kindness in unexpected and surprising ways. But shock can come in even simpler ways for some.
ADVERTISEMENT

If you weren't raised in that kind of culture, you might be surprised by how affectionate some people in the world can be. Some cultures actively encourage the kissing or hugging of strangers! One traveler was confused by their first hug. Some find it emotionally draining. But, it can also be incredibly rewarding if you embrace it.
ADVERTISEMENT

​

 

[soybean]

Car Culture​

Many people outside of the United States, especially in Europe and Asia, use public transportation—bicycles, trains, or their own two feet—to get around. It’s not as common for people to drive themselves to the grocery store, the park, or work. Many people go without driving their whole lives because they do not have the need to do so.
ADVERTISEMENT

This exchange student was culture-shocked by the abundance of cars in America. In the US, everyone drives one, and everyone owns one. Some families have multiple vehicles in the garage. Unfortunately, because public transportation was thrown out in favor of highway construction, and since public policy tends to be car-oriented, owning a car is just a necessity.
ADVERTISEMENT

​