Culture Shock From Thailand to the United States

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Introduction

On the age of fifty-seven, I used to be a divorced man not significantly eager on spending the remainder of my life alone. I made a decision to attempt on-line relationship. I had at all times been a world traveler and my two youngsters have been grown, so I may go wherever the wind took me.

After some false begins, I discovered a beautiful girl in Thailand. She was a Public Relations Supervisor and Psychologist working at a authorities hospital. We exchanged emails and talked on Skype for six months. I made two journeys to Thailand, and a yr later, we married in a standard Thai ceremony. I needed to return to the USA, however my spouse couldn’t journey till she acquired her visa. So I flew again to Arkansas, the place I labored as a database administrator, and patiently waited for ten months.

Lastly, her paperwork was authorised, she handed the medical examination and interview, and she or he joined me in America. Though she had traveled to different components of the world, she had by no means been to the USA. She skilled fairly a little bit of tradition shock, however I helped her by the tough instances, resembling when she failed her driver license examination twice.

Time Zone Shock

The primary shock my spouse skilled was the change in local weather and jet lag. After a protracted flight throughout the Pacific Ocean, delayed baggage, hours spent ready in line at immigration, then one other connecting flight to Arkansas, she was drained, and the chilly November air in Los Angeles made her shiver. The time zone distinction between Thailand and the U.S. is twelve hours, so she spent the nights unsleeping and felt sleepy within the afternoon.

Language Shock

In her forty years, she had spoken solely the Thai language. Her alphabet has 44 letters, with 21 vowels and 5 tones. Each Thai baby begins studying the Thai language in elementary faculty. In highschool, 4 years of English is required. However her English research have been restricted to 1 hour per week, so she spoke just a few phrases and didn’t know appropriate pronunciation. Additionally, in her neighborhood she spoke Isarn, the dialect of northeastern Thailand. She had little probability to talk or apply English in adolescence. She was lucky to be employed at a world lodge for a couple of years, so she managed to apply some English along with her supervisor, who was from France. She additionally listened to English pop music, and repeated the lyrics.

When she arrived within the U.S., all of the natives spoke too rapidly, they usually used slang phrases she had by no means heard earlier than. Any time she spoke with an American on the grocery retailer, restaurant, or a social setting with my household, she felt shy and embarrassed. In Thailand she was a frontrunner, a well-known public speaker. Right here, she was a child. Her senses needed to take up all these new sounds. For a very long time, she skilled a lack of self-worth, and felt homesick.

Think about her delicate ears on listening to one thing like this the primary time:

“Are you cozy over there? You need to exit and get a couple of issues on the retailer? We gotta do that an’ that. Hey, how yawl doin’? You guys discover everythin’ all proper? Okey-doky?“

Comfortable? What’s he speaking about? You guys? I’m a woman, not a man. I am okay, I am not a donkey.

Day by day she encountered extra slang phrases and needed to study vocabulary phrases. What ought to she say when she was launched to another person? She didn’t know American tradition. In America, individuals favored eye contact. In Thailand, individuals do not preserve eye contact for lengthy. People like to the touch. In her tradition, she didn’t like anybody to the touch her physique. Day by day she needed to focus to attempt to keep on a dialog. Easy issues that folks take with no consideration, she discovered new. Thailand makes use of the metric system. Within the U.S., individuals use the British system of measurement.

She regularly needed to repeat what she mentioned, as a result of individuals didn’t perceive her.

Car Shock

That was a giant shock for her. In Thailand individuals drive a automobile on the left hand aspect. She arrived within the U.S. and everyone was driving on the incorrect aspect. Think about her confusion. I purchased her a automobile sooner or later after her arrival and instructed her to drive the automobile residence. She didn’t perceive the principles about cease indicators and what the center lane was for. There aren’t any pace restrict indicators in Thailand. So she needed to study many sorts of indicators. She felt nervous and confused each time she drove. Some instances she made a incorrect flip. She needed to make a proper flip, however turned left as soon as. Everybody wanted a automobile in America. She puzzled how she would survive.

She failed the state driver’s license examination two instances. The primary time she skipped too many questions and the pc didn’t let her return. She studied for a complete month. The second time she did higher, however the questions have been totally different. The third time she lastly handed. She was nervous sitting with the officer within the highway check.

He mentioned, “Not dangerous. Watch out about blind spots.”

One week after she acquired her license she was fortunately driving residence, when she was stopped by police for rushing. Fortunately the officer gave her solely a warning.

She felt so relieved! She gave due to Buddha. After that she adopted the indicators. American regulation appeared very strict. In Thailand, individuals negotiate a settlement with the officer.

Some examples of complicated road indicators:

PEDXING – what’s that? Is that some Indian title?

YIELD – what does that imply? Does it imply go? When you cease any individual’s going to yell at you.

STOP – In Thailand it’s for pedestrians. Automobiles do not cease.

SCHOOL ZONE – Now we have to be quiet?

HANDICAPPED PARKING – We do not have that in Thailand. VIP or visitor speaker?

MERGE – A gathering level? A relaxation space?

4-WAY STOP – Major road will get first precedence!

Meals Shock

My spouse had issues when she ordered meals at most eating places. Ordering meals was an actual problem.

1. Ordering on the counter of a quick meals restaurant. She thought she needed to tip the server. Additionally, she didn’t know one has to pay earlier than the meal is served.

At Kentucky Fried Hen, she needed to order fried hen. So the trick is if you need legs and thighs you order “Darkish Meat” and if you need breasts and wings you order “White Meat”. She needed legs however ordered thighs. She thought the leg was the thigh. To her, the leg is hen ft.

The server requested, “What aspect would you like?”

“What measurement? Small measurement, as a result of I do not eat an excessive amount of.”

“What?”

“I order 4 items. Small measurement.”

“No, I imply aspect. What aspect you need?”

“What measurement you’ve got?”

“Beans, corn, coleslaw, mashed potatoes.”

“Sure, corn.”

“Corn on the cob or common?”

What was she speaking about now? Corn on the cup?

“Sure, I need corn on the cup. A small cup.” Oh, man. That is getting complicated.

The meals got here and it included biscuits. My spouse mentioned, “I did not order that. I did not like that.”

“That comes with the meal.”

“OK.” She ate the thigh and corn on the cob.

At a quick meals retailer, she needed to order French Fries. The server mentioned they do not have that. French Fries have been on the menu picture.

They mentioned “we now have Potato Fries”.

Is that the identical factor? She needed to study one other time period. She was studying one thing day by day.

2. Ordering “Drive Through”, She had bother with the drive by. One time the shop worker did not perceive her English pronunciation very effectively, so her daughter went hungry. She repeated herself 5 instances with no luck.

3. Ordering “on the Restaurant”. The server would provide some drink first after which provide the sophisticated menu. She didn’t perceive all of the menu gadgets, however fortunately she favored to attempt new meals. One time she ordered salmon with white wine. She anticipated a glass of white wine, however the wine was utilized in cooking the salmon. One time she couldn’t order alcohol as a result of the server didn’t consider she was forty years previous. All prospects who wish to order alcohol have to indicate ID. In Thailand they by no means ask for an ID.

The U.S. customized is to incorporate 10% suggestions within the invoice. In Thailand, if you’re not happy with the meals you do not tip. In America, individuals often discuss who pays the invoice. In Thailand, the wealthy member is predicted to pay. If a bunch desires to barter who pays, this needs to be performed earlier than consuming.

Climate and Snow Shock

My spouse got here from a land with a tropical local weather. She had by no means skilled snow. What a shock to maneuver to Arkansas and get up one morning and see a white blanket of snow overlaying the whole lot. At the least Arkansas had gentle winters, not like the frigid North, the place snow would possibly cowl the bottom for months.

Our first winter we had enjoyable constructing a snowman and having snowball fights. However driving on icy roads was scary. Our residence was located amongst steep hills, and generally I couldn’t drive to work for 2 or three days till vans got here with dust to soften the ice.

She purchased further heat garments, an area heater, thick blankets, gloves, and boots to outlive the winter.

Procuring

Looking for garments was a problem. Most People have been bigger than my spouse. She needed to look within the teenager part to discover a comparable measurement that match. Generally she tried to order on-line, however the garments that arrived have been too giant. She needed to sew her outfits. So she did not purchase that a lot from on-line anymore.

She noticed the signal named “Flea Market” on the town. She knew what flea meant. However she puzzled, why individuals want fleas? For the backyard? In Thailand individuals simply kill them. She went inside one, and noticed previous stuff, used garments, and trinkets. I defined {that a} flea market simply bought little issues.

Debit or Credit score and Checking Accounts

Most People spent their cash by bank card or debit card or verify. In Thailand most individuals paid by money and wired cash into financial institution accounts. My spouse requested me why I didn’t give her money. I gave her a debit card, and defined that it was simpler and safer to pay the whole lot by a card. So in all places she went, she paid by debit card. She felt excited to have the ability to purchase nearly something with simply the swipe of a card. On the grocery store, the cashier requested her if she needed money again. She mentioned certain I need money again to my account.

No! It meant individuals can get money from their account on the counter. In Thailand individuals get money on the ATM solely.

One time she went to the Drive Through on the Financial institution. She was amazed and confused. She anticipated to fulfill a financial institution teller and ask for assist. Sadly she drove to the skin lane. In Thailand they do not have Drive By means of companies and she or he didn’t know easy methods to function the machine. She noticed the spherical cylinder in a tube. How do I open this factor? She thought it could be the identical as ordering meals at a drive by. She communicated with the officer behind the window by way of speaker. She felt like a turtle. However the officer patiently defined easy methods to function the machine, and she or he made her first drive-through transaction. I laughed after I heard the story.

Merchandising machines have been one other thriller throughout her first few months. The machine mentioned, insert 4 quarters. What was 1 / 4? She needed to study the worth of cash. And machines have been sophisticated too. She needed to learn to use a washer, dryer, range, hearth, air-con, TV distant, oven, dishwasher, and disposal.

Store on the Grocery

Procuring was enjoyable, but it surely was so sophisticated to purchase groceries. She needed to find out about many varieties of recent meals. When she lived alone in Thailand, she often purchased meals from the road distributors or ate at eating places. Meals was inexpensive in Thailand. Now she needed to learn to cook dinner.

She favored to eat wholesome meals. She do not like junk meals, sandwiches, burgers, or pizza. She collected recipes and watched some cooking reveals. I favored Thai meals, so something she cooked, I ate and loved.

She discovered Oriental markets and realized easy methods to cook dinner from her mom and sister by Skype and realized from the web meals channel.

Meals value within the U.S. was so costly. The costs shocked her. For instance, in Thailand a bunch of bananas value 1 / 4. In addition to, she had a banana tree in her backyard. Within the Oriental retailer it was nearly 4 {dollars}. She did not need to pay for that however needed to eat them. The Oriental retailer did not carry all of the meat, sauce, and different gadgets she wanted. So she created her personal recipes for some type of Thai dishes. She needed to be inventive and learn to use an oven, dishwasher, and unusual western kitchen devices. At the least she may purchase a rice cooker and steamer. Rice was a vital a part of each meal. She couldn’t discover a sizzling pot within the shops, so she discovered one on-line.

Medical Shock

The healthcare and dental value in America was so costly. She needed to order contraception capsules. She could not with out a prescription. In Thailand, individuals should buy the capsules on the pharmacy with none prescription. She went to the dentist for a yearly cleansing, and he charged twenty {dollars}. In Thailand, the associated fee would have been 2 hundred Baht, or six {dollars}.

She went to the clinic for a checkup due to a nasty cough. The nurse requested her the place do you need to decide up your medication?

She mentioned, “Right here on the hospital.”

The nurse mentioned they do not have medication right here.

What? This can be a huge hospital within the U.S. Why do not you’ve got medication? In Thailand individuals can take the medication within the hospital pharmacy like a one cease service.

Then the girl instructed her she had to decide on the pharmacy location.

“Can I select Walmart?”

The girl requested, “Which Walmart?”

She mentioned the one which was near Walmart Dwelling Workplace. She went to choose up her medication on the Walmart Superstore, the one close to Walmart Dwelling Workplace.

Shocked once more! On the pharmacy, individuals stood in line to fulfill a pharmacist on the window and there have been some ways to choose up medication. What lane did she want to face in? Choose up lane, Drop Off, or Over-the-counter? What sort of medication would she get? She actually wanted her medication now.

She stood in line and talked with a pharmacy worker and gave them her prescription paper. The individual behind the counter mentioned her medication wasn’t right here.

How may that occur? She took a deep breath.

The clerk instructed her she needed to go to Walmart Dwelling Workplace Pharmacy Store.

Oh brother! She wanted medication proper now please. She did not know there was a pharmacy on the superstore and a pharmacy within the Walmart Dwelling Workplace. So she drove the automobile and used the GPS navigator. She arrived at Walmart Dwelling Workplace and at last obtained the medication! Whoopee!

Learn how to get a Job

My spouse needed to convey some meals residence and pay for the payments and make her child happy with her as effectively. She had 15 years expertise in advertising and marketing and public relations, however in America she needed to begin firstly. Her English abilities weren’t excellent, so many employers declined her utility. What sort of job may she do in America? She took a course in Bodily Remedy, however we lived in a small city and there have been few openings. She thought of getting a sophisticated diploma, however the associated fee was too excessive. She already had a masters diploma in Psychology, but it surely was not acknowledged within the U.S.

She finally discovered a job supervising disabled individuals. And he or she began a house enterprise.

Preserve Calm

So to different individuals who face tradition shock, her recommendation is, hold calm. You’ll prevail. She prayed to Buddha and meditated, listened to enjoyable music, went to work out on the fitness center, began to play tennis, and made new associates. She looked for Thai individuals locally, cared for her backyard, and shortly felt at residence in America. She rearranged the home, and talked along with her household in Thailand each week utilizing Skype. I used to be a great listener and defined many issues to her. I favored her Thai dishes.

So hold a optimistic perspective, do not be afraid of tradition shock. You’ll dwell by it and emerge a stronger and happier individual.

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Source by Norbert Weissinger