Friday, March 18, 2016

Reverse Culture Shock

The phrase was thrown at me by a friend as I lamented about the cost of bagels. Reverse culture shock. This is a real thing, and is what happens when you spend so many years outside of your comfort zone that a return to it literally puts you into shock.
I keep starting sentences in Spanish, even at the library (yes, a library card is a priority for me) and then have to stop and start all over again when I get that confused look.
We have some health issues to deal with too. I guess the stomach didn't like the sudden influx of "foreign food" and is still refusing to process it at a normal rate. Reverse curso is equally frustrating as its Salvadoran counterpart. Juanito even spent a day at the ER, puzzling the doctors with an array of symptoms that I know just to be a normal part of the mosquito virus process. This country is doomed to extinction if Zika ever hits as hard as it has hit Central America, but that's another topic for another day.
And speaking of Juanito, he has finally been enrolled in school. A process that I was hoping could wait until the new year, as I don't necessarily think it's a great idea to thrust him into this so soon after so much change. Yet that is law of the land, and since waiting out the last few months of the school year at home in ES was no longer an option he will have to deal with it.
Which leads me to the topic of US bureaucracy, and the circle of paperwork that is needed for just about everything. How is one supposed to show proof of address if no one will mail you anything without a proof of address? It's a vicious cycle that no one who has never left here for an extended period of time can ever understand.
But again, it's baby steps. Library card? Check. Phone in my name? Check. School? Check. 3 things down an a seemingly million left to go. At least I got the gumption to start blogging again.
Reverse culture shock, on top of shock. I keep staring at that corner and wishing to hide in it with my thumb stuck in my mouth until all of this shock finally wears off, until a new normal finally kicks in.
Baby steps....

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Glad you're blogging again, and glad for the new start in life for you and Juanito.

LaDuena said...

It will get better!!

Anonymous said...

So glad your blog is back. I've been following you for a few years now and feel a connection. Hoping all goes well for you and Juanito!!

Anonymous said...

Glad to see you writing again & screw all the naysayers

Brooke Higgins said...

Best wishes for the new start. cheap luton airport parking

Unknown said...

Welcome again . I am really waiting for the new discussions from your side.
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Anonymous said...


Glad to see you writing again & screw all the naysayers


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