Sara the Slytherin
New member
I know that a lot of people will think it's weird, but I can't help it.
I know that a lot of people, when they study abroad, experience "reverse culture shock," upon returning to the USA (or whatever their home country is).
I studied in Cuernavaca (Mexico) five years ago, and I was thankful to be there, people often commented that I adjusted unusually, almost uncannily well, to the culture down there.
I've been back for over five years. The first year after I returned, I had a VERY rough time readjusting. However, even after all these years, I'm experiencing many of the same feelings that characterize reverse culture shock... sometimes I feel helpless, out of place, and little things just irritate me sometimes. There's no denying it, my heart just isn't here.
I think I would be happy in many latin countries. This fall, I'm going to Spain, and part of me is grateful that I'm going (I've made sacrifices no sane person would make in order to be able to go to Spain) and part of me is sad that I've only got two months in Spain.
Right now, I'm a Spanish teacher but I'm preparing for a career as an EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teacher. I hope I can go to a latin country to teach, but everyone says there are no jobs available. I'm still gonna try, but I'm scared.
I was born and raised in USA but I wasn't accepted all my life, on the contrary I was a real fish out of water. I don't know why I was born different... I was just different. My mom said maybe studying abroad was a mistake because it's been so hard for me to readjust, but I think she's wrong. I had similar feelings before I ever set foot in Mexico! I wasn't accepted, understood, and felt awkward and lonely. I always loved latin stuff since I was a small child. I went to live in a culture I'd always admired and I was accepted in that culture... imagine what that meant to someone like me, someone who wasn't accepted all their life. It meant everything.
My family moved from Florida to North Carolina when I was 16 and I had a really rough time adjusting to North Carolina, I've been here for almost fifteen years and haven't adjusted. I moved to Mexico, a foreign country, and adjusted after about fifteen minutes.
What would cause someone to feel the way I feel? Many people go through reverse culture shock, but what causes a severe case, like mine?
I know that many people have judged me, and probably will judge me for this, but it's not right to judge people... you can never see into another person's heart.
I know that a lot of people, when they study abroad, experience "reverse culture shock," upon returning to the USA (or whatever their home country is).
I studied in Cuernavaca (Mexico) five years ago, and I was thankful to be there, people often commented that I adjusted unusually, almost uncannily well, to the culture down there.
I've been back for over five years. The first year after I returned, I had a VERY rough time readjusting. However, even after all these years, I'm experiencing many of the same feelings that characterize reverse culture shock... sometimes I feel helpless, out of place, and little things just irritate me sometimes. There's no denying it, my heart just isn't here.
I think I would be happy in many latin countries. This fall, I'm going to Spain, and part of me is grateful that I'm going (I've made sacrifices no sane person would make in order to be able to go to Spain) and part of me is sad that I've only got two months in Spain.
Right now, I'm a Spanish teacher but I'm preparing for a career as an EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teacher. I hope I can go to a latin country to teach, but everyone says there are no jobs available. I'm still gonna try, but I'm scared.
I was born and raised in USA but I wasn't accepted all my life, on the contrary I was a real fish out of water. I don't know why I was born different... I was just different. My mom said maybe studying abroad was a mistake because it's been so hard for me to readjust, but I think she's wrong. I had similar feelings before I ever set foot in Mexico! I wasn't accepted, understood, and felt awkward and lonely. I always loved latin stuff since I was a small child. I went to live in a culture I'd always admired and I was accepted in that culture... imagine what that meant to someone like me, someone who wasn't accepted all their life. It meant everything.
My family moved from Florida to North Carolina when I was 16 and I had a really rough time adjusting to North Carolina, I've been here for almost fifteen years and haven't adjusted. I moved to Mexico, a foreign country, and adjusted after about fifteen minutes.
What would cause someone to feel the way I feel? Many people go through reverse culture shock, but what causes a severe case, like mine?
I know that many people have judged me, and probably will judge me for this, but it's not right to judge people... you can never see into another person's heart.