Upon Arrival: First Surprises

After COS, I was on a plane eventually, and things surprised me: some people call it “reverse culture shock.”

I just want to list some things that I found strange between Cambodia and Los Angeles, but knew in my heart it’d been normal to me for 22 years, right?:

• Everyone at Seoul’s Airport looked like movie stars…
  

• I could wear glasses again without thinking it lowered my haggling power (because it was a sign of wealth in Cambodia)

• McDonald’s had the saddest looking breakfast meals: not enough food, and too much packaging. AND it was my first McDonald’s in 2 years

• Passport Control guy figured out I was with Peace Corps after asking how long I was abroad. 2 years gives it away. Welcomed me back.

• I was amazed by how less crowded the 405 freeway seemed on Monday compared to a weekday in Bangkok. Bangkok (>public transportation)…
  

• Later, I had Korean pizza (awesome new fusion) and every portion was enormous. Even our coke bottle looked like a 4 liter bottle instead of 2

^^^ABOVE, my desktop.

During my first week back:

• Much much later, I was studying at a cafe and the waiter asked if I wanted him to warm up my cookie. SO, he did and came by with it on a SILVER PLATTER. I was in complete shock: “America puts cookies, warmed, on a silver platter and it just costs $1.50.”

• When I drove in my car again – after getting insurance and whatnot – I kept forgetting to lock my door. Because in Cambodia, I never had to. I was always in a public bus or in a taxi.

• SO NICE to wear sweaters. California was especially cold this year.

• SUPER amazing to see UCLA on my TV!!! Basketball, of course.

• Fell in love with Costco pizza again, with the crushed chili powder (still surprised by American portions but not minding for that pizza). Wonder why I didn’t dry chilies in the hot weather of Cambodia and made chili powder for a condiment

• Weird drinking water from a tap. So much caution about it for 2 years in Cambodia

• In Cambodia, similarly to “how are you?” or “what’s up?” you say “Where are you going?” A LOT. So I still have that habit, asking everyone where they are going as a greeting sometimes