The Chips and Guac Culture Shock

When it came time to finalize my study abroad plans, the deciding factor really came to the culture shock barometer. How foreign was I going to look? Would I completely shut down and not know how to act in whatever foreign place I was in? Even though I'm acceptably fluent in French, I told myself I could always go there. I could do the Europe trip as an after college kind-of-thing; Australia called my name louder and I heard it loud and clear. Another plus was that there wasn't going to be that huge language barrier Americans always seem to act arrogant to in foreign countries. I got the accents without the "Huh?" or "Do you speak English?."

We were informed of certain differences between the Australians and the Americans. I knew there would be. They drive on the other side of the road and are leisure about every activity they partake in. They don't dance like Americans, I'll leave it at that. But I have told myself I want to pick up some of their lingo: "heaps" means a lot of something; "straight away" means right away; "top up" means to add to something (such as adding money to a bus card); "how are you going" is the normal salutation; "hen's night" is a bachelorette party. I just wasn't prepared to feel sometimes so stupid, and yet laugh so hard at the same time.

One of my best friends from home arrived on campus Monday and so to have a slice of home here has been fantastic. We're even in two of the same classes. Katie and I were at the cafeteria on Tuesday and none of the options looked appetizing so we adapted and ordered a couple of sides. Super excited when we saw guacamole on the menu. We then ordered our steamed rice, guacamole and chips. Anxiously waiting, the buzzer finally went off and the two of us strolled up to the counter to see this...

Stupid Americans. You think the lady in the cafeteria would have second guessed my order but I guess they see a lot more unique orderings than this. In case people are still confused, "chips" here are French fries and the kind I wanted are referred to as "corn chips" or "chippies."

We couldn't help but laugh and savor the moment when there was nothing we could do but that. We walked our American selfs back up to the counter and successfully ordered, this time, corn chips to enjoy.

A couple other things that have struck me as a culture shock is their Target here is so different! I would compare it to a K-Mart style with only a handful selection of things. They didn't even have ibuprofen or notebooks! So I don't have to worry about spending all my money there like I would at home.

Despite these little unique things, adjustment has been well. I'm going to be starting up classes on Monday and I don't know how much work I'll get done but I'm actually excited to have a structured schedule and get a move on with plannings of adventures!

"Traveling is not about leaving our homes, but leaving our habits."