CULTURE SHOCK! (of my Polish finance who visited the US)

Tell me something. Is he really from Polad? Or maybe he is just making fun of you?

oh big time spot on m! i hope none of us implied there is!

as with all changes in life, time will allow us to acustom/aclimatise.

Well,
I am a city slicker myself and sometimes I find it difficult to tolerate people who are shocked at many things. I guess that depends on open one is to any experiance and how well travelled and curious about life one is. Some people are more set in their ways than others and it doesn't depend on nationality but on the preson. I find that people who are not open to experiance (not the ones crossing ones boundries and hurting one in any way) have easier life in general. Having tolerance is important, having a balanced tolerance is even better.

Luck of tolerance is driven by fear of not being able to cope with the unknown.

That was good. High five.

Look at North Pole`s post:
polishforums.com/polish_women_serious_demand-9_8512_1.html#msg121452

Krysia, thanks for sharing the new experiences and welcome back. Right on the button. I miss the "Have a nice days" when in Poland. Yes, our big main stream grocery stores still offer paper or plastic. They even ask If I need help with carrying them outside. I would not mind if I had to take my own bags to the store.

I frequently buy at Trader Joe's however and they appreciate bringing your own bags. You even fill out a little ticket for weekly draws of $25.oo (never won yet).

As for air-conditioning in cars or homes in Poland, they exist, but they are too expensive for most.

As Miranda mentioned, small town folks in America are experiencing a huge culture shock as well when going to a big city. Some suburban people NEVER drove a car in downtown Chicago ( too scared). When I came over here, I was renting an attic apartment at a house owned by nice American couple in their 60's. They never drove in downtown Chicago. If they flew anywhere for a couple of days, they called a taxi because "they would get lost at O'Hare" airport. Later, I drove them to O'Hare or pick them up.

I also lived in NY (late 80's)and drove in Manhattan every day (loved it). Downtown Chicago has a "small town" feel when you comeback from NY...

Well then, it appears that some shops charge for plastic bags and some don't.


Yeah, it's a good thing, my family uses bags made of strong fibre, so no amount of shoppings can be scary (especially for my mum).

Here we buy a "green bag" that you take with you each time you go to the grocery store. By having your green bag, you get 10% off the bill. And they save on stocking paper and plastic bag supplies :)


Sounds like Phoenix LOL! A white-knuckle ride to any destination. And if it is raining and the desert flash floods pop up over the freeway, oh my god! It is hard to brake down from 70 mph to stopping!

I'd rather drive in Los Angeles! :)

Exactly. Stop spreading lies, krysia. Stupid b(word).

Excuse me?


Congrats Krysia! :) ... I hope you get married soon.

But your boyfriend is getting so much shocked? Dont you think its not as much as you feel it is :) ... yes the two countries are different... but Poland is not so backward :) :)...

personally I feel culture shock every time I go to the USA.. and I live in London! everything is just too damn big there. I didnt even know how big a block was, til I tried walking 8 of them..

Yeah, but visitors to the US assume that they actually mean it.

Its a meaningless comment, they may as well say 'go **** yourself'

BTW, Ireland and other countries have added a tax of 10p or so on plastic bags to reduce the billions of bags that end up poluting the countryside. Free plastic bags at supermarkets are causing massive environmental damage in all countries, expect to pay for them in future - its not supermarkets being nice or nasty.

umm no, it isnt that way, because alot of the time you can have a really good conversation with a stranger who works at a store, and say have a good one, I mean it

when I say it, and I know the other person does, we leave on a great note just because we had talked about something in common. maybe some, but not all.

sad way to look at it really, if I felt that way every time I left the store, I would be
flipping out on people. you really have a bad outlook on life. something needs to
change in your otherwise you wont see the change in the world.

Krysia, welcome back, you were missed. :)

Congradulations again. I wish you both the best.

This is so true.

facts? do you get inside someones head and take it apart??

wow, some really depressed people here.

I've been to the U.S loads of times and i love it there, i have always been treated exceptionally well. I loved Chicago, and camping down the Oregon coastline and Washington state was breathtaking.. you can be negative about any country you travel to that's not too difficult. I guess it all boils down to how open minded you are..

I love travelling, even the places that i have not particulary liked, it justs broadens your mind i think.

Ahhhhhhh Words of Wisdom!! thanks Decorator, your open mind is refreshing!
:)

I especially loved it when i was with my Canadian girlfriend off the beaten track in Washington State, we found this tiny little diner. We sat down at the counter and i ordered coffee in my English accent, it was like a scene from the deliverance.. everyone in the diner stared at me, it was priceless, you can't beat that..

Fortunately it never ended up like another scene from the Deliverance.. :) The Cascade Range was beautiful too.. I also loved it in Seattle, found some great bars there..

Its awesome I went there last summer the people were really friendly
the mountians are beautiful and fishing is exellent.....:)

Wow!! overwhelming words of wisdom,, some do have actual good time here :)

Back to topic. I do hope that Krysia's new hubby to be will enjoy it here. take in
a little at a time.. :)

Congrats, Krysia, I hope your fiance likes the US.

Don't worry, K, we'll get him assimilated to the US in Vegas, baby!:) Can't wait to see you there!


I love the Oregon coast....camped at Seal Rock one year and was in Yachats 2 summers ago. I love the Pacific NW.:)

Leaving your house unlocked is a culture shock to me and I'm English!

Why what have you done?

lol

I like the new look. Centre partings suit you.

Sometimes, when people say things, they mean what they say. Sometimes, they mean the opposite.
It is up to the reader to interpret, or they can pay someone else to do the thinking for them.

I do hope that has cleared up any misunderstanding on your part.

Mail me the 50€ therapy fee. I do PayInfidel :)

I live in NY for a very long time and came across very nice people. Everyone smiles and says have a GREAT day.....Long Island is wonderful.

Krysia let us know where did u find this retard???must have been a village idiot in his home town or whatever???am i right?

krysia
In Polish grocery stores you have to bag your own groceries, in the US they ask "paper or plastic". Another shocking experience!!!!

I visited Berlin during the last summer; there, people bag their groceries too.

Thanks Krysia

bingo!


In Wisconsin they have monkeys trained to bag groceries

Krysia,

Where did you bagged your fiance? Was it in the fields, in a small village?

I visited Poland last year and was surprised by the progress.


Hueg,
Poles will usually try to accommodate foreigners, and will respond and interact with foreigners on their level. When interacting with a “backwater” person, Poles will act like "backwater" people.

Thats the point, he must have come from a small village, he must think he is dreaming when he see somebody using a mobile phone or computor.

Actually they only ask "debit or credit" if, and when they see u holding a card.thats from my experience.hardly shocking imo.


no,not everybody


yea,right.


good 4 u.where i live its advised by state cops on a radio to ALWAYS lock your house and car.They say leaving your unattended car open with the keys inside its not only STUPID but also ILLEGAL.


WOW.now im speechless.


and cold on the right.so?speaking about "culture shock"i agree it exist. i for myself was shocked to learn how ignorant SOME americans can be.


true.they suck comparing to american superdrivers.especially to the retirees in their boat alike mercurys and buicks doing 35 on the left lane in the 50mph speed zone.they also suck really bad in comparison to u s superdrivers driving on high beams at night no matter what(about 50%in my area).do they blind others?well,who gives a damn?not they for sure.