The USA is a Strange Place

Reverse culture shock is a real thing. Spending 6 weeks in a very different culture changes the norm, and though I missed some of the conveniences from home, everything is a bit confusing and strange. I want to share some of the differences I have been noticing over the past few days,

1. I can actually understand the language around me. It takes me some time when someone is speaking to realize that I understand what they are saying, and that I should probably respond.

2. I find myself speaking slowly and thinking about phrasing my sentences in easy to understand ways.

3. I can drink the tap water!

4. I can shower, and not have to worry about the hot water not working or flooding the bathroom floor. Yay for shower curtains!

5. The amount of prepackaged foods in the stores here is insane!

6. Taco Bell!

7. Boxed Macaroni and Cheese! My heart is happy.

8. Texas is the strangest place to come after spending sometime in Eastern European culture. I think I forgot what southern accents sound like.

9. Sometimes I hear people talking, and it sounds like a foreign language. I try to figure out what language they are speaking and then realize that it is English.

10. Licenses plates are so large and square looking.

11. Woah.... America has some big pickup trucks.

12. America, the land of messy buns, holy jeans, and sweat pants.

13. I can't just hop on the local trolley or bus to get around town =(

14. My phone service works.

15. Air conditioning

16. I forgot how many clothes and shoes I owned. It's exciting and sickening at the same time.

17. Most of the time I have to think about my response to a question. да, Спасибо, & привет  have already slipped out a few times.

18. I haven't had trouble sleeping or eating, but my body still knows exactly what time it is in Kiev.

19. This place is my home and comfortable culture but yet I still feel like an outsider.

20. I have immediate access to both a washer AND dyer. что?