20 Americans who have lived abroad and returned to the US share their biggest 'reverse culture shock'

"Change is the only constant," they say, and there's no disputing that. With every passing year, we welcome new changes that eventually shape us, and our lifestyles and slowly start influencing our culture too. When one user who goes by u/wonderful-economy762 on Reddit asked people who have lived abroad to reveal the biggest reverse culture shock upon returning to the US, the responses were eye-opening. From toxic tipping culture to PDA in schools, people were surprised to see how fast America had changed in their absence. 

1. People are loud
"How loud people are. Coming back, it seemed like people just yell-talk to each other in public places. They yell at their children across a store, they yell on the phone, and they play their Bluetooth speakers out loud in transit and on trails. If someone wants another person's attention, they shout at them instead of walking over to them." - u/protectedintersect

2. Politics is God!
"How seriously everyone takes politics. Living abroad, most people didn't care who their president was." - u/onetoetoomany

3. Toxic tipping culture
"Tax and tipping. It was nice knowing exactly how much something was BEFORE I paid." - u/caterpillarobvious42

4. More attachment to elderly parents
"They take care of their elderly parents and do not put them in nursing homes. Material possessions are minimal. Food quality is so much better, and I can actually eat bread." - u/desperate-try-8720

5. Annoying customer service
"The terrible or annoying customer service. I don’t understand why people at malls/stores always want to sell you something or want you to sign up for their point card/promotion. I hated it." - u/abe_bmx_jp

6. Work culture
"The obsession with working. Europeans do a great job setting boundaries outside of normal working hours — 8/9a-5p. Come back to the US and right back to people expecting a 7 pm email answered that night." - u/new_shopping_9373

7. Consumption of very little veggies
"How little vegetables some (many) Americans eat. Living in Hanoi for three years, we ate lots of stuff but frequently had things like vegetable stew and rice. I loved it. Coming back and watching people at work just eat meal after meal with no vegetables at all. It's amazing what the human body can survive on." -u/grungussupreme420

8. Women aren't feminine 

 "Women are not as feminine or eager to be in a relationship. Everyone is sensitive about every little word. Culture of independence." - u/mr_ashhole

9. Relevance of Facebook
"I left the country after 2007 and returned in 2 years, shocked that people’s lives were revolving around Facebook. I had expected it to fizzle out like Myspace." u/daydreamz4dayz

10. Insensitive jokes
"The humor. We regularly make jokes at one another's expense, while in Southeast Asia, most humor was self-deprecating or situational." - u/tweak61

11. No social life
"Healthcare and work are fun. I lived in London for 4 years and came back to the US, and the health insurance stuff at work just feels so f****** stupid, and people just don’t do fun things together after work. London pub culture after work is great." - u/ynabddisciple

12. Car-dependent America
"Parking lots! Massive parking lots. I lived in Japan for 4 years, and it’s so easy to get around without a car. I was surprised how car-dependent the U.S. is after I moved back." - u/moocowdivebomb

13. Friendly people
"How friendly people are. We smile at strangers and give polite waves." - u/winterblue1984

14. Unhealthy food choices

"People tend to eat much healthier in other countries I’ve been to." - u/derekc01979

15. Traffic and reckless drivers
"Traffic. People in the US drive like they own the road. I love America, but the traffic could use some help." - u/key-elderberry-7271

16. Too many options
"So many options, especially cheese. I lived abroad for 4 years, and when I came back, I got completely overwhelmed by the cheese aisle in the grocery store, let alone all the other aisles." - u/clutterbugger

17. Wastage of food

"The sheer amount of food that is just sitting idle, left to expire, and then thrown in a landfill. I had a full-on breakdown in the cereal aisle when I came home to the States after living in Uganda for three years. Abandoned my cart and ran out." - u/eatingganesha

18. Too much PDA
"The amount of PDA in schools. The first time I came back, I had been an exchange student in high school in Japan." - u/gymfrog007

19. Stressful lifestyle
"I lived in Europe for two years. The pace of life was much more relaxed. Coming back home to the ever-stressful go-go-go of America took a little getting used to." - u/specificpay985

20. Freedom
"Always thankful to come back to the USA. Freedom is something we should never take for granted!" - u/mountainlionsscareme